Belmont Stakes 2025 Contenders, Odds, Jockey and Pedigree Info for Top Favorites

The final race of the 2025 Triple Crown series will take place on Saturday. While fans won't get to see a horse actually chase the Triple Crown this year, the Belmont Stakes will feature the winners of the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness.

Sovereignty and Journalism will be among the eight-horse field competing at Saratoga Race Course Sovereignty, of course, was held out of the Preakness after winning the Derby but now has a chance to win two of three So does Journalism, who won the Preakness after finishing second at Churchill Downs.

While these two are the biggest favorites, they aren't the only horses capable of winning the 157th running of the Belmont Stakes. Here, you'll find the latest odds and a closer look at the top contenders.

Race Info and Updated Odds

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Sovereignty and jockey Junior Alvarado

When: Saturday, June 7

Post Time: 7:04 p.m. ET

Where: Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, NY

Prize Purse: $2 million ($1.2 million to winner)

TV and Live Stream: Fox and Fox Sports App

Post Positions and Odds

1. Hill Road 10-1

2. Sovereignty 2-1

3. Rodriguez 6-1

4. Uncaged 30-1

5. Crudo 15-1

6. Baeza 4-1

7. Journalism 8-5

8. Heart of Honor 30-1

*Odds via the Belmont Stakes' official website.

Journalism

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Jockey: Umberto Rispoli

Trainer: Michael McCarthy

Pedigree: Curlin (sire) and Mopotism (dam)

Despite losing to Sovereignty at the Kentucky Derby, Journalism exited Monday's post draw as the favorite for the Belmont. Positioning may have a lot to do with that.

The Michael McCarthy-trained colt will have a favorable starting position on the outside. That should allow for a faster start than what jockey Umberto Rispoli had to overcome at the Preakness.

Pinned inside and in traffic, Pispoli barely managed to break through in time to overtake Gosger for the victory. A clean start may be required for Journalism to win the rematch with Sovereignty—Journalism entered Derby Day as the favorite and briefly led before being overtaken.

Fatigue could also be a factor here, as Journalism is the only horse in the field who also ran in the Derby and the Preakness. McCarthy, though, doesn't appear too concerned.

"I think he’s very relaxed," McCarthy said of Journalism, per Sean Collins of Bloodhorse.

With one win and a second-place finish in the books, Journalism has a chance to come as close to winning the Triple Crown as is possible without actually accomplishing the feat.

Sovereignty

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Jockey: Junior Alvarado

Trainer: Bill Mott

Pedigree: Into Mischief (sire) and Crowned (dam)

Journalism is only a slight favorite over Sovereignty, and it will surprise no one if the Derby winner claims two of the three Triple Crown races in 2025.

Sovereignty won at Churchill Downs with an impressive 131 speed figure, slightly ahead of Journalism's 129. This could be a similar race since the Belmont is being held at the shorter Saratoga Race Course instead of Belmont Park, due to Belmont's renovations.

This means that the race will feature the same 1 1⁄4-mile length as the Derby instead of the usual 1 1⁄2-mile length. Skipping the Preakness could also give Sovereignty an edge, since the horse has largely rested since May 3. Drawing an inside gate isn't ideal, but trainer Bill Mott believes that it won't mean much in a smaller field.

"I thought being a small field, eight horses, I was going to be happy with whatever post position we got," Mott said, per Cameron Drummond of the Lexington Herald-Leader. "I don't think it's a big issue for him."

Baeza

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Jockey: Flavien Prat

Trainer: John Shirreffs

Pedigree: McKinzie (sire) and Puca (dam)

Baeza is getting overlooked just a bit because the Derby and Preakness winners are in the field. However, the John Shirreffs-trained horse did finish third at Churchill Downs despite a rocky start and second to Journalism at the Santa Anita Derby.

"In the Santa Anita Derby, he didn't have the best of trips, either. And obviously in the Kentucky Derby, he never got to the outside when he needed to," Shirreffs said, per Bob Ehalt of Bloodhorse.

Baeza had a strong showing at the Derby after entering the race as an also-eligible following the scratch of Rodriguez. He appeared to be gaining on Journalism and Sovereignty when the race came to an end—which would be more noteworthy if this race was the traditional Belmont length.

The biggest advantage Baeza might have on Saturday is the guidance of jockey Flavien Prat, who has previously earned wins at the Kentucky Derby (2019) and the Preakness (2021).

It's also worth noting that mare Puca has produced Triple Crown race winners Mage (Kentucky Derby, 2023) and Dornoch (Belmont, 2024).