Sovereignty will not try to reign on the triple crown.
In what is a sign of the time and a new modern approach to horse racing, the 2025 Kentucky derby winner Jumps the Preakness Stakes, rather focusing on Belmont's challenges in Saratoga next month.
Although most Kentucky Derby winners do not think twice to go to Preakness and continue their offer for the triple Crown, we see more and more derby runners coach chooses to jump for Pimlico and point their horse to Belmont in early June.
The reason mentioned is almost always rapid reversal.
The preakness takes place two weeks after the Kentucky Derby, which is undoubtedly the most exhausting competition of the calendar due to the distance, the 20 horsepower field and the pressure that is accompanied by the most famous horse race in the world.
“We have received a call from coach Bill Mott today that sovereignty will not participate in the Preakness. Bill informed us that they would point to the Belmont Stakes,” said Mike Rogers, executive vice-president of 1 / ST, who heads the Preakness, in a press release.
Mott noted that sovereignty, which beat 3-1 favorite journalism in the race for roses, suffered a scratch on his right paters, although it is not clear if this is why he will give up preakness.
Without a doubt, the decision will have an impact on ticket sales and income for the Preakness, which is already considered to be lagging behind the two legs of the triple Crown which tightens it.
The financial future of Pimlico Race Track has been a concern during the yearsAnd the emerging trend to jump the preakness will not help things.
Sovereignty is the second horse in the past four years (Rich Strike, 2022) to circumvent the trip to Maryland and head directly to New York.
“We extend our congratulations to the bonds of sovereignty and respect their decision,” said Rogers. “We continue to see the excitement heading to the significant celebration of the 150th preakness challenges, and we are impatiently awaiting an incredible weekend of world-class shopping and entertainment.”
Justify is the last horse to win the triple crown in 2018, three years after the American Pharoah became the first horse to accomplish the feat since the affirmation in 1978.
Justify and American Pharoah were trained by Bob Baffert.
