Best of 2025: Sovereignty through the binoculars of Frank Mirahmadi

To celebrate a remarkable year of racing action on the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) circuit, the NYRA Press Office checked in with a selection of trainers, owners, jockeys and racing personalities to share their reflections on the memorable year.

Godolphin’s Kentucky homebred colt Sovereignty put his dominance on full display with jockey Junior Alvarado this summer at Saratoga Race Course with emphatic victories in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets, the Grade 2 Jim Dandy presented by Mohegan Sun and the Grade 1 DraftKings Travers for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott to go with a win in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby in May at Churchill Downs.

WATCH REPLAYS:  Belmont Stakes  |  Jim Dandy  |  Travers

The Belmont Stakes shaped up as a rematch between Sovereignty and Grade 1 Preakness winner/Kentucky Derby runner-up Journalism, and the colts delivered, repeating their one-two finish with Derby third-place finisher Baeza checking in third again. Sovereignty went on to post a workmanlike victory in the Jim Dandy over Baeza ahead of a 10-length romp in the Travers to provide Mott with an elusive score in the Spa’s centerpiece event. 

Throughout the son of Into Mischief’s reign over the sophomore division this summer, the story of each race was told by Saratoga track announcer Frank Mirahmadi, who began his tenure as the voice of the Spa and its broadcasts on the networks of Fox in 2023. Mirahmadi, who also serves as the full-time announcer for Santa Anita Park, called his first Belmont Stakes last year at the Spa and describes himself as a racing fan above anything else. 

Mirahmadi, a southern California native, fell in love with racing during childhood visits to Hollywood Park and Santa Anita. A knack for spot-on impersonations of celebrities and other track announcers led to his first race call in 1992 at Hollywood Park, and he has since called at a host of tracks including Aqueduct Racetrack, Monmouth Park and Oaklawn Park, among others. 

Mirahmadi reflected on Sovereignty’s memorable three-race run at Saratoga this summer and what it was like to experience it from the best seat in the house.

Q: What were you looking forward to most in calling another Belmont Stakes at Saratoga and what stands out most about the race in your memory?

Frank Mirahmadi (FM): “For me, the Belmont was such a huge event because we had an opportunity to see what was basically a rematch of the Kentucky Derby. With Journalism having had that dramatic victory in the Preakness, it would have been a defining moment had he won the Belmont as he participated in all three Triple Crown races and he would be turning the tables on the Kentucky Derby winner. I was looking at the race with a lot of nervousness and great anticipation. 

“Sovereignty and Journalism both looked so powerful in the post parade, and all I could tell you is that there was a moment in the far turn where Sovereignty had lost a touch of ground, but it was really an optical illusion. I remember thinking about what to say, and I knew there was no need to say anything because we didn’t know yet. The question was going to be answered when he got some room. 

“When Journalism made his big move [to take the lead], everyone watching that race had to think he was home free. It was so dramatic, but I wish people could experience what I was able to see through the binoculars when they turned for home – when Sovereignty angled out, it was almost like a coyote coming after a kitten. It was so ferocious the way he came and got Journalism, and he made it crystal clear who he was. I felt an incredible adrenaline rush watching that, and Journalism is a great horse, but Sovereignty was head and shoulders the best horse.”

Q: You proclaimed in your call of the Belmont Stakes that Sovereignty was “the best 3-year-old in the world.” What point in the race did that phrase come to mind?

FM: “I never thought of those words until then. If you had freeze-framed it around the five-sixteenths and asked me what would happen, I would have said Journalism was about to jog. That’s why you have to watch the race and I was just glad I didn’t say something when Sovereignty was shuffling a touch. Once he came out, that was something else. I was very happy with the call.”

Q: In the Jim Dandy, Sovereignty cut back to nine-furlongs and was last for a stride or two in the final turn. What were your thoughts as he commenced his run? 

FM: “When he lost a little ground, I did wonder for a brief second what would happen. Before I could even finish that sentence in my mind, it was resolved. That’s when you know you have a horse that has the potential to go in the all-time category. There’s so many horses who get defeated in preps. In the end, the Travers was the ultimate goal, but he showed that when you’re that classy, it doesn’t matter what the distance is. Class overcomes everything, and he outclassed them.” 

Q: As impressive as Sovereignty was in the Belmont, he seemed to take yet another step forward in the Travers with his open-lengths trouncing as you commented, “we are witnessing greatness.” What caught your attention the most in his Travers win? 

FM: “When he took the lead, it was pretty deep into the stretch and then he had that margin between him and Bracket Buster. It was ridiculous. You cannot put up that many lengths in that short of a period of time unless you are blowing the field off the racetrack. That’s the thing that showed it wasn’t a race – it was an exhibition and poetry in motion.” 

Q: Bill Mott was in search of his first Travers win, and you congratulated him once the horses crossed the wire. What did that mean to you to call this milestone, and was it in your mind throughout the race? 

FM: “His career has been defined by excellence and class. He’s such a gentleman, he handles the media so well, he’s a good man, and his accomplishments speak for themselves. I got to see him at the beginning of my career when he was running some horses at Hialeah. To see where he is 30 years later is incredible. It was weird for me to say that [the congratulatory message], but I felt like he deserved to hear it. I didn’t script it to say something about Bill Mott, but I was so happy for him. I know how important the Travers and its history is, and it was weird for him not to have it. He unleashed a beast that day.”

Q: After reflecting on each of Sovereignty’s wins in New York this year, which one was your personal favorite and the most memorable? 

FM: “It’s a great question, and I’d have to go with the Belmont Stakes. For a southern California native to call the Belmont Stakes on Fox Sports was something I could never have even dreamed about. There was so much anticipation and drama going into the race. The place was packed, we’re on Fox Sports, it’s an American Classic, and it’s so hard to top that. 

“In my mind, Journalism ran a winning race, [Umberto] Rispoli pushed the button and took over, and then Sovereignty came and said, ‘hey, back off.’ It was pretty cool to see. I try my best not to anticipate or predict these things before they happen. Only one person was able to get an opinion out of me leading up to the race, and all I said was, ‘I just don’t understand why Sovereignty isn’t the favorite in here.’ I just want to be able to open my eyes and tell the people what they see, which is what my idol Trevor Denman instructed me to do when I got the job at Santa Anita.” 

Q: Among the accomplished horses you have called in your career are Hall of Famers American Pharoah and Tiznow. Where does Sovereignty rank in terms of the best horses you have called? 

FM: “That horse is very, very special. He goes down as one of the greatest horses I’ve ever called. Tiznow and American Pharoah are two pretty big names that I’ve had the honor of calling, and Sovereignty is – from a skillset and power-performer stance – right in the conversation with those kinds of horses. That’s how good he is. 

“As an announcer, from the beginning, I’ve always been a fan first. It’s an incredible feeling to be attached to those races of Sovereignty’s, and the only voice attached to those races. I’ve called a lot of big races that others have called on network television, so for me to be the only one to call and celebrate those races is special. I love celebrating winners, so to celebrate the best horse in the country is something that is indescribable.” 

Q: Now that you’ve had the opportunity to call two Belmont Stakes, how excited are you for one more Belmont Stakes at Saratoga as we wrap up this chapter in New York racing? 

FM: “It’s a beautiful thing, and the word privilege has to come into my vocabulary for this, because that’s exactly what it is. It’s very special to me, and it’s going to be a lot of fun. I smiled east to west when I saw the racing schedule come out and what is happening at Saratoga in 2026.”

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America's Day at the Races presents live coverage and analysis of every day of the Aqueduct Racetrack fall meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit NYRA.com/TV.

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