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| Staff Writer |
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Sovereignty may join the field of contenders eyeing the 150th renewal of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on 17 May, following his impressive victory in the 2025 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, though his participation remains uncertain.
The Bill Mott-trained colt, owned by Godolphin, came from off the pace to win the first leg of the Triple Crown, defeating favoured Journalism in the US$2 million contest. Connections are yet to confirm whether he will bid for the second jewel of the Triple Crown.
Opening the year with a win in the Gr.2 Fountain of Youth, Sovereignty had finished second behind Tappan Street in the Gr.2 Florida Derby, but was gaining ground near the wire and benefitted from the extra furlong in the Kentucky Derby.
Leading the challengers is Rodriguez, trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, who was scratched from the Kentucky Derby late in the week due to a bruised foot. The son of 2020 Horse of the Year Authentic has posted 100 Beyer Speed Figures in his last two starts, including a 101 in winning the Wood Memorial.
Rodriguez is owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert Masterson, Tom Ryan, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan.
This same ownership group is also campaigning another Baffert-trained prospect, Cornucopian, who is returning in a one-mile allowance optional claiming race at Aqueduct Racetrack on 27 April as part of an eight-horse field that includes graded stakes-placed New York-bred Sand Devil.
The son of Into Mischief made his first two starts at Oaklawn Park, graduating in a six-furlong sprint in February before finishing a pacesetting fourth in the 1 1/8-mile Gr.1 Arkansas Derby on 29 March, a race featuring exceptionally fast splits.
Co-owner Tom Ryan expressed satisfaction with finding a suitable return spot for Cornucopian, who cost US$1.1 million as a purchase.
"He's really such an exciting colt, and we're happy to find a spot that's suitable to his conditions. He's shown us that he has a lot of ability, and hopefully he can show us that again," Ryan said. "We had a good experience shipping Rodriguez over, and it's a direct flight in. He shipped to Oaklawn in great shape, and as we know he got into a bit of a speed duel down there.
"He's a horse that has some potential lofty targets ahead, so we wanted to find the right race to entertain potentially prepping into the next classic," Ryan added. "I think we'd look at the Preakness first, and a trip back to New York wouldn't be (out of the question) either."
Ryan believes the cut back in distance to a one-turn mile at Aqueduct provides an ideal starting point for Cornucopian as a bridge to potential Group One tries in the Preakness Stakes on 17 May and/or the Belmont Stakes on 7 June.
"I think it's a suitable trip for him to prep going forward," Ryan said. "He has an air of quality to him that's hard to duplicate. He's got strength, but he's not heavy. He's got length, but he's not too long. He's got size, but he's not too big. He's just a beautiful horse that's right in the middle, perfectly balanced, and he has fluency in his action.
"I remember his first work in California, and it was impressive," Ryan continued. "You don't really know until you race them, and you're always hoping that they'll progress to the next race and that they're able to ship and handle different scenarios. His mind is good, his motion is great, and his pedigree is superior. His sire needs no introduction."
Other notable contenders for the US$2 million Preakness include Clever Again, trained by Steve Asmussen. The son of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah has been working toward the Preakness in training at Churchill Downs after winning the Hot Springs Stakes at Oaklawn on 30 March, earning a 101 Beyer Speed Figure in just his third career start.
Todd Pletcher's River Thames, owned by WinStar Farm, Pantofel Stable, and Wachtel Stable, is another aiming for Pimlico glory. The colt finished third in the Gr.1 Blue Grass Stakes with a 95 Beyer Speed Figure last time out and had initially been pointed toward the Kentucky Derby before connections decided the Preakness would be a better fit for the lightly-raced prospect.
Jamie Osborne's Heart Of Honor is making the trip from overseas, having lost by a nose in the UAE Derby in Dubai on 5 April. The colt has finished second in three straight stakes races in Dubai and is now targeting American classic success.
Local hope Pay Billy, trained by Michael Gorham, enters off back-to-back wins in Preakness preps, including an impressive score in the Tesio Stakes at Laurel Park on 19 April, winning a stretch duel as the favourite.
Rounding out the early contenders are Gosger for trainer Brendan Walsh, who scored an impressive victory in the Gr.3 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland on 12 April, and Caldera, trained by the legendary D. Wayne Lukas, who finished runner-up in the Bathhouse Row Stakes at Oaklawn Park on 19 April.
With the Preakness being run over 1 3/16 miles – shorter than the Kentucky Derby – the race at Pimlico is attracting a strong and diverse field of both Derby runners and fresh contenders looking to claim the second jewel of the Triple Crown.