Belmont Stakes 2025: Everything You Need To Know About Triple Crown Last Race
The first half of a calendar year on the horse racing schedule is dominated by the Triple Crown. Churchill Downs hosts the first leg in the form of the Kentucky Derby on the first Saturday in May, before the attention quickly turns to Pimlico and the Preakness Stakes for the Middle Jewel.
However, it could be argued that the most important race from a form standpoint comes in the form of the final leg of the Triple Crown, as the Belmont Stakes is the only race that is run over the traditional Classic distance of 1 ½ miles.
Therefore, extra emphasis can be put on the standout runners with races such as the Breeders’ Cup Classic in mind. You can find out everything that you need to know ahead of the Belmont Stakes in 2025 here.
When Is The 2025 Belmont Stakes?
The final leg of the Triple Crown series in 2025 will be run on Saturday, June 7. It is a notable date for the diary for racing fans, as it shares the same date at the world-famous Epsom Derby, which will be run early in the afternoon in Great Britain. Find more information about the Belmont here: https://www.twinspires.com/belmont-stakes/contenders/
Where is the Belmont Stakes Held?
As the name would suggest, the Belmont Stakes is traditionally held at Belmont Park in New York. However, for the second straight year, the final leg of the Triple Crown will be run at Saratoga. This is due to renovation work being completed at Belmont Park. Last year’s race was the first time that the race had been staged away from its natural home since Aqueduct hosted the Triple Crown race in 1967.
Which Runners Will Be Involved?
The official field for the Belmont Stakes this year won’t be confirmed until seven days before the race. However, a number of horses have already indicated their plan to run in the final leg of the Triple Crown.
Among those include Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty. Connections made the bold decision to bypass the Preakness Stakes, but the three-year-old is almost a certain runner in the Belmont Stakes having been at Saratoga since the start of May.
It is also worth noting that the winner of the Preakness Stakes will likely take their chance in the final leg of the Triple Crown. Therefore, we could see a Derby rematch between the first two home, as Journalism is a hot favorite for success at Pimlico. Meanwhile, River Thames may have a fighting chance against the Derby winner should they meet again after finishing under a length behind the Churchill Downs victor in the Fountain of Youth Stakes.
Baeza is also an intended runner in the Belmont Stakes for trainer John Shirreffs after finishing an eye-catching third in the Derby. Other returning Triple Crown contenders from Churchill Downs include Final Gambit, who was an excellent fourth in the Derby.
Hill Road and Rodriguez could also hold interesting chances after winning the Peter Pan Stakes and Wood Memorial, respectively, on their latest outings.
Could Sovereignty Join Elite Company?
Sovereignty’s progression under William Mott largely went under the radar in the build up to the Derby, as he was sent off at 8/1. However, his previous efforts showed that he had the quality to play a role. The three-year-old has previously won the Fountain of Youth, while he also had course form in the book after beating Tiztastic five lengths in the Street Sense Stakes at Churchill Downs. Unlike many rivals, he also has experience at Saratoga, meaning that he could have an outstanding chance of making history. No Derby winner has landed success in the Belmont Stakes since Justify in 2018, while the only horse to have completed the Derby-Belmont double since 1985 is Thunder Gulch in 1995.
Can Fillies Run in the Belmont Stakes?
To this point, only 24 fillies have ever competed in the Belmont Stakes, with three landing victories. The latest to achieve the feat was Rags to Riches in 2007. Fillies have a respectable 13% win rate in the final leg of the Triple Crown, and that record was nearly improved in 2022 when Nest finished second to stablemate Mo Donegal.
International Appeal
Nine foreign-bred horses have won the Belmont Stakes, with the latest coming in the form of Victory Gallop for Canada in 1998. That could be a record under threat this year, as British-bred Heart of Honor is an intended runner in the race for the Jamie Osbourne team.
Connections are unlikely to rush a final decision, and they will wait until after the Preakness Stakes to determine his involvement. But, he has a creditable record on the dirt after finishing a strong-finishing second in the UAE Derby, and also winning over a mile during his time in the UAE during the winter. If successful, Saffie Osbourne could become the first female rider to win the race since Julie Krone in 1993.
