Updated profiles, with post positions and track odds for the 20 3-year-olds entered for the 151st running of the $5 million Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs are available Saturday (May 3).
Hall of Famer Bill Mott does have a Kentucky Derby (G1) victory on his stellar resume. However, it came after 2019 first-place finisher Maximum Security was disqualified, and the trainer’s 65-1 longshot Country House was declared the winner after running second.
This time, Sovereignty makes Mott one of the favorites in the Run for the Roses. A win would not only give Mott that winning moment he missed six years ago, but deliver to Godolphin Racing -- the world’s leading ownership operation–– a first Kentucky Derby victory.
Mott has slowly brought Sovereignty, and the son of leading sire Into Mischief might be set for a stellar performance.
A five-length victory over Tiztastic and Sandman (also top Kentucky Derby contenders) in the Street Sense (G3) as a 2-year-old was the tip-off that Sovereignty was a serious racehorse.
His much-anticipated 3-year-old debut came four months later in the Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park on March 1. Bingo! With Junior Alvarado aboard, the colt finished with a rush and beat River Thames by a neck. Next was the 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby (G1), where he was a closing second to Tappan Street (also sired by Into Mischief). Manny Franco was aboard for the first time, replacing regular rider Alvarado, who was out with an injury but returns for the Kentucky Derby.
“This doesn’t have to be his best race,’’ Mott said after the Florida Derby. “Sometimes you can look at it and say, maybe that’s a good thing. You don’t want their best race before the big event.”
The progression to 1 ¼ miles in the Derby should work to his advantage, and with an April 11 work of 4 furlongs in 48.40 at Payson Park in Florida, Sovereignty will be a force to reckon with, especially if there’s a strong early pace.
It sure looks like he has the heart of a champion despite his runner-up finish in the Florida Derby. And remember, the Derby winner the past four years did not win his final prep. Win contender.
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
