Why Is Sovereignty Not Running in the Preakness? Insights into the 2025 Preakness Stakes

Source: USA Today

The Preakness Stakes Overview

The 2025 Preakness Stakes took place at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore on May 17, where all eyes were on the participating horses. This year’s Preakness featured nine competitors vying for the prestigious Middle Jewel title over a distance of 1 3/16 miles. The atmosphere was charged, especially with high-profile trainers like Bob Baffert returning to the track. However, one significant absence created a buzz: the Kentucky Derby winner, Sovereignty, did not participate in the race.

Sovereignty’s Decision to Withdraw

Sovereignty, trained by Bill Mott, stunned fans and analysts alike when it was confirmed that the horse would skip the Preakness. This decision aimed to prioritize Sovereignty’s health and set sights on the Belmont Stakes, scheduled for five weeks after the Derby. The choice to avoid the Preakness echoes a troubling trend in thoroughbred racing, where several Derby winners have increasingly opted out of the second jewel in the Triple Crown.

The decision to skip the Preakness, despite winning the Derby with a time of 2:02.31, has sparked discussions in the horse racing community about the intensity of racing schedules. Trainers are balancing the pursuit of immediate accolades with the long-term health of their horses.

Why Are Derby Winners Opting Out?

There is a growing concern among trainers regarding the tight schedule between the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness. The short two-week period often doesn’t allow horses adequate recovery time following the grueling Derby. As noted by Bill Mott, the management team for Godolphin, which owns Sovereignty, expressed a preference to take a more cautious approach, opting to focus efforts on the Belmont Stakes instead.

Key reasons for this trend include:

• Health Concerns: The welfare of the horses remains a priority. Trainers are opting for longer recovery times to ensure their horses are in prime condition.
• Load Management: As in various professional sports, there is a movement towards managing horse races to prevent burnout and injuries.
• Changing Attitudes: Many in the racing community recognize that long-term success may require prioritizing a horse’s health over suboptimal race schedules.

Impact of Sovereignty’s Absence

Sovereignty’s withdrawal was a significant blow to those hoping for a Triple Crown winner in 2025, which would have been a monumental achievement for both the horse and the trainer. Without Sovereignty in the race, the spotlight shifted entirely to Journalism, the Derby runner-up, who entered the competition as the odds-on favorite. Journalism’s performance at Pimlico showcased his continuous improvement, especially following a slow start.

Journalism managed to seize the victory at the Preakness, winning the race by less than a length against his competitor, Gosger. This win further highlighted the unpredictability of horse racing, especially considering the absence of a Derby champion like Sovereignty.

Understanding the Bigger Picture

The Preakness Stakes continues to captivate fans and participants alike, and the discussions surrounding Sovereignty’s withdrawal involve more than just race outcomes. They reflect a pivotal moment in horse racing, where the racing calendar is being reconsidered in favor of horse welfare. As the sport evolves, it may lead to a necessary shift in how schedules are structured, providing a better balance between competition and the needs of the horses.

The implications of these changing attitudes toward race participation are wider reaching, potentially signaling a rethink of the Triple Crown series itself. Will the pressure to race diminish in favor of enhancing horse care and performance in the long run? Only time will tell as the racing community navigates these challenges.

Tags:

horse racing, Preakness Stakes 2025, Sovereignty, Journalism, Kentucky Derby, Triple Crown, horse welfare, Bill Mott, Pimlico Race Course, jockeys