India, June 8 -- Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty won the 157th Belmont Stakes on Saturday, surging past favored Journalism just as he did at Churchill Downs to finish with two legs of this year's Triple Crown. Sovereignty sat out of the Preakness only to make a stunning return in the last leg, pulling away in the final straight to relegate Journalism to second again.

Baeza was third to complete the repeat of the Kentucky Derby one-two-three.

With the win, Sovereignty claims a large share of the $2 million purse.

The 2025 Belmont Stakes offered a $2 million purse, matching 2024's increase from $1.5 million and equaling the Preakness but trailing the Kentucky Derby's $5 million. The purse was split among the top eight finishers, with 8...