Franco to replace injured Alvarado aboard Sovereignty in Florida Derby

Manny Franco, currently the leading rider at Aqueduct’s winter meet, has picked up the mount on morning-line favorite Sovereignty for Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park, trainer Bill Mott said Tuesday afternoon.

Franco replaces Sovereignty’s regular rider, Junior Alvarado, who suffered a fractured shoulder blade in a spill Sunday at Gulfstream Park and is expected to miss at least three weeks.

“He’s got a little history with Godolphin,” Mott said about Franco, who was the regular rider for the three-time Grade 1 winner and the 2-year-old champion filly Immersive, who, like Sovereignty, was owned by Godolphin. “They felt good about him and they have some history, so that’s fine.”

Mott said he hasn’t used Franco a lot, but did note that the jockey won two Grade 1 stakes – the Sword Dancer and Joe Hirsch Turf Classic – on Channel Maker in 2020, the year he was voted champion male turf horse.

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“I can never get him,” Mott said of Franco. “It’s unfortunate for Junior that he’s not going to be able to ride him [Sovereignty]. I know he was looking forward to him as much as I was.”

Sovereignty, who won the Street Sense Stakes last October to end his 2-year-old season, kicked off his 3-year-old campaign with a neck victory over River Thames in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth.

Franco has spent the winter in New York, where his 63 wins at Aqueduct put him atop the standings at that meet, which concludes Sunday. Franco was named to ride in nine of Saturday’s 11 races at Aqueduct.

Meanwhile, Mott said that Joel Rosario has been named to ride Knightsbridge in the $165,000 Army Mule Stakes at Gulfstream, replacing Alvarado.

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