The Belmont Stakes, the final stop of the Triple Crown, became the culmination of the storylines that started on May 3 at the Kentucky Derby. Legendary trainer Bob Baffert hoped the Kentucky Derby would become the stage for his comeback. Unfortunately for the Triple Crown winner, one of his horses, Rodriguez, bowed out at the last moment due to an injury. And then there was Sovereignty.

The three-year-old spoiled pre-race favorite Journalism party, taking the crown on a sloppy Churchill Downs track. “I would fight him on the better ground,” said Journalism’s jockey, Umberto Rispoli. Yet, when these three contenders finally clashed at the Belmont Stakes, Rispoli didn’t get his ‘better ground’ thanks to last-minute rains. “Rainy start to Belmont Stakes Day at Saratoga,” wrote freelance racing writer Tim Wilkin.

“Things are supposed to improve as the day gets longer. Can’t get any worse,” added Wilkin. While the weather cleared up, it didn’t change the outcome. “Sovereignty wins the Belmont Stakes!” posted the official Kentucky Derby page, as the colt won two of the 2025 Triple Crown titles. Baffert’s horse, Rodriguez, showed exactly why the trainer chose him by setting the pace in the front for most of the race.

However, Journalism flexed his Preakness-winning muscles, making a “decisive move” with a quarter mile left to take the lead. Then came Sovereignty, and those who also attended the Kentucky Derby must have inched themselves as the Bill Mott-trained horse once again found another gear. The finisher once again beat Journalism in the final stretch and decisively took a 2-0 lead in their rivalry. So, what about Rodriguez?

Bob Baffert’s horse couldn’t hold on to that lead in the final quarter mile and faded to fourth place. Now, the 72-year-old Triple Crown winner will have to wait at least until the Breeders’ Cup to make that elusive comeback. Despite the disappointment, Baffert will still take a 4th-place finish over the 15th-place wipeout at this year’s Kentucky Derby.

That being said, the rains definitely gave Sovereignty the advantage. After the Kentucky Derby, Rispoli mentioned how Journalism was inexperienced in the mud. The weather wasn’t great ahead of the Preakness. But thankfully, the rain didn’t really affect the track, unlike at the Saratoga Race Course. In fact, the rains drove Races 6 and 10 “off the turf” at Belmont. Maybe that’s why Journalism earned praise despite another heartbreak.

Sovereignty’s team gave props to Journalism

For a moment during that last stretch, Journalism lined up right beside Sovereignty, trying to hold on to the lead. Unfortunately, for the Preakness 150 winner, the Godolphin-owned horse steamed ahead, running 1 1/4 miles in 2:00.69. However, Journalism’s effort didn’t go unnoticed by the winning jockey, Junior Alvarado. The 2025 Derby and now Belmont Stakes winner tipped his cap to the runner-up.

“It’s about two great horses,” Alvarado told FOX Sports. “That horse [Journalism] ran amazing again for coming back after the Preakness. He fought very hard, but he didn’t make it easy for my horse,” added the jockey. Meanwhile, trainer Bill Mott also praised Rodriguez. “We had a repeat of the Derby,” said Mott after winning the final leg of the Triple Crown.

“I think what it means is it’s for real. They’re three really good horses, and I’m glad that [Sovereignty] was able to come back and put in a race like he did in the Derby,” he added. Yet, in the end, there’s one more thing to consider when looking at Journalism’s performance, and it’s the fact that he was the only Colt who ran all three legs of the Triple Crown this year.

Rodriguez’s leg injury scratched him from both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. Meanwhile, Sovereignty and third-place finisher Baeza (who also finished third at Churchill Downs) had a long five-week rest. In fact, Trainer Bill Mott disappointed a lot of fans when he pulled out of the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown. It’s safe to say that two second-place finishes and the Preakness title in a little over five weeks are indeed worthy of praise.