By the time jockey Junior Alvarado let the colt loose at the top of the stretch, there was nothing left to settle — only admiration to offer.

Seven older horses with more than $26 million in combined earnings are entered.

Sovereignty bested Journalism on Saturday in a Kentucky Derby rematch to win the 157th Belmont Stakes, and the second hosted at Saratoga.

With Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty skipping the second leg of the Triple Crown, NBC’s race segment averaged just 4.56 million viewers, its lowest Preakness audience since 1995.

For Alvarado, riding in his sixth Derby, it was a dream come true. His father was a respected jockey in his home country, and Junior grew up following his path.

For more than 23 minutes, the replay of Sovereignty’s rousing, splash through the mud romp to win Kentucky Derby 151 replayed on the TV monitors to Bill Mott’s left in the Churchill Downs interview room Saturday.