The Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1) winner will look to continue his upward trajectory toward the Travers Stakes, facing familiar rivals such as Baeza, Sandman, and Hill Road.
Sovereignty returns to the track where he won the Belmont Stakes / ADAM COGLIANESE / NYRA
SARATOGA SPRINGS, New York (Special for Turf Diario).- With a campaign that has already crowned him as one of the best colts of his generation, Sovereignty will go postward Saturday seeking another victory in the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2), the traditional prep race for the Travers (G1) at Saratoga. The 1 1/8-mile dirt race carries a purse of $500,000 and brings together several of the season’s top contenders.
Representing the historic colors of Godolphin and trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, Sovereignty dominated the first two jewels of the U.S. Triple Crown, defeating the outstanding Journalism (Curlin) on both occasions. In the Kentucky Derby (G1), he rallied from 16th position to score by 1 ½ lengths over a muddy track, and in the Belmont Stakes (G1), here at Saratoga, he controlled the race wire-to-wire, defeating the same rival by three lengths, with Baeza finishing third in both races.
With a record of seven starts, four wins, and two seconds, and earnings topping $4.8 million, Sovereignty is by Into Mischief out of Crowned (by Bernardini), and is a maternal grandson of Grade 1 winner Mushka (Empire Maker), who was also trained by Mott. The bay wrapped up his preparations with a half-mile work in 49.82 seconds over the Oklahoma training track on July 19, and will break from post 5 with Junior Alvarado aboard carrying 124 pounds.
“He’s doing very well, his last race was good, no issues,” said Mott, who has won this race four times. “We expect a good trip and a bit of luck. In this game, anything can happen until the numbers go up.”
Second choice on paper is Baeza (McKinzie), who will break from the rail with Chilean rider Héctor Berríos (120 pounds). Trained by John Shirreffs for C R K Stable and Grandview Equine, Baeza was third in the Derby and Belmont and also showed well when runner-up to Journalism in the Santa Anita Derby (G1). “He didn’t have his best race in the Belmont,” said Shirreffs. “Prat told me he had a hard time getting engaged on the backstretch. He had to run hard from the 800 meters. He can do better.”
Third in line is Sandman, a son of Tapit trained by Mark Casse, who came from off the pace to finish runner-up to Journalism and Gosger (Nyquist) in the Preakness Stakes (G1). Previously, he captured the Arkansas Derby (G1) and will wear blinkers for the first time. “I hope it doesn’t take away from his kick, but that’s something we have to try,” said Casse. With three wins in 10 starts and earnings over $1.4 million, he will be ridden by José Ortiz from post 2 carrying 124 pounds.
Rising star Mo Plex (Complexity), bred in New York with five wins from eight starts, will also try to make an impact. He was dominant in the Ohio Derby (G3), defeating Chunk of Gold (Preservationist), and has shown stamina for the distance. “What impressed me most was his late kick; I think the 1 ¼ miles suits him very well,” said trainer Jeremiah Englehart. He will be ridden by Manny Franco from post 3 (122 pounds) and faces the toughest test of his career.
Completing the field is Irish-bred Hill Road (Quality Road), a pupil of Chad Brown, who finished a strong fifth in the Belmont and previously won the Peter Pan Stakes (G3). In preparation, he worked alongside Sierra Leone (Gun Runner), the three-year-old champion and hero of the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). Starting from post 4 with Irad Ortiz Jr., the bay aims to get into the mix.
The Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) promises to be a stellar preview of the Travers (G1), scheduled for August 23, where Sovereignty will look to continue making history. For now, all paths lead to…os conducen a él.