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SARATOGA SPRINGS – Anticipation is building as horse racing enthusiasts look forward to Saturday’s Belmont Stakes, temporarily hosted at Saratoga, which could evolve into a thrilling three-way contest.

In the Kentucky Derby on May 3, Baeza surged late, closing to within two lengths of Sovereignty, who secured the win with Journalism finishing between them. Journalism subsequently claimed victory in the Preakness two weeks later, while sovereignty took a break.

Now, with the Belmont Stakes taking place at Saratoga due to ongoing renovations at Belmont Park, Baeza enters as the third-favored contender at 4-1, hoping to seize a portion of the Triple Crown.

“I had a hard time finding him [in the Derby] because it was so muddy that day, but once he got out and made his move, he was obviously finishing faster than any horse in the race,” trainer John Shirreffs said. “After the race, [jockey] Flavian [Prat] said he didn’t get all the run he could have out of Baeza had he had an possibility to get out a little sooner.”

John Shirreffs is renowned for his training of 2005 Kentucky Derby victor Giacomo and 2009 Breeders’ Cup Classic champion Zenyatta.

Jockey Flavian Prat boasts two Triple Crown victories, having won the 2019 Kentucky Derby aboard Country House and the 2021 Preakness with Rombauer.

Baeza himself stands on the cusp of etching his name in racing lore.

Should Baeza triumph on Saturday, his broodmare, Puca, would achieve the unprecedented feat of producing three Triple Crown race champions in consecutive years.

Mage secured the Kentucky Derby in 2023, and Dornoch clinched the Belmont Stakes the following year.

Both Mage and Dornoch share the same sire and dam: Good Magic and Puca.

Baeza’s sire is McKinzie. Similar to Mage and Dornoch, Baeza spent his formative months at Runnymede Farm in Paris, Ky.

“[baeza is] a dream to train. I mean, there’s nothing I would wont to change about that horse,” Shirreffs said.”He’s the perfect weight. He’s the perfect size. He’s got a stunning stride. He’s got this great appetite. He’s the total package.”

Baeza carries the name of Hall of Fame jockey Braulio Baeza, who, in 1963, became the first Latin American jockey to win the Kentucky Derby aboard Chateaugay.

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Mike Repole, a prominent figure in St. John’s basketball, celebrated a Belmont Stakes victory with Mo Donegal in 2022 and secured second place with Mindframe last year.

This Saturday, he will send Uncaged, with odds of 30-1, to the starting gate, under the guidance of trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey Luis Saez.

Luis Saez rode Dornoch to victory in the previous year’s Belmont Stakes.

Repole’s Fierceness aims to secure an automatic entry into the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, competing in the $1 million Metropolitan Handicap, scheduled as Saturday’s eighth race.

Fierceness triumphed in the Travers Stakes in 2024, a highlight of Saratoga’s summer racing season.

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Chris Mara, a member of the Giants’ board of directors, celebrated a win on Friday.

He is part of the ownership group of Bellacose, the winner of the first race, ridden by jockey John Velazquez and trained by Wesley Ward.

“He’s the perfect weight. He’s the perfect size. he’s got a beautiful stride. He’s got this great appetite. He’s the total package.”