Sovereignty works alone in final prep for Jim Dandy
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Sovereignty, the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner, put the finishing touches on his preparation for the kick-off to the second half of his campaign by working a half-mile in 49.65 seconds Saturday morning over Saratoga’s Oklahoma training track.
Sovereignty will make his next start in next Saturday’s Grade 2, $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes here at 1 1/8 miles.
Working just after the 7:30 renovation break under ideal conditions, Sovereignty, working by himself, went in fractions of 12.83 seconds, 25.22 and got his final quarter in 24.43 while being kept three paths off the rail by exercise rider Neil Poznansky. Sovereignty continued out five furlongs in 1:03.22.
“My horse went very well,” trainer Bill Mott said later. “ I guess the time’s not overly impressive but Neil felt he felt very good.”
It was the fourth workout for Sovereignty, all at Saratoga, since his three-length victory in the Belmont Stakes going 1 1/4 miles here on June 7. Two of his works previous to Saturday were done in company, but on Saturday Mott wasn’t looking to do as much so he worked him by himself. Mott said Sovereignty’s training since the Belmont has gone as he has planned.
“Everything was pretty much on schedule,” Mott said. “We didn’t have any setbacks, no surprises, weather cooperated fairly well. Put it this way, we don’t have any excuses as of today, and we hope we don’t have any after today.”
Sovereignty, who will be ridden by Junior Alvarado in the Jim Dandy, is one of five horses expected to be entered Sunday for the Jim Dandy, which is the local prep for the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers here on Aug. 23.
Also expected are Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes third-place finisher Baeza, Ohio Derby winner Mo Plex, Arkansas Derby winner and Preakness third-place finisher Sandman, and Peter Pan winner and Belmont Stakes fifth-place finisher Hill Road.
On Saturday, Hill Road worked a half-mile in 49.03 seconds over Saratoga’s main track, doing so for the second straight week in company with Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Sierra Leone. On Friday, at Santa Anita, Baeza worked five furlongs in 59.80 seconds.
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