After the Derby win, the Godolphin-owned 3-year-old opted out of the Preakness Stakes to focus on the Belmont, forfeiting a shot at history to win the Triple Crown. The Triple Crown hasn’t been won since 2018, when Bob Baffert’s Justify won the 105th Belmont Stakes to secure the third jewel.

The race marked a kind of replay of the Kentucky Derby. Sovereignty finished in first, Journalism ended up in second again and Baeza was third — the same 1-2-3 as the Derby.

Kentucky Derby winner, Sovereignty, is set for a rematch with Preakness Stakes winner, Journalism, having finished first and second, respectively, in the first leg of the Triple Crown. Journalism was originally favored to win the 2025 Kentucky Derby with 5-1 morning line odds.