Sovereignty

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY -- While the rematch between GI Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief) and GI Preakness Stakes winner Journalism (Curlin) has received top billing, the camp surrounding the blue-blooded Baeza (McKinzie) sees a slightly different storyline ahead of Saturday's GI Belmont Stakes at Saratoga. "They talk about the challenge of the two of them. I think it's more the challenge of the three of us," said Lee Searing of C R K Stable, who campaigns Baeza in partnership with the colt's breeder Robert Clay of Grandview Equine. "This...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.--The event that horse racing has been waiting for is here. Sovereignty (Into Mischief) and Journalism (Curlin), the top two finishers in the GI Kentucky Derby, will get their rematch in Saturday's $2-million GI Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. The two heavyweights of the 3-year-old division are the headliners of the 157th running of the Belmont, which will be run for the second straight year at Saratoga while Belmont Park continues its major renovation downstate. A field of eight was entered at Monday's draw, which was held...

GI Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief) tuned up for his rematch with Derby runner-up and GI Preakness Stakes winner Journalism (Curlin) in Saturday's GI Belmont Stakes with a four-furlong work in :48.84 (3/17) over the Oklahoma training track in Saratoga Sunday. The Godolphin homebred, working solo under exercise rider Neil Poznansky, was caught by NYRA clockers through splits of :12 3/5, :24 2/5 and out in 1:02 flat and 1:16 3/5. "He went well," trainer Bill Mott said of the work. "We just wanted a nice breeze, in :48,...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - It didn't take long for trainer Michael McCarthy to make the decision. After watching his long-striding colt Journalism (Curlin) gobble up the ground at Saratoga Race Course Sunday morning, McCarthy gave the thumbs up sign. Journalism is going to run in Saturday's 157th edition of the $2-million GI Belmont Stakes. "Based off what I saw here this morning, I would be hard-pressed to find a reason not to enter," McCarthy said after Journalism worked four furlongs in :47.54 on the main track with regular jockey Umberto...

Kentucky Derby hero Sovereignty (Into Mischief) was out over Saratoga's Oklahoma training track Saturday morning as his preparations for the GI Belmont Stakes continued while a fleet of Grade I hopefuls also put in their works for respective contests. Putting in his second move since winning the nation's top prize for sophomores in early May, the Godolphin homebred went in company with fellow Grade I-winner Arthur's Ride (Tapit)--the pair clocking five panels in 1:02.54 (4/5) and 1:02.94 (5/5), respectively. Sovereignty started two lengths behind the grey and to his outside....

'TDN Rising Star' Rodriguez (Authentic), scratched from the GI Kentucky Derby with a foot bruise, worked seven furlongs in 1:24.80 (1/1) at Santa Anita Friday morning in preparation for the GI Belmont Stakes at Saratoga June 7. He previously worked four furlongs in :49 at Churchill Downs May 11. The front-running winner of the GII Wood Memorial S. at Aqueduct Apr. 5 is trained by Bob Baffert and campaigned in partnership by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert Masterson, Tom Ryan, Waves Edge...

Junior Alvarado was granted a stay of suspension on Tuesday while the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) begins the process for hearing his newly-lodged appeal for allegedly using his whip two times above the six-strike limit when winning the GI Kentucky Derby aboard Sovereignty (Into Mischief) May 3. Alvarado is facing a fine of $62,000 and a two-day suspension if the infraction is upheld. The rule infraction is HISA-based, but the Churchill Downs stewards were in charge of interpreting and reporting purported violations of it. The severity of the...

GI Preakness Stakes winner Journalism (Curlin) departed the Pimlico backstretch Monday morning on a van bound for Saratoga, where he will train towards a possible appearance in the third and final leg of the Triple Crown, the GI Belmont Stakes over a mile and a quarter on Saturday, June 7. Trainer Michael McCarthy revealed the news when a guest on At The Races With Steve Byk on satellite radio Monday morning. One day after winning the Preakness in breathtaking style, part-owner Aron Wellman of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and McCarthy indicated...

While no immediate plans for the GI Belmont Stakes have been made for Saturday's sensational Preakness 150 hero Journalism (Curlin), connections report that when their colt leaves the Pimlico grounds in a couple days, he will either go directly to Saratoga or to Michael McCarthy's Kentucky base at Churchill Downs. With the son of Curlin under consideration for the GI Belmont Stakes June 7 at Saratoga, McCarthy and Eclipse Thoroughbreds' Aron Wellman spoke to the press Sunday morning and said the decision will be made in the next day or...

Godolphin's GI Kentucky Derby-winning homebred Sovereignty (Into Mischief) returned to the work tab Saturday at Saratoga Race Course, breezing a solo half-mile over the Oklahoma dirt training track for trainer Bill Mott in preparation for the GI Belmont Stakes next month. Guided through the work by Eclipse Award-winner Neil Poznansky, Sovereignty stretched his legs with a gallop around most of the oval first before assuming position on the backside to break off into his work and post splits of :12.88 seconds, :25.02 and the half-mile in :49.76. He galloped out...

Ifurhappynuknowit (Bernardini--Mushka, by Empire Maker), an unraced full-sister to Godolphin's late Crowned, dam of last week's GI Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief), topped the Fasig-Tipton May Digital Sale, which closed late Tuesday afternoon. Consigned by Knowles Farm as hip 30, Ifurhappynuknowit sold for $280,000 to Denali Stud, agent. She was sold with her Feb. 18-foaled colt by Vino Rosso at her side and is back in foal to two-time champion Elite Power. "It was very exciting to offer a horse like Ifurhappynuknowit fresh off a huge update," said Fasig-Tipton...

The GI Kentucky Derby has long been billed as the most exciting two minutes in sports. After a series of lawsuits involving America's signature horse race over the last six years, it might be more precise to start referring to it as the most litigated two minutes in sports. The week between the first two legs of this year's Triple Crown began with the connections of Derby winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief) opting out of the GI Preakness Stakes based on the assessment by trainer Bill Mott and owner/breeder Godolphin that...