Triple Crown tracker: Journalism gears up for summer
The Triple Crown Tracker checks in with the horses who raced in the 2025 Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont, keeping up with what they have done since the classics.
2025 Kentucky Derby
Three horses from the Kentucky Derby raced in recent weeks. Coal Battle finished second in the Grade 3 Indiana Derby on July 5, dueling with Tip Top Thomas and finishing second by a half-length to that foe. Publisher also comes out of the Indiana Derby, in which he finished a troubled fourth. Final Gambit returned to the lawn for the Belmont Derby (G1) on July 4, where he closed up ground in the lane and finished in a dead heat for fifth, two lengths behind Test Score.
Owen Almighty returned to the work tab Sunday for the first time since his surprise fifth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby, going three furlongs at Churchill Downs.
A pair of Kentucky Derby contenders are expected to contest the Haskell (G1) on Saturday at Monmouth. Journalism will make his first start since a runner-up finish in the Belmont, and Burnham Square will race for the first time since his second-place effort in the Matt Winn (G3).
Neoequos is also slated to return to action in the coming days. He turns back to six furlongs and drops in class for the Jersey Shore Stakes on Friday at Monmouth. He drew post 5 in the six-horse field.
Two other entrants from the Kentucky Derby field are sidelined with injuries. Grande, who was scratched from the Kentucky Derby the day before the race, reportedly had an ankle chip removed and might return in the fall, according to David Grening of Daily Racing Form. Flying Mohawk had been entered to return to turf for the Belmont Derby but had emergency colic surgery the day before the race.
| Derby | Horse | Last race | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sovereignty | 1st Belmont | Worked 5f Sat. at SAR |
| 2 | Journalism | 2nd Belmont | Entered Sat. in Haskell (G1) |
| 3 | Baeza | 3rd Belmont | Worked 6f Fri. at SA |
| 4 | Final Gambit | 5th Belmont Derby (G1) | No works since last race |
| 5 | Owen Almighty | 5th Kentucky Derby | Worked 3f Sun. at CD |
| 6 | Burnham Square | 2nd Matt Winn (G3) | Entered Sat. in Haskell (G1) |
| 7 | Sandman | 3rd Preakness | Worked 5f July 5 at SAR |
| 8 | East Avenue | 1st Matt Winn (G3) | Worked 4f Sat. at CD |
| 9 | Chunk of Gold | 2nd Ohio Derby (G3) | Entered Sat. in Indiana Derby (G3) |
| 10 | Tiztastic | 5th American Derby | Worked 5f Fri. at SAR |
| 11 | Coal Battle | 2nd Indiana Derby (G3) | No works since last race |
| 12 | Luxor Cafe | 12th Kentucky Derby | No works since last race |
| 13 | Neoequos | 9th Woody Stephens (G1) | Entered Fri. in Jersey Shore |
| 14 | Publisher | 4th Indiana Derby (G3) | No works since last race |
| 15 | Citizen Bull | 4th Woody Stephens (G1) | Worked 4f June 23 at SA |
| 16 | American Promise | 8th Preakness | Worked 4f June 10 at CD |
| 17 | Render Judgment | 17th Kentucky Derby | Worked 4f June 5 at SAR |
| 18 | Flying Mohawk | 18th Kentucky Derby | Worked 4f at June 28 at CD |
| 19 | Admire Daytona | 19th Kentucky Derby | No works since last race |
| SCR | Grande | 2nd Wood Memorial (G2) | Worked 5f April 25 at KEE |
| SCR | Rodriguez | 4th Belmont | Worked 4f Mon. at SA |
2025 Preakness Stakes
In addition to Journalism, two more horses from the Preakness will return to action in the Haskell at Monmouth on Saturday. Runner-up Gosger and fourth-place Goal Oriented each make their first start since the second jewel of the Triple Crown.
Clever Again returned in the Ohio Derby (G3) on June 21. He set the early pace but could not hold off the chasing pack in upper stretch and weakened to sixth, 11 1/2 lengths behind winner Mo Plex.
| * | Horse | Last race | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Journalism | 2nd Belmont | Entered Sat. in Haskell (G1) |
| 2 | Gosger | 2nd Preakness | Entered Sat. in Haskell (G1) |
| 3 | Sandman | 3rd Preakness | Worked 5f July 5 at SAR |
| 4 | Goal Oriented | 4th Preakness | Entered Sat. in Haskell (G1) |
| 5 | Heart of Honor | 6th Belmont | No works since last race |
| 6 | River Thames | 6th Preakness | Worked 4f June 12 at CD |
| 7 | Pay Billy | 7th Preakness | No works since last race |
| 8 | American Promise | 8th Preakness | Worked 4f June 10 at CD |
| 9 | Clever Again | 6th Ohio Derby (G3) | Worked 5f Fri. at SAR |
2025 Belmont Stakes
None of the Belmont field has run back yet. However, Journalism is expected to be first, on Saturday in the Haskell, and then Sovereignty and Baeza are expected to follow suit the following weekend in the Jim Dandy (G2) at Saratoga.
| Belmont | Horse | Last race | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sovereignty | 1st Belmont | Worked 5f Sat. at SAR |
| 2 | Journalism | 2nd Belmont | Entered Sat. in Haskell (G1) |
| 3 | Baeza | 3rd Belmont | Worked 6f Fri. at SA |
| 4 | Rodriguez | 4th Belmont | Worked 4f Mon. at SA |
| 5 | Hill Road | 5th Belmont | Worked 4f Sun. at SAR |
| 6 | Heart of Honor | 6th Belmont | No works since last race |
| 7 | Uncaged | 7th Belmont | Worked 4f Wed. at SAR |
| 8 | Crudo | 8th Belmont | Worked 4f Wed. at SAR |