Kentucky Derby Winner Sovereignty to Skip Preakness, Target Belmont Stakes
Sovereignty will miss Preakness Stakes in pursuit of Belmont, eliminating chance for Triple Crown for seventh consecutive year.
Overview
Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty will not participate in the Preakness Stakes, as trainer Bill Mott has opted to focus on the Belmont Stakes instead. This decision means there will be no opportunity for a Triple Crown champion for the seventh consecutive year. The announcement was made on Tuesday by 1/ST Racing’s Executive VP, Mike Rogers, who respected Mott's choice. Sovereignty won the Derby under challenging muddy conditions and Mott emphasized the importance of the horse's long-term well-being. Debates over the scheduling of the Triple Crown races continue, with some advocating for a change to enhance participation.
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Analysis
- Sovereignty, the 2025 Kentucky Derby winner, will not race in the Preakness Stakes, resulting in no Triple Crown winner for the seventh consecutive year.
- Trainer Bill Mott emphasized the importance of prioritizing the horse's well-being, stating the decision to skip the Preakness was made with long-term interests in mind. The plan is to enter Sovereignty in the Belmont Stakes on June 7 at Saratoga.
- The Preakness Stakes comes just two weeks after the Kentucky Derby, raising concerns about the scheduling and whether it allows for the best horses to compete.
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FOX News·2M·FAQ
Trainer Bill Mott decided to have Sovereignty skip the Preakness Stakes to prioritize the horse's long-term well-being and ensure adequate rest before the Belmont Stakes, as the quick two-week turnaround after the Kentucky Derby is not considered sufficient for full recovery.
Yes, in recent years Kentucky Derby winners have frequently opted out of the Preakness Stakes due to the short two-week recovery period, which has led to concerns about the quality of the Preakness field and sparked debates about modifying the Triple Crown schedule.
The Triple Crown in horse racing refers to the achievement of winning the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes in succession. The last horse to win the Triple Crown was Justify in 2018.
The Belmont Stakes is scheduled for June 7, 2025, and trainer Bill Mott has confirmed plans to enter Sovereignty in this race.
Only Journalism and American Promise are considering running in the Preakness Stakes out of the 19 horses that competed in the 2025 Kentucky Derby.
History
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