Sovereignty’s status for Preakness Stakes still up in the air
Trainer Bill Mott held court with the media outside his barn at Churchill Downs on Sunday morning and the Hall of Fame trainer also showed off Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty.But what Mott didn’t do was confirm his colt’s status for the Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Crown.Mott said the Derby winner would be back on the track training in a few days at Churchill and then he would make a decision once he sees how the son of Into Mischief recovers. Sovereignty rolled past favorite Journalism down the stretch and captured the 151st Derby by a length and a half.“We’ve got to consider all options with him,” Mott said. “We certainly respect the Triple Crown and what it means, but we’re not dead set on it. We’ll have to let the horse tell us how he’s doing in the next little while and then we’ll go from there.”The trainer later said he would likely make a decision this week.“We have to come to a conclusion probably in the next few days, but it won’t be this morning,” he said.The Preakness is the second leg of the Triple Crown and will be held at Pimlico in Baltimore on May 17.In the Derby win, Sovereignty did suffer “a small scrape – about four inches” on his right front pastern during the running, likely when he clipped heels with a rival right out of the gate with Chunk of Gold. Mott said it was nothing serious.“When I got back to the barn last night after the race,” Mott said. “He’d already eaten up, his tub was empty. Probably did it in 20 minutes. That’s unusual for a horse that had to run a race as hard as he did.”It doesn’t appear that many of the 19 runners from the Derby will head to Baltimore.Trainer Michael McCarthy of second-place finisher Journalism said that “everything going forward is now in play,” which would indicate the possibility that his colt could make his next start in the Preakness.Third-place finisher Baeza is headed back to California and will prepare for the Belmont Stakes, while trainer Brad Cox’s fourth-place finisher Final Gambit would not run in the Preakness. Fifth-place finisher Owen Almighty will prep for the June 7 Woody Stephens at Saratoga, while plans for sixth-place finisher Burnham Square were up in the air. Trainer Mark Casse said seventh-place finisher Sandman will prep for the Belmont Stakes.So, who will be in the Preakness?Trainer Bob Baffert will likely send Wood Memorial winner Rodriguez, who was scratched from the Derby on Thursday because of a minor foot issue. Steve Asmussen is expected to send Clever Again, while Todd Pletcher is likely to send River Thames and perhaps Grande, who was scratched from the Derby.Louisiana Derby third-place finisher Instant Replay is possible from the Brad Cox barn, while trainer Brendan Walsh is expected to send Gosger.UAE Derby runner-up Heart of Honor has also been pointing towards the Preakness.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. —Trainer Bill Mott held court with the media outside his barn at Churchill Downs on Sunday morning and the Hall of Fame trainer also showed off Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty.
But what Mott didn’t do was confirm his colt’s status for the Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Crown.
Mott said the Derby winner would be back on the track training in a few days at Churchill and then he would make a decision once he sees how the son of Into Mischief recovers. Sovereignty rolled past favorite Journalism down the stretch and captured the 151st Derby by a length and a half.
“We’ve got to consider all options with him,” Mott said. “We certainly respect the Triple Crown and what it means, but we’re not dead set on it. We’ll have to let the horse tell us how he’s doing in the next little while and then we’ll go from there.”
The trainer later said he would likely make a decision this week.
“We have to come to a conclusion probably in the next few days, but it won’t be this morning,” he said.
The Preakness is the second leg of the Triple Crown and will be held at Pimlico in Baltimore on May 17.
In the Derby win, Sovereignty did suffer “a small scrape – about four inches” on his right front pastern during the running, likely when he clipped heels with a rival right out of the gate with Chunk of Gold. Mott said it was nothing serious.
“When I got back to the barn last night after the race,” Mott said. “He’d already eaten up, his tub was empty. Probably did it in 20 minutes. That’s unusual for a horse that had to run a race as hard as he did.”
It doesn’t appear that many of the 19 runners from the Derby will head to Baltimore.
Trainer Michael McCarthy of second-place finisher Journalism said that “everything going forward is now in play,” which would indicate the possibility that his colt could make his next start in the Preakness.
Third-place finisher Baeza is headed back to California and will prepare for the Belmont Stakes, while trainer Brad Cox’s fourth-place finisher Final Gambit would not run in the Preakness. Fifth-place finisher Owen Almighty will prep for the June 7 Woody Stephens at Saratoga, while plans for sixth-place finisher Burnham Square were up in the air. Trainer Mark Casse said seventh-place finisher Sandman will prep for the Belmont Stakes.
So, who will be in the Preakness?
Trainer Bob Baffert will likely send Wood Memorial winner Rodriguez, who was scratched from the Derby on Thursday because of a minor foot issue. Steve Asmussen is expected to send Clever Again, while Todd Pletcher is likely to send River Thames and perhaps Grande, who was scratched from the Derby.
Louisiana Derby third-place finisher Instant Replay is possible from the Brad Cox barn, while trainer Brendan Walsh is expected to send Gosger.
UAE Derby runner-up Heart of Honor has also been pointing towards the Preakness.
