Sovereignty Remains On Target for Jim Dandy at Saratoga

The Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner continued to train well under Bill Mott’s care, with connections targeting the Travers and a prep in the July 26 Jim Dandy at Saratoga

Sovereignty and Junior Maldonado Aim for Another Celebration Together / ADAM COGLIANESE / NYRA

SARATOGA SPRINGS, New York (Special for Turf Diario).- With his trademark composure and showing no signs of regression, Sovereignty, Godolphin’s colt who has already captured both the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1), took another important step in his preparation toward his next target: the G2 Jim Dandy Stakes, to be run Saturday, July 26 at Saratoga as a stepping stone to the DraftKings Travers Stakes (G1).

On Saturday morning, despite early storms that threatened to disrupt the schedule, Sovereignty breezed over the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga, covering five furlongs in 1:02.18 over a surface labeled “good” due to excess moisture.

Under his regular exercise rider Neil Poznansky, the son of Into Mischief worked inside Jefferson Street, a graded stakes-placed stablemate, and held a slight advantage throughout, finishing with good energy through the wire.

“I really liked what I saw,” said trainer Bill Mott. “They both finished in 1:02, a steady, smooth work. He galloped out well after the breeze, came back good, cooled out quickly… Right now, he’s got his head out of the stall asking for carrots. Everything is right where we want it to be,” added the Hall of Famer with a smile.

Weather was a key concern. “Luckily, we were able to work after the first break when the track was still in good shape. Half an hour later, it had deteriorated quite a bit. It had a bit more moisture than ideal, but it was solid. We picked just the right moment,” Mott analyzed, acknowledging his team narrowly avoided a bigger problem.

This was Sovereignty’s third timed workout since his dominant Belmont win, where he defeated Preakness hero Journalism by three lengths, firmly establishing himself as the division leader. Mott sees continued positive progress.

“He’s doing very well… breezing well, galloping well, eating well. Everything you want to see is there. If he keeps going like this, it’s very likely we’ll run him in the Jim Dandy,” Mott said. “It makes sense to give him a race before the Travers. We could train him up to it, but he hasn’t raced that much this year that he couldn’t handle another run.”

Mott’s plan remains clear: Jim Dandy first, Travers next, if all goes according to expectations. “The idea is to run him in the Jim Dandy, come out of it well, and have enough in the tank to tackle the Travers the right way,” he concluded.

The trainer added that Sovereignty will have one final breeze before the Jim Dandy, likely a lighter maintenance move without a workmate to keep him sharp.

With three wins from four starts, Sovereignty has emerged as the horse to beat in a parity-filled 3-year-old division. Should he deliver as expected at Saratoga, the Travers – the so-called “Mid-Summer Derby” – could be the crowning achievement in a campaign that is beginning to shine with Eclipse Award potential.