The Kentucky Derby victory at Mack in the Sovereign Kentucky Derby sparked curiosity as to whether Colt could build on his signature victory on the likely faster surface of the Triple Crown Trail with his victory at Mac.
The question is whether that test will come sooner or later.
[MORE: Sovereignty wins muddy 151st Kentucky Derby, outlasting favorite Journalism]
Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott didn’t sound like someone preparing his sovereignty for his trip to Baltimore to compete in the 150th Preakness Stakes on May 17th at the Pimlico racecourse.
“The great thing about Triple Crown is that there’s not much that can be done,” Mott said. It mentions American Pharaohs in 2015 and justifies them in 2018.
The direct future of horses that ended right behind sovereignty or skipped the Derby completely remained muddy.
Two-time triple crowned trainer Bob Buffert returned to Churchill Downs after a four-year suspension with two entries, but hurt Wood Memorial winner Rodriguez and headed for Preakness. Fellow Hall of Fame Todd Plecher hurt his only derby entrant, Grande, on Friday. There is also a large group of hopefuls who can score derby points during qualifying and try out other triple crown stops.
Preakness is the shortest race at 1 3/16 miles, but the 2-week fast turnaround from the 1 1/4 miles derby often pauses to trainers and ownership groups. The Belmont Stakes was set up on June 8th, five weeks after the Derby, and separated from Preakness for three weeks, making the race considered a preferred option by many.
The last gem of the Triple Crown, which will be held for the second year in a row at the Saratoga race course in upstate New York, features the same distance as the Derby due to the track shape rather than the traditional 1 1/2 mile.
[MORE: Kentucky Derby winners: Complete list by year since 1875]
The red may be due to the Derby runner-up journalism, which was lacking as a 3-1 favorite. Trainer Michael McCarthy was unable to speak with reporters on Sunday, but he temporarily focused on the lead before his 7-1 third choice, sovereignty, overtaking him with a stretch and won by 1 1/2 length.
“He made a great middle move and then he opened on the turn for the house,” McCarthy said after the race.
The final gambit was billed from 4th to 4th out of the 19 horses, with trainer Brad Cox saying “this gives you the confidence to try fast stain surfaces in the future.”
Michael Banahan, president of Mott and Godolphin LLC Ownership Group, expressed his same belief in sovereignty in his next step.
The latest Derby champions appeared temporarily in a queue of sheds for the media and onlookers, and his handlers felt good about the horse’s initial condition. They will see him for the next few days before deciding on a direct part of his bright future.
“We’re just doing the right thing for the horse, what he needs to do,” Banahan said. “He’s having a big year and hopefully he’ll continue his path here. There are also many great races that he wants to put on his resume, so we’re just doing the right thing for him.”
Report by Associated Press.
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