As the trailers transporting horses who competed over Preakness Stakes Weekend pull out of Pimlico Racecourse, excitement for the Belmont Stakes is already building. While entries for the Belmont Stakes won’t be known for a few weeks, the racing world is hoping for a rematch between Kentucky Derby Winner Sovereignty and Preakness Stakes Winner Journalism.
Despite the fact a Triple Crown is not on the line, it’s a rematch that could be very interesting. Journalism would enter the Belmont Stakes off a second place finish to Sovereignty in the Kentucky Derby and a win in the Preakness Stakes. Sovereignty shipped into Saratoga shortly after his Kentucky Derby victory and has been patiently preparing for the Belmont Stakes.
Time will tell if a Belmont Stakes rematch is in the cards or whether Sovereignty will face a number of new opponents. In either case, Saratoga Springs is ready and anxious to host this year’s five day Belmont Racing Festival.
Preakness Day 150 had a number of quality stakes races leading up to the big race. We (Belladonna Racing, LLC, Twin Brook Stables, Woodford Racing, B.C.W.T. Ltd., Savvy Stables, GRC Racing and Taylor Creek) shipped in Retribution from Kentucky for the $150,000 Chick Lang Stakes and he didn’t disappoint. Sent off at odds of 9-1 from his outside post, he was ridden perfectly by multiple Eclipse Award Winning Jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. Laying just off the early speed, Retribution bided his time in fourth place. With a quarter of a mile to go, Irad asked Retribution and he muscled his way through horses down the stretch. He looks like a really nice sprinter.
You can watch a replay of the Retribution race here.
Thoroughbred Daily News article on Retribution.
Since I was in Italy with family and friends on Kentucky Derby Day, the time difference made it a little “challenging” to watch the Derby. The good news is racingandtasting.com’s Derby selection won and hopefully subscribers made a little money! We decided to treat the day like any other Derby Day which was a lot of fun. Good champagne and Italian Wines had to be substituted for mint juleps, and I don’t remember anyone complaining.
While traveling in Italy we had a chance to take some cooking classes, visit a couple of wine estates and enjoy the lifestyle. We discovered a Super Tuscan gem in Tenuta Argentiera in Tuscany. Over a leisurely lunch we tasted Italian white varietals (e.g. Vermentino) and three Super Tuscans. I really enjoyed the Tenuta Argentiera Bolgheri Superiore, which is a Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc blend. If you’re looking for an alternative to Sassacaia, Ornellaia, Solaia, etc., it is available for purchase in the U.S.
Traveling with friends and family, cooking, enjoying a good bottle of wine and having a couple of dollars on the Derby Winner makes for an enjoyable trip!