June 5, 2025
NEW YORK — By Matthew Lomon
Settling the Score
The 157th renewal of the $2 million Belmont (G1) won’t anoint a Triple Crown champion, but it may very well decide the rubber match between Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Sovereignty and Preakness (G1) victor Journalism.
Meeting on Saturday at Saratoga the first time since the Derby – Sovereignty skipped the Preakness – the elite 3-year-olds enter the 1 ¼-mile event as the top two choices on the board.
Journalism, at 8-5, holds the slightest edge over Sovereignty, who closely follows at 2-1 on the opening line.
Occupying posts two (Sovereignty) and seven (Journalism), the favored duo must also contend with Santa Anita Derby (G1) runner-up Baeza (4-1) and Wood Memorial (G2) winner Rodriguez (6-1).
Heavyweight Tilt
Sporting a combined 11 graded stakes triumphs and north of $11 million in purse earnings, the leading contenders in Saturday’s $1 million Metropolitan Handicap (G1) at Saratoga – Fierceness (even-money) and White Abarrio (9-5) – are in a league of their own.
The former, responsible for five of those graded conquests and $4.3 million, dazzled in his 2025 debut, claiming May’s Alysheba (G2) by 1 ½ lengths.
The latter, with six graded tallies and nearly $7 million to his name, is off to a perfect two-for-two start in his age 6 season after capturing the Pegasus World Cup (G1) and Ghostzapper (G3).
Fierceness will be making his Metropolitan debut, while White Abarrio hopes the third time’s the charm (third in 2023, fifth in 2024).
A Toll Worth Paying
There are 21 bridges in the city of Manhattan, but only Far Bridge has a direct path to the winner’s circle in Saturday’s $1 million Manhattan (G1T) at Saratoga.
Returning for a second shot at the 1 3/16-mile contest after landing in third last year, the five-time graded stakes winning colt has looked the part of a champion through two starts this season.
Opening with a hard-fought tally in March’s Pan American (G3T), Far Bridge remained on course with a one-length decision in May’s Man o’ War (G2T) at Aqueduct.
The Manhattan will be the Miguel Clement charge’s first outing at the Grade 1 level since last November’s Breeders Cup Turf (G1T), where he finished ninth following a pair of conquests in the Sword Dancer (G1T) and Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1T).
Far Bridge opens at 3-1 behind 5-2 favorite Spirit of St Louis.
Downsizing
Following an uncharacteristic past two starts (15th in the Kentucky Derby; fourth in the Santa Anita Derby), champion colt Citizen Bull is shortening up in this Saturday’s $500,000 Woody Stephens (G1) at Saratoga.
Moving to seven furlongs after bouts at 1 1/8 and 1 miles, Citizen Bull will be making his first start around one turn since September’s Del Mar Futurity (G1), where he finished third.
The dry spell, however, should not overshadow the Mike Smith mount’s extensive list of accomplishments, which includes three graded trophies, and two at the Grade 1 tier (American Pharoah and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile).
Eyeing a return to form in the Woody Stephens, Citizen Bull charges in at 5-1.
Need for Speed
The key to Saturday’s $500,000, 5-furlong Jaipur (G1T) at Saratoga? Speed, speed, and more speed.
And, Think Big, fresh off a set of blazing victories in the Shakertown (G2T) and Twin Spires Turf Sprint (G2T), certainly fits the profile.
After an inconsistent start to his career (fifth, first, fifth, eighth), the 4-year-old speedster found his footing in early December.
The gelding trained by Michael Stidham then parlayed that success at the lower ranks into immediate dividends at the graded tier, on April 8, and most recently, May 3.
Think Big, with an opportunity to join the $1 million lifetime earnings club, enters as the clear 6-5 favorite.