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The 2025 Belmont Stakes

Ian_Davies

Ian_Davies

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Eight declared and still at Saratoga over 1m2f as Belmont Park isn't due to reopen until Fall 2026.

Sovereignty needed just about every yard of the 1m2f to properly get on top in a typically strongly-run Kentucky Derby and runner up Journalism, who overcame all sorts of trouble in running to win the Preakness over 110yds shorter, wouldn't be without a chance of turning the tables if it's a less attritional contest here.

I love my top-end USA racing.

Betting: https://www.oddschecker.com/horse-racing/ante-post-racing/international/belmont-stakes/winner
 
Fair comment IMO - the more attritional the better for Sovereignty, I think.

If the race had been at Belmont over the traditional 1m4f, unless they'd gone a crawl I think Sovereignty would have thrived at a distance very few USA dirt horses race at or stay and pulverised them.

Plus Journalism did have a hard race at Pimlico.
 
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I thought Journalism was juiced at Pimlico.He was very agitated pre race and in the stalls and overcame unnatural trouble in running.It was the kind of performance you would see at the late night American tracks when one had been punted of the boards about 15 years ago.
I think he will bounce and will be looking to take him on.
 
Imagine the controversy if there was a Triple Crown winner this year, with the third leg being over 10f at Saratoga rather than the usual 12f at Belmont.
 
Management of my Circadian Rhythm 😂 will once again be on hold tonight as I'm looking forward to this almost as much as I'm looking forward to The Derby today.

In fact, I'm looking forward to the whole card at Saratoga - though I'll still be glad when the Belmont actually returns to Belmont. 😂
 
I’ll be staying up (well, I’m pretty nocturnal so will be awake anyway) to cheer Saffie on. Thankfully she kept out of trouble last time but might have learned a lot from it. I actually chatted to a new found American internet chum who spoke to Saffie and her dad prior to the Preakness. I’ve loved American racing ever since watching Royal Academy win all those years ago.
 
Ian_Davies said:
Management of my Circadian Rhythm 😂 will once again be on hold tonight as I'm looking forward to this almost as much as I'm looking forward to The Derby today.

In fact, I'm looking forward to the whole card at Saratoga - though I'll still be glad when the Belmont actually returns to Belmont. 😂
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They had lots of rain there yesterday and their Gold Cup was run on the dirt.
 
"Then they get off at Saratoga for the 14th time! A person can develop la grippe."

My focus switches to Saratoga and I'll be lost in a Runyonesque world of Guys And Dolls for the rest of the evening. 😂
 
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I really enjoyed the Belmont.

My only concern for Sovereignty is that I felt he needed a decent pace but he got it alright and in the end I thought it was his most impressive win so far.
 
The Belmont needs to get back to Belmont Park asap IMO - 1m4f isn't a fashionable trip in the USA, but running the Belmont at a track that can't hold races at that distance isn't the best.
 
Although twos on, I thought Sovereignty did well in the Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga just now.

I think 1m1f is very much a minimum for him, but he won comfortably in the end.

Unlike Journalism, Sovereignty hasn't exactly "danced every dance," though as he swerved the Preakness and the Haskell.

Looking forward to the Travers now.
 
Journalism is starting to make life hard for himself by missing the break and racing lazily -I would be against him in the Travers.
 
It's the Whitney Stakes at Saratoga tonight and, though he should get a strong pace, I still think Sierra Leone needs all of a strongly-run 1m2f to be seen to best effect.
 
trefflich said:
I think the pace is gonna be strong and he wins tonight
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Fair play to you, Trefflich, and fair play to Sierra Leone - he finally got the pace he needs and he got the job done.

I still think 1m1f is a minimum for him, though, and he will have a great chance again in the 1m2f Breeders' Cup Classic.
 

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