Bridlewood Farm General Manager George Isaacs offers unique insight into Saturday’s GI Belmont Stakes showdown between GI Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty and GI Preakness Stakes winner Journalism — a matchup he’s uniquely positioned to assess.
“Naturally, I hope it’s Journalism, but if it can’t be Journalism, I hope it’s Sovereignty,” Isaacs said.
Both contenders graduated from Bridlewood Farm’s pre-training program in Ocala, Florida, before joining their respective trainers. Godolphin homebred Sovereignty is trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, while Journalism — an $825,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling purchase — is conditioned by Michael McCarthy.
Bridlewood Farm campaigns Journalism in partnership with Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, breeder Don Alberto Stable, Robert LaPenta, Elayne Stables 5 and Coolmore partners. The farm’s iconic red-and-white silks were worn by Umberto Rispoli during Journalism’s Preakness victory.
“Even though it’s only been one time, it could potentially be a real rivalry,” Isaacs noted. “For horse racing’s sake, it would be nice if it unfolds that way and both of these horses stay healthy and can face off many times to come.”
Sovereignty defeated favored Journalism by 1 1/2 lengths in sloppy conditions on the first Saturday in May. Baeza (McKinzie) finished a neck behind in third — the half-brother to Classic winners Mage and Dornoch.
Weather could again play a factor, with rain in the forecast for Saturday following stormy conditions Friday afternoon at the Spa.
“It’s great for horse racing,” Isaacs said. “We know they’re both very nice horses and I don’t think we can overlook Baeza, either. Those three horses are the best three in the crop. I think it’s a race between those three.”
The eight-horse field also includes TDN Rising Star Rodriguez (Authentic), trained by Bob Baffert. The wire-to-wire winner of the GII Wood Memorial missed the first two Triple Crown legs due to a quarter crack.
“We have the best 3-year-olds in the country running together,” Baffert said. “It will be exciting. I have a lot of respect for Journalism and Sovereignty and Baeza. I think Rodriguez fits with them.”
Baffert added: “I have been watching Journalism all winter, chasing him all winter. He just keeps getting better and better and better. I think he is the horse to beat.”
The Belmont Stakes Racing Festival returns to Saratoga Race Course for the second consecutive year while construction continues at Belmont Park. Due to Saratoga’s track configuration, the race will be contested at 1 1/4 miles rather than the traditional 1 1/2 miles.
Saturday’s card features five Grade I events, including two Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” qualifiers — the GI Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap (Dirt Mile) and GI Jaipur S. (Turf Sprint).
The stallion-making Met Mile has drawn a select field of five, headlined by Breeders’ Cup winners TDN Rising Star Fierceness (City of Light) and White Abarrio (Race Day).
The Jaipur has attracted 10 turf sprinters, with 6-5 morning-line favorite Think Big (Twirling Candy) seeking his fourth consecutive victory after winning the GII Twin Spires Turf Sprint on Kentucky Derby Day.
Three-year-old sprinters will contest the seven-furlong GI Woody Stephens S., featuring two-time Grade I winner and TDN Rising Star Chancer McPatrick (McKinzie) and last year’s champion 2-year-old colt Citizen Bull (Into Mischief).
Spirit of St Louis (Medaglia d’Oro) enters the GI Manhattan S. as the favorite following victories in this year’s GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational and GI Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic. Miguel Clement will saddle three runners, including MGISW and TDN Rising Star Far Bridge (English Channel), continuing the legacy of his late father Christophe, a three-time Manhattan winner.
The 14-race program also includes the GII Wonder Again S. featuring Nitrogen (Medaglia d’Oro), the GIII True North S. showcasing GISWs Book’em Danno (Bucchero), Mullikin (Violence) and Nakatomi (Firing Line), and the GIII Pennine Ridge S. led by GI American Turf S. winner Zulu Kingdom (Ire).
Television coverage begins at 10:30 a.m. ET across FOX Sports networks.
