Belmont Stakes: Journalism shortens to odds-on favorite

June 7, 2025 1:13am
Belmont Stakes: Journalism shortens to odds-on favorite
Photo: Andrew Capone

What appeared to be a big-money play of about $200,000 on Friday evening made Preakness winner Journalism an odds-on favorite in early betting for Belmont Stakes 2025, the final jewel of the Triple Crown on Saturday at Saratoga.

Journalism was showing at 4-5 on Friday in the all-sources win pool, which opened this week. The only horse who is set to have run in all three U.S. classics, Journalism was established as the 8-5 favorite on the morning line.

Manocchio: Belmont Stakes 2025 from 1st to last.

Baeza, who finished third last out in the Kentucky Derby, was 7-2. His program odds were set at 4-1.

Sovereignty, who won the Kentucky Derby before skipping the Preakness, was 7-2 in early betting for Saturday’s race. He had been made the second choice on the morning line at 5-1.

Rodríguez, the Grade 2 Wood Memorial winner who missed the Derby and Preakness because of foot trouble, was 8-1. His program odds were set at 6-1.

The Belmont will be run at 1 1/4 miles, the same distance as the Derby, while it is transplanted to Saratoga as Belmont Park is rebuilt. The race is scheduled for Saturday at 7:04 p.m. EDT.

 Belmont Stakes Trainer JockeyOdds ML 
1. Hill RoadChad BrownIrad Ortiz Jr.17-110-1
2. SovereigntyBill MottJunior Alvarado5-12-1
3. RodríguezBob BaffertMike Smith8-16-1
4. UncagedTodd PletcherLuis Sáez24-130-1
5. CrudoTodd PletcherJohn Velázquez16-115-1
6. BaezaJohn ShirreffsFlavien Prat7-24-1
7. JournalismMichael McCarthyUmberto Rispoli4-58-5
8. Heart of HonorJamie OsborneSaffie Osborne22-130-1
Win pool $1,325,555



Read More

Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Stephen Foster Stakes marks the first major stop on the road to the 2025...
I see Thorpedo Anna as a more likely winner of the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis Stakes than...
The older dirt male division has spent most of 2025 idling in neutral, but that finally might change....
In her first work since winning the Grade 1 Acorn, La Cara worked breezed furlongs in 50.0 seconds...
Patches O’Houlihan , Canada’s reigning horse of the year, takes to the turf for the Grade 2 Highlander...