Context:

Sovereignty, the recent winner of the 151st Kentucky Derby, will not participate in the upcoming Preakness Stakes as announced by trainer Bill Mott, who has decided to prioritize the horse's long-term interests. Instead, Sovereignty is set to enter the Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the Triple Crown, scheduled for June 7 at Saratoga Race Course. This marks the third occasion since 2018 that a Kentucky Derby winner has opted out of the Preakness, highlighting ongoing discussions about the scheduling of these races. Prominent figures within the racing community, like Mike Repole, have proposed reorganizing the Triple Crown sequence to better accommodate the competing horses. Sovereignty's victory at the Kentucky Derby was achieved with jockey Junior Alvarado and was Bill Mott's second career Derby win.

Dive Deeper:

• Sovereignty, trained by Bill Mott, will not compete in the Preakness Stakes following its Kentucky Derby win, with the decision aimed at focusing on the horse's well-being and long-term career prospects.

• Trainer Bill Mott has planned for Sovereignty to compete in the Belmont Stakes, occurring on June 7 at Saratoga Race Course, instead of the Preakness, which traditionally follows the Derby by two weeks.

• This decision adds to a recent trend where Kentucky Derby winners have bypassed the Preakness, with similar occurrences in 2019 and 2022, contributing to continuing debates over race scheduling.

• Racing industry stakeholders, including owner Mike Repole, have suggested modifications to the Triple Crown race order to enhance participation from top horses, proposing a swap between the Belmont and Preakness races.

• Sovereignty's Kentucky Derby victory was marked by a finish time of 2:02.31, with jockey Junior Alvarado, and it represents Bill Mott's second career win at this prestigious race event.