The energy at Saratoga Race Course was honestly something else this year. If you’re looking for the quick answer to how many horses are running in the Belmont Stakes 2025, the official count was eight. Just eight.
It feels like a small number, especially when you compare it to the chaotic 20-horse stampede we see at the Kentucky Derby. But a small field doesn’t mean a boring race. In fact, having fewer horses often makes the tactical side of things way more intense because there’s nowhere to hide. You’ve got the best of the best, and they aren’t getting "trapped" behind a wall of 50-1 longshots.
This year’s running was the 157th edition of the "Test of the Champion," though it was actually a bit shorter than usual. Because of the ongoing construction at Belmont Park, the race stayed at Saratoga for a second straight year. That meant we were running at 1 1/4 miles instead of the traditional 1 1/2 miles. Basically, the track at Saratoga isn't built to handle a 12-furlong dirt race starting at the proper spot, so they kept it to the Derby distance.
Why Only Eight Horses Made the Cut
People always ask why the field gets so thin by the time June rolls around. It’s pretty simple: the Triple Crown is a meat grinder. By the time the Belmont Stakes 2025 arrived on June 7, a lot of the early season favorites were either tired, injured, or just plain exposed as not being good enough.
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The 2025 field was headlined by a massive rematch. We had Sovereignty, the Bill Mott-trained colt who took the Kentucky Derby, going up against Journalism, the Michael McCarthy runner who skipped the Derby winner’s circle but roared back to win the Preakness Stakes. When you have two titans like that at the top of the ticket, it tends to scare off the "middle class" of the racing world.
Owners don't really want to pay thousands in entry fees just to watch their horse finish 15 lengths behind a superstar.
The Official 2025 Lineup and Post Positions
Here is exactly who showed up to the starting gate. You’ll notice the odds were heavily tilted toward the top two:
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- Hill Road (10-1): Ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. and trained by Chad Brown. He came in off a win in the Peter Pan and honestly looked like the only one who could crash the party.
- Sovereignty (2-1): Junior Alvarado was back in the irons. This horse is a beast. He skipped the Preakness to stay fresh for this specific race.
- Rodriguez (6-1): A Bob Baffert trainee with Mike Smith on board. He missed the first two legs because of some foot issues, so he was the "fresh face" people were gambling on.
- Uncaged (30-1): One of Todd Pletcher’s two entries. He was a massive longshot for a reason—his recent form just wasn't there.
- Crudo (15-1): Another Pletcher horse. He’s a son of Justify, so he had the pedigree, but he was jumping up in class significantly.
- Baeza (4-1): Trained by John Shirreffs. This horse finished third in the Derby and was arguably the most consistent runner in the field besides the big two.
- Journalism (8-5): The morning-line favorite. After that Preakness win, Umberto Rispoli had this horse looking like a literal machine.
- Heart of Honor (30-1): An international entry from Jamie Osborne’s barn. Saffie Osborne took the mount, making it a cool father-daughter storyline, but the horse was overmatched.
The Strategy Behind the Small Field
When you only have eight horses, the "break" from the gate is everything. At Saratoga, the 1 1/4-mile start gives them a decent run into the first turn, but if you get pinned on the rail, you're in trouble.
Rodriguez was the speed. Everyone knew it. Baffert’s whole plan was basically to let Mike Smith send him to the front and see if anyone could catch him. But when you have a horse like Sovereignty stalking you from the second or third position, you can’t exactly relax.
It’s also worth noting that the $2 million purse was a record high. Even with only eight horses, the stakes were massive. NYRA (New York Racing Association) really leaned into the Saratoga "vibe" to make up for the fact that the race wasn't at its historic home.
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What Happened on Race Day?
If you missed it, the race basically turned into a carbon copy of the Kentucky Derby finish. Sovereignty was just too much for them. He sat back, waited for the turn, and then just exploded down the stretch. Journalism tried to go with him—it was a dogfight for about half a furlong—but Sovereignty pulled away to win by three lengths.
It was a bit of a "told you so" moment for Bill Mott. By skipping the Preakness, he gave his horse five weeks of rest while Journalism had to run three times in five weeks. That fresh set of legs made all the difference when they hit the top of the lane.
Baeza ended up finishing third, which meant the top three finishers of the 2025 Belmont Stakes were exactly the same horses that topped the Kentucky Derby. That hasn't happened in forever. It really proved that this specific crop of three-year-olds had a very clear "A-team."
Actionable Tips for Following Future Fields
If you’re trying to track the field size for next year or just want to understand how these numbers come together, keep these points in mind:
- Watch the Peter Pan Stakes: This is the local New York prep race. Usually, the winner of this race (like Hill Road this year) gets an automatic look for the Belmont.
- The "Five-Week" Rule: Since the gap between the Derby and the Belmont is five weeks, look for horses that ran in Kentucky but skipped Baltimore (the Preakness). They are almost always the most dangerous runners in the Belmont field.
- Maximum Capacity: Even though only eight ran this year, the Saratoga track can technically hold up to 14 for this distance. Don't expect a full gate of 14, though—the Belmont is rarely that crowded.
- Track the Renovations: Belmont Park is expected to be ready for the 2026 race. When the race moves back to the "Big Sandy," we will go back to the 1 1/2-mile distance, which changes the type of horse that can actually win.
The 2025 season was definitely a weird one with the venue change and the shorter distance, but seeing a horse like Sovereignty cement his legacy as the best of his generation was worth the price of admission.