Sovereignty skips Preakness to focus on Belmont Stakes

In the United States, the horse racing world faced another year without a Triple Crown winner. After winning the 151st Kentucky Derby on May 4, 2025, Sovereignty, a three-year-old thoroughbred, will not participate in the upcoming Preakness Stakes. Instead, trainer Bill Mott announced that the horse is slated to compete in the Belmont Stakes on June 7, 2025, at Saratoga Race Course. This announcement was made just days following Sovereignty's impressive victory at Churchill Downs amidst muddy conditions, where the horse finished with a time of 2:02.31, outperforming 18 other competitors. A minor injury was also taken into account when making this decision. Mott disclosed that Sovereignty sustained a scrape on his right front pastern, which is not severe but raised concerns about the horse's readiness for the quick turnaround from the Derby to the Preakness. Making clear the priorities surrounding the long-term health of the horse, Mott stated, “We want to do what’s best for the horse.” This consideration reflects growing debates in modern horse racing regarding the scheduling and spacing of these demanding races, particularly given the two-week gap between the Derby and the Preakness. In the wider context, further discourse within the horse racing community has emerged around the Triple Crown schedule, previously dominated by Justify’s 2018 win. A prominent owner, Mike Repole, recently suggested a potential reshuffling of the traditional event order to accommodate thoroughbreds better and maintain the participation of top horses throughout the prestigious series. With Sovereignty’s exit from the Preakness, this marks the third consecutive year that the Derby-winning horse will not contend for the Preakness, following similar choices made by Rich Strike and Country House in previous years. As the Preakness Stakes, scheduled for May 17, 2025, approaches, many will look forward to the opportunistic pairing of Sovereignty in the Belmont. This decision not only sidelines the horse from the Preakness but also emphasizes a broader trend towards the well-being of racehorses in the sport. Throughout all this, horse racing fans remember the excitement surrounding the Derby but will have to wait to see if Sovereignty's preparation for the Belmont yields positive results.