Belmont: Shirreffs hopes Baeza can turn tables on Journalism

John Shirreffs, trainer of Baeza, hopes the colt can turn the tables on Preakness winner Journalism in Saturday’s Belmont Stakes.

“Journalism is a very tough horse, he runs his race and is going to be a very difficult horse to beat,” Shirreffs said in a National Thoroughbred Racing Association teleconference Tuesday. “But Baeza's emerging and developing. We were close to (Journalism) at Santa Anita. We were making up ground at Churchill. So hopefully we can turn the tables this time.”

Baeza, a 3-year-old son of McKinzie, closed from 14th to finish third in the Kentucky Derby 2025, earning a 102 Beyer Speed Figure from Daily Racing Form. He was a neck behind second-place Journalism, with Sovereignty winning the Derby 1 1/2 lengths.

“We're really pleased with his effort because being in a big field and getting pinched a little bit and on an off track, he handled all that so well and showed a great deal of determination and maturity on his part,” Shirreffs added.

The 79-year-old Shirreffs has yet to win the Belmont Stakes and hopes this will be the year with Baeza. “The Belmont is so historic, and the race is historic, so it would be just wonderful to win the Belmont.”

Hill Road, trained by Chad Brown, comes off a win in the Grade 2 Peter Pan on May 10 at Belmont at Aqueduct. Brown said in the call that he believes the 1 1/4 miles of this year’s Belmont Stakes will be no problem for the son of Quality Road, who will face horses already proven at the distance.

“He's been looking for a mile and a quarter for some time, so I hope that works in his favor,” Brown said in the teleconference. “The unfortunate thing is you already have proven mile and-a-quarter horses in the race, and they're really good horses.”

Michael Banahan, director of bloodstock for Godolphin, said Sovereignty, who skipped the Preakness, has worked well since shipping to Saratoga. Godolphin is the owner and breeder of the Into Mischief colt.

“Trainer Bill Mott has been very happy with him since he's got up to Saratoga," Banahan said. "He came out of the Derby in good shape and he seems like he's responded well to the couple of breezes that Mott has put into him.”

When asked about the top three finishers from the Kentucky Derby returning to face each other again in the Belmont Stakes, Banahan said it’s going to be a very exciting race to watch.

“Looks like Rodriguez will probably be the main speed in there to keep Journalism honest, and I think if we have a nice fair pace in the race it should set up well and may the best horse win.”