Saratoga

Both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes were run at 1¼ miles because Belmont Park is undergoing a rebuilding project forcing the race to move to Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

The reason the race was shortened is because to have a 1 1/2-mile race at Saratoga, the horses would have to start on a turn, something the organizers didn’t want to happen.

This year the Belmont Stakes will be held at Saratoga because Belmont Park is undergoing a massive rebuilding.

Obviously, with the Belmont going to Saratoga last year and this year, it makes for a little bit of a different kind of a series.

Trainer Bill Mott, a Hall of Famer, just didn’t think it was worth it to run Sovereignty back in two weeks and compromise his chances of winning the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga.