Kentucky Derby 2025: Sovereignty points to Fountain of Youth

Sovereignty, unraced since winning the Street Sense Stakes on Oct. 27 at Churchill Downs, is on schedule to make his 3-year-old debut in the $400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes on March 1, though trainer Bill Mott has concerns about that 1 1/16-mile race.

“The timing of it is pretty good. I’m not sure the configuration of that race is in his best interests, but we need to get a race in him,” Mott said Wednesday. “They break right into the turn and finish at the sixteenth pole. If you draw an outside post, you’re at a disadvantage, and the short stretch is a disadvantage with his running style.”

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Sovereignty, a son of Into Mischief owned by Godolphin, was a maiden when, in his third start, he captured the Street Sense, rallying from last in a nine-horse field to win by five lengths. He might have returned in a race at Fair Grounds, but he missed some training time due to a fever. He had two half-mile works at Payson Park on Jan. 31 and Feb. 7 and has time for three more before the Fountain of Youth.

“His works have been good, he’s doing well,” Mott said.

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