Sovereignty Completes Historic Derby-Belmont Double Without Preakness Start Sovereignty cemented his place in Triple Crown history by winning both the 2025 Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, becoming the first horse to sweep the first and third legs of the series without competing in the Preakness Stakes. The chestnut colt, trained by Bill Mott and ridden by Junior Alvarado, delivered a dominant performance at Saratoga Race Course on June 7, 2025, to complete the rare feat. The victory in the 157th Belmont Stakes came just over a month after Sovereignty’s come-from-behind triumph in the 151st Kentucky Derby on May 3, 2025. Entering the Belmont as the second betting choice at 5-2 odds, Sovereignty tracked a brisk early pace set by longshots before unleashing a powerful surge down the stretch. He overtook Preakness winner Journalism to win by three lengths, mirroring their Derby order where Journalism finished second and Sovereignty prevailed. Trainer Bill Mott secured his second Kentucky Derby victory and first Belmont Stakes win, while jockey Junior Alvarado became the first Venezuelan rider to win both races. The win also marked the first Belmont Stakes triumph for owner Godolphin, which had previously swept the Kentucky Derby and Oaks the day before with Decent Cheer. Sovereignty’s Belmont victory was historic on multiple fronts. He became the first horse since 1952 to win the Derby and Belmont without running in the Preakness, a feat last accomplished by Hill Gail, who won the Derby for Calumet Farm while Real Delight took the Oaks. Sovereignty joined an elite group as the first horse to win both races under the Twin Spires and at Saratoga Race Course, which hosted the Belmont for the second consecutive year during Belmont Park’s ongoing $455 million renovation. The win earned Sovereignty $1.2 million from the $2 million purse, solidifying his status as the dominant three-year-old of the 2025 season. His connections opted to skip the Preakness Stakes, focusing instead on the Belmont’s 1 1/4-mile distance at Saratoga—a decision that proved prescient as he delivered back-to-back victories in racing’s most prestigious events. Journalism, the Preakness champion and morning-line favorite in the Belmont, finished second for the second straight Triple Crown race, while Baeza captured third place to complete an exacta trifecta mirroring the Kentucky Derby results. The consistent finishes underscored the quality of the 2025 crop and the legitimacy of Sovereignty’s accomplishments. With connections already looking ahead to potential autumn engagements, Sovereignty’s 2025 campaign stands as one of the most remarkable in recent memory—a Derby-Belmont double achieved through tactical patience, late-closing excellence, and a willingness to defy Triple Crown orthodoxy by bypassing the Preakness entirely.
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