June 8, 2025
TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon
Still the King
Sovereignty’s dominion over the latest American Triple Crown season remained unquestioned, as the 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1) champion collected his second jewel – the $2 million Belmont (G1) – with casual ease.
After bowing out of last month’s Preakness (G1) in the interest of preservation, Sovereignty looked relaxed and revitalized on Saturday afternoon at Saratoga.
The 3-year-old Bill Mott trainee proved a notch above the rest, exercising incredible patience before pulling away for the uncontested three-length score.
Sovereignty’s stellar showing, which sparked plenty of hindsight-driven debate about his Preakness absence, paid $7 flat.
Under the Radar
Ahead of Saturday’s $1 million Metropolitan (G1) at Saratoga, all the talk was about the duo of Fierceness and White Abarrio, who together own 11 graded stakes triumphs and more than $11 million in purse earnings.
However, during the $1 million Metropolitan, all eyes were trained on 8-1 underdog Raging Torrent, who cruised coast-to-coast for the 2 ½-length tally.
Operating out of post five, the Doug O’Neill charge made a confident move to the front of the pack, leaving his superstar contemporaries behind for good.
The second Grade 1 triumph of Raging Torrent’s quietly outstanding career (14: 7-1-2; $1.97 million) paid a handsome $18.
In All Seriousness…
There was no time for clowning around for Patch Adams, the favorite in Saturday’s $500,000 Woody Stephens (G1) at Saratoga.
Sent off as the field of 10’s slight 3-1 choice, the 3-year-old son of Into Mischief–Well Humored was cool and calculated in a determined dash for the finish line, arriving 2 ¼ lengths ahead of 11-1 challenger Madaket Road.
Patch Adams’ second straight trip to the winner’s circle resulted in his first graded success following a pair of fourths in the Southwest (G3) and Tampa Bay Derby (G1).
Now standing 3-0-1 lifetime across six starts, Patch Adams paid $8.80.
In My Element
Nitrogen, the element, is the fifth most abundant in the universe. Nitrogen, the 3-year-old filly, was the most abundant in Saturday afternoon’s $300,000 Wonder Again (G3) at Saratoga.
In a contest initially defined by a slew of scratches (five), Nitrogen, the 2-5 favorite in the heavily condensed three-horse affair, took advantage of the extra space with a dominant 17-length decision to remain unbeaten in 2025.
Off to a perfect 5-for-5 start to her sophomore campaign, Nitrogen has now collected four graded stakes titles and more than $1 million in prize money.
The rapidly ascending Mark Casse trainee’s latest triumph paid a modest $2.80.
New Horizons
Book’em Danno, last year’s Wood Stephens champion, didn’t return to Saratoga to defend his crown. Instead, the Derek Ryan charge sought a new challenge in the $400,000 True North (G3).
Working in tandem with rider Paco Lopez, Book’em Danno fought gamely to establish position and out-grind his opponents for a deserving 1 ¼-length victory.
Getting back to the winner’s circle on the graded stage felt overdue for the 4-year-old gelding, who had dropped his last four outings at the level after the Woody Stephens.
In rhythm, once again, Book’em Danno paid $6.60.