Triple Crown Drought Continues: Sovereignty to Skip Preakness

The quest for a Triple Crown champion will remain unfulfilled for another year. Sovereignty, the triumphant victor of the 151st Kentucky Derby, will bypass the upcoming Preakness Stakes, dashing hopes of witnessing a historic Triple Crown bid in 2024.

Trainer Bill Mott announced the decision to forgo the Preakness, opting to focus Sovereignty’s training and preparation on the Belmont Stakes, the final and arguably most grueling leg of the prestigious Triple Crown series.

Mike Rogers, Executive Vice President of 1/ST Racing, the organization responsible for managing the Preakness Stakes, confirmed the news. "We received a call today from trainer Bill Mott that Sovereignty will not be competing in the Preakness," Rogers stated. "We extend our congratulations to the connections of Sovereignty and respect their decision."

Mott reportedly communicated to Preakness officials that his strategy involves entering Sovereignty in the Belmont Stakes, scheduled for June 7th at Saratoga Race Course in upstate New York. The shift to Saratoga as the Belmont’s venue adds another layer of intrigue to this year’s Triple Crown narrative.

Mott had hinted at the possibility of skipping the Preakness even before the official announcement. On Sunday morning, following Sovereignty’s Derby win, he emphasized prioritizing the horse’s long-term well-being. "We want to do what’s best for the horse," Mott told reporters at Churchill Downs. "Of course, you always think about a Triple Crown, and that’s not something we’re not going to think about." This carefully worded statement suggested that the demanding schedule of the Triple Crown series was a significant factor in his considerations.

The proximity of the Kentucky Derby to the Preakness, separated by only two weeks, has become a recurring point of contention within the racing community. Critics argue that the compressed timeframe, coupled with the rigors of modern racing, makes it exceedingly difficult for horses to maintain peak performance across all three races.

The traditional Triple Crown schedule places the Kentucky Derby on the first Saturday of May, followed by the Preakness two weeks later, and the Belmont Stakes three weeks after that. This relentless pace places considerable strain on the participating horses, prompting trainers and owners to make difficult choices regarding which races to prioritize.

The debate surrounding the Triple Crown schedule has intensified in recent years, with some advocating for a revised format that would allow for more rest and recovery time between races. Prominent owner Mike Repole recently proposed a radical restructuring of the Triple Crown order, suggesting that the Belmont Stakes be moved to the second position, four weeks after the Kentucky Derby, and the Preakness be shifted further back in the calendar. Repole believes that such a change would encourage more top horses to participate in all three races, preserving the integrity and excitement of the Triple Crown.

Sovereignty’s decision to skip the Preakness marks the third instance since Justify’s Triple Crown victory in 2018 that the Kentucky Derby winner has chosen not to compete at Pimlico. Rich Strike in 2022 and Country House (also trained by Mott) in 2019 similarly opted out of the Preakness, highlighting the growing trend of trainers prioritizing individual horse management over the pursuit of the Triple Crown.

In 2020, the pandemic caused significant disruptions to the racing calendar, effectively eliminating any possibility of a Triple Crown that year. The Preakness Stakes was moved to the fall and served as the final leg of the Triple Crown, rendering the traditional sequence irrelevant.

Sovereignty’s victory in the Kentucky Derby was a significant achievement for both the horse and trainer Bill Mott. Sovereignty crossed the finish line at Churchill Downs with a time of 2:02.31, securing Mott’s second Derby victory of his illustrious career.

The decision to skip the Preakness underscores the evolving landscape of horse racing, where the well-being of the animal is increasingly prioritized. While the allure of the Triple Crown remains strong, trainers and owners are becoming more selective in choosing which races to enter, carefully weighing the potential risks and rewards for their horses. The absence of Sovereignty at the Preakness will undoubtedly be felt, but the focus now shifts to the Belmont Stakes, where the talented colt will aim to add another prestigious victory to his record. The debate about the Triple Crown schedule, however, is likely to continue, as stakeholders grapple with the challenge of balancing tradition with the demands of modern racing. The future of the Triple Crown, and whether a horse will be able to accomplish the feat in the near future remains uncertain.