Sovereignty Soars to Whitney Win; Next Stop Jockey Club Gold Cup

[Sovereignty Claims Whitney Victory, Eyes Jockey Club Gold Cup Campaign] Trainer Bill Mott expressed relief after Sovereignty, the reigning Horse of the Year, edged out filly Nitrogen by a score of 4¾ lengths in a star-studded field to secure his first win in nearly a year. “Absolutely without a doubt, this was a relief,” Mott said. “Sovereignty ended a two-race losing streak with his first win in nearly a year. Naturally, any time a horse is undefeated or has a win streak going, and then they get beat, you always wonder what is going to happen next time.”

Mott admitted concern about firing their best shot, but he did. He showed up today. He did what we thought he could do and what he was supposed to do. He didn’t let us down.

In what was billed as the race of the year, Sovereignty left no doubt he’s back in top form and ready to take on the rest of the best. And that could start in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) against Forever Young, the defending Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) champion, on opening day of the new Belmont Park (Sept. 18). “Well, the Jockey Club Gold Cup has always been on our calendar, so if things go well, the timing is good,” Mott said. “Here we are. We can’t chicken out, can we?”

Sovereignty, who posted second place in the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) and third in the Stephen Foster Stakes (G1) as a 4-year-old in his first two starts, earned an all-fees paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Classic as the Whitney is a “Win and You’re In” race.

If he makes it to the Classic at Keeneland on Oct. 31, he could face Golden Tempo, the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1) winner gearing up for the $1.5 million Travers Stakes (G1) at the Spa on Aug. 29. Sovereignty missed last year’s BC Classic after spiking a slight fever a few days before the race.

Winning Ride by Junior Alvarado

Ridden by Junior Alvarado, Sovereignty ($6.52 on a $2 bet) finished last in the field of seven with three-eighths of a mile to go in the 1 1/8-mile Whitney. But he began making up ground with every stride in the stretch after being taken nearly six wide. A final spurt in deep stretch increased the margin as Nitrogen finished a game second for trainer Mark Casse.

Antiquarian was third, followed by Baeza, Tiztastic, favorite Magnitude and White Abarrio. Forged Steel was scratched. Micah Husbands was aboard White Abarrio, replacing Irad Ortiz, Jr., who took off his mounts prior to race 8 after rolling an ankle when And the Runner Is became fractious before being scratched. The Whitney was race 12 on the program.

More than 40,000 fans packed Saratoga and the cheers of the crowd as Sovereignty was led to the winner’s circle, catching Mott’s attention.

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