Sovereignty, Magnitude work ahead of rematch in Whitney
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. − Sovereignty, the reigning Horse of the Year, and Magnitude, a leading candidate to claim that award this year, both put in workouts hours apart Saturday morning for their next meeting in the Grade 1 Whitney on Aug. 8.
Sovereignty, third to Magnitude in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs on June 27, worked a sharp five furlongs in 1:00.07, according to Daily Racing Form, shortly after 9:30 a.m. over the Oklahoma training track.
Just before 6 a.m. Magnitude, with regular jockey Jose Ortiz aboard, worked five furlongs in 1:03.09 in company with Tiztastic, also over the Oklahoma training track.
For Sovereignty, it was his second work since the Stephen Foster, a race in which he finished 5 1/4 lengths behind Magnitude. Trainer Bill Mott wanted a sharper work for Sovereignty on Saturday, putting jockey Junior Alvarado on the workmate Thunder Roll and starting him about two lengths in front of Sovereignty, who was ridden by assistant trainer Neil Poznansky.
Thunder Roll was three in front after an opening quarter in 24.11 seconds.Turning into the lane, Poznansky niggled on Sovereignty and the pair basically finished together. Thunder Roll was timed by DRF in 1:00.47. Sovereignty went out six furlongs in 1:14.90.
“Very fast work over this track,” Bill Mott, Sovereignty’s trainer said. “[Poznansky] had to nudge him, that’s just how he is. That’s why we give him a horse to work with. If you worked him on his own he’d probably be 1:03, 1:04.
Alvarado said this was approximately the third time he had been on the workmate of Sovereignty and part of the reasoning was so that he could dictate the pace of work.
“We went a little quick up there just to make sure he gets a little more into the workout today,” Alvarado said. “He has shown he’s way faster in the afternoon than the morning, but we needed to do a little more today. I think we got that with the work time-wise.”
Though Sovereignty has lost both of his starts this year − he was second to White Abarrio in the Oaklawn Handicap before the Stephen Foster − Alvarado said he hasn’t lost faith in the 2025 Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes, and Travers Stakes winner. Alvarado believes Sovereignty didn’t care for the wet track in the Stephen Foster.
“I will be worried if he doesn’t run his race in the Whitney,” Alvarado said. “Then I’d be scratching my head.”
Magnitude also had his second work since the Stephen Foster on Saturday. Magnitude, working in company with Tiztastic, went his opening three furlongs in 38.07 and came home in 25.09 over an Oklahoma training track that wasn’t yielding quick times early on. Magnitude galloped out six furlongs in 1:16.49 and seven furlongs in 1:30.03.
“Love where he’s at, love how he’s doing, like how he’s handling,” trainer Steve Asmussen said. “The horse’s confidence level is exactly where you want it.”
Asmussen said Tiztastic would be nominated to the same races that Magnitude would be nominated to and would run in the races that Magnitude does not.
Asmussen said he plans two more works for Magnitude prior to the Whitney.
Also working Saturday for Asmussen was Lagynos, who went an easy half-mile in 51.80 seconds. It was the first work for Lagynos since his victory in the Grade 2 Wise Dan Stakes on June 27 at Churchill Downs. Lagynos, who has won five consecutive stakes, is pointing to the Grade 1, $750,000 Fourstardave on Aug. 8.
Obliteration, third in the Grade 1 Woody Stephens, worked a half-mile in 50 seconds with the maiden 3-year-old filly Poise, who went 50.40 seconds. Obliteration is pointing to the Grade 2, $250,000 Amsterdam on July 31.
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