Is Sovereignty racing at Preakness Stakes? Kentucky Derby winner gives update ahead of second race of Triple Crown
Context:
Sovereignty, the Kentucky Derby winner of 2025, will not participate in the Preakness Stakes, as confirmed by a press release from 1/ST Racing. Trainer Bill Mott decided to skip the Preakness due to the short two-week gap between races, following a challenging win in muddy conditions at the Derby. Mott emphasized the importance of spacing races to ensure a longer career for the horse, with a focus now on the Belmont Stakes instead. This decision means there will be no Triple Crown winner in 2025, maintaining the list of Triple Crown winners at 13, with the last being Justify in 2018. The strategy of skipping the Preakness reflects a broader trend of fewer horses competing in all three Triple Crown races in recent years.
Dive Deeper:
Sovereignty will not race in the Preakness Stakes, as announced by the race organizers, with trainer Bill Mott opting to focus on the Belmont Stakes instead.
The decision to skip the Preakness arises from the short two-week interval between the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, which Sovereignty is deemed not ready for following its muddy win.
Bill Mott highlighted the importance of spacing out races to prolong the horse's career, noting that competing in all three legs of the Triple Crown can be taxing.
The absence of Sovereignty from the Preakness Stakes rules out a Triple Crown winner for 2025, maintaining the historical count at 13 winners, with Justify being the latest in 2018.
The strategy to avoid the Preakness reflects a recent trend where fewer horses attempt all three Triple Crown races, prioritizing the horse's long-term performance over immediate accolades.
When a horse wins the Kentucky Derby, there is naturally a question that always follows it next: can it win the Triple Crown?
A total of 13 horses have won the Triple Crown in history, which entails consecutive victories at the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes. In 2025, Sovereignty emerged as the victor at Churchill Downs, making it the lone candidate for a Triple Crown.
With the Preakness Stakes up next, scheduled for May 17, Sovereignty's status has been the biggest story. Will the horse compete and keep its Triple Crown hopes alive?
Here's the latest on Sovereignty's status for the Preakness Stakes.
Is Sovereignty racing at Preakness Stakes?
In a press release from the company that runs the Preakness on Tuesday, 1/ST Racing, it was confirmed that Sovereignty will not be participating in the race.The press release stated that Bill Mott, the trainer for Sovereignty, informed those who run the Preakness that the horse would not be participating in the race, instead turning Sovereignty's focus on the Belmont Stakes.
#KyDerby winner Sovereignty skipping the #Preakness, pointing to the #BelmontStakes pic.twitter.com/6U3PY6ElI9
— Nicole Russo (@DRFRusso) May 6, 2025 With the Kentucky Derby and Preakness just two weeks apart, Sovereignty seemingly will not be ready in time for the race following a close win in muddy conditions in Louisville. After his horse won the Kentucky Derby, Mott said it's "good to have that option" when it came to the Preakness, and "I don’t think we’re dead set on it," per USA Today.
In recent years, fewer horses have competed in all three Triple Crown legs.
“I think over the years, people realize that spacing these horses out a little bit gives you the opportunity to make them last a little longer,” Mott said, per USA Today. “I think we're looking at a career, you know, and you want the career to last more than five weeks.”
With the Preakness Stakes on May 17 and the Belmont Stakes on June 7, Sovereignty is set to forego a shot at the Triple Crown and go for a maximum of two victories.
MORE: Everything to know about the Triple Crown in horse racing
Triple Crown winners all time
With the decision to withhold Sovereignty from the Preakness Stakes, there will be no Triple Crown winner in 2025. That means the list of horses to do so will remain at 13, and the latest was Justify in 2018.Here's the full list of Triple Crown winners:
Year Horse Jockey 2018 Justify Mike Smith 2015 American Pharoah Victor Espinoza 1978 Affirmed Steve Cauthen 1977 Seattle Slew Jean Cruguet 1973 Secretariat Ron Turcotte 1948 Citation Eddie Arcaro 1946 Assault Warren Mehrtens 1943 Count Fleet Johnny Longden 1941 Whirlaway Eddie Arcaro 1937 War Admiral Charles Kurtsinger 1935 Omaha Willie "Smokey" Saunders 1930 Gallant Fox Earl Sande 1919 Sir Barton Johnny Loftus