Overview

• Sovereignty, the 2025 Kentucky Derby winner, will skip the May 17 Preakness Stakes and instead prepare for the June 7 Belmont Stakes at Saratoga.
• Trainer Bill Mott and Godolphin cited the need for longer recovery periods to ensure the horse’s long-term health and performance.
• This marks the fourth Kentucky Derby winner in the last seven years to forgo the Preakness, reflecting a growing trend in modern racing strategies.
• Columnist John Clay has proposed revising the Triple Crown schedule to better accommodate today’s thoroughbreds, though structural and traditional barriers remain.
• Sovereignty’s pedigree and Derby victory have bolstered his value as a future stallion, with connections focusing on a sustainable career approach.