Andy Newton
The Belmont Stakes returns on Saturday, June 6, with Saratoga Race Course once again hosting the final leg of America’s Triple Crown while the redevelopment of Belmont Park continues – and to help build the excitement we look past at the past winners.
The 158th running of the race will be carry a $2 million Belmont Stakes purse and, despite being contested over a shorter 1¼-mile trip than its traditional distance, remains one of the most prestigious prizes in world racing.
Also see the Eddie Olczyk Belmont Stakes picks, plus his best bets for the Met Mile and Manhattan Stakes.
Belmont Stakes Winners 2025-2016: The Last 10 Champions And How They Won
2025 – Sovereignty (Trainer: Bill Mott | Jockey: Junior Alvarado)
Fresh from winning the Kentucky Derby, Sovereignty bypassed the Preakness and arrived at Saratoga a fresh horse.
Alvarado settled him comfortably before unleashing a powerful late challenge that carried him past Journalism in the stretch.
The victory gave Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott a second Belmont Stakes success and confirmed Sovereignty as the leading three-year-old of his generation.
Heading into the 2026 renewal, he’s the latest of the Belmont Stakes winners.
2024 – Dornoch (Trainer: Danny Gargan | Jockey: Luis Saez)
Sent off at generous odds, Dornoch produced one of the surprises of recent Belmont history.
Luis Saez put him into a prominent position early and never allowed the more fancied runners to settle.
Showing tremendous determination in the closing stages, Dornoch held off a strong challenge from Mindframe to give trainer Danny Gargan the biggest win of his career.
2023 – Arcangelo (Trainer: Jena Antonucci | Jockey: Javier Castellano)
Arcangelo delivered a historic victory at Belmont Park.
Not only did he give veteran jockey Javier Castellano a long-awaited first Belmont Stakes win, but he also made Jena Antonucci the first female trainer ever to win a Triple Crown race.
After tracking the pace throughout, Arcangelo surged to the front turning for home and powered clear in impressive fashion.
2022 – Mo Donegal (Trainer: Todd Pletcher | Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.)
After finishing fifth in the Kentucky Derby, Mo Donegal bounced back in style. Irad Ortiz Jr. gave the colt a patient ride from near the rear before weaving through traffic approaching the final turn.
Once in the clear, Mo Donegal produced a sustained run to wear down the leaders and provide Todd Pletcher with another Belmont Stakes triumph – his fourth and counting.
2021 – Essential Quality (Trainer: Brad Cox | Jockey: Luis Saez)
The champion two-year-old of 2020 added a Classic victory to his résumé with a gutsy Belmont success.
Essential Quality raced close to the pace throughout before engaging in a thrilling duel with Hot Rod Charlie down the stretch.
His class and stamina ultimately proved decisive as he edged clear in the final furlong.
2020 – Tiz the Law (Trainer: Barclay Tagg | Jockey: Manny Franco)
Run as the first leg of the Triple Crown because of the pandemic-disrupted season, the Belmont was shortened to 1¼ miles.
Tiz the Law dominated the race from start to finish, cruising to a comfortable victory under Manny Franco.
The New York-bred star looked every inch a future Triple Crown contender and became a hometown hero in the process.
2019 – Sir Winston (Trainer: Mark Casse | Jockey: Joel Rosario)
Sir Winston entered the Belmont as something of an overlooked contender but relished the demanding mile-and-a-half trip.
Rosario settled him near the rear before producing a perfectly timed challenge in the straight.
Sir Winston swept past the leaders late on to record a memorable upset for trainer Mark Casse.
2018 – Justify (Trainer: Bob Baffert | Jockey: Mike Smith)
One of the most famous Belmont victories of modern times.
Having already won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, Justify arrived chasing Triple Crown glory.
Mike Smith sent him straight to the lead and the unbeaten colt never looked in danger, galloping relentlessly to the line to become racing’s 13th Triple Crown winner.
Giving Bob Baffert a third Belmont Stakes after wins with Point Given (2001) and American Pharoah (2015), who was also a Triple Crown hero.
2017 – Tapwrit (Trainer: Todd Pletcher | Jockey: Jose Ortiz)
Tapwrit gave Todd Pletcher a third Belmont Stakes victory after a perfectly judged ride from Jose Ortiz.
Positioned just behind the leaders throughout, he moved smoothly into contention around the final bend before pulling away from Irish War Cry in the closing stages.
The race showcased the colt’s stamina and determination over the testing distance.
2016 – Creator (Trainer: Steve Asmussen | Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.)
Creator produced one of the closest finishes in Belmont Stakes history.
Held up towards the rear for much of the race, he unleashed a late burst down the centre of the track and got up in the final stride to deny Destin by a nose.
The dramatic victory handed Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen his first Belmont Stakes success.
