What’s Next for Sovereignty? Kentucky Derby Winner’s Future Still Uncertain as Preakness Nears

LOUISVILLE, KY — Fresh off a gritty win in the mud at Churchill Downs, Sovereignty is now the horse to watch. But with just two weeks until the Preakness Stakes, the question on everyone’s mind is: Will he even run?

Despite his victory in the 151st Kentucky Derby, Sovereignty’s camp is sending mixed signals about what’s next. Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott is playing it cautious. The colt reportedly has a small scrape on his front pastern, likely from a rough start out the gate, but Mott insists it’s nothing serious. Still, he’s hinting that a long-term plan may take priority over a Preakness run.

“The great thing about the Triple Crown is that not many horses are able to do it,” said Mott. “We’re going to look long term.”

Translation? A shot at the Preakness may not be in the cards.

That uncertainty extends to nearly everyone else in the field. The path forward for Derby runner-ups, scratchers, and Triple Crown hopefuls is just as murky.

Bob Baffert, back at Churchill Downs after a four-year ban, scratched Rodriguez—the Wood Memorial winner—and redirected him toward the Preakness. His other entry, Citizen Bull, came in a disappointing 15th. Meanwhile, Todd Pletcher scratched Grande before the Derby even began.

Even Journalism, the 3-1 favorite who surged into the lead before fading to second, doesn’t have a firm next race locked in. Trainer Michael McCarthy took the high road, saying:

“We’ve got no complaints… It didn’t quite work out the way we hoped, but he ran a good race against a good horse.”

Third-place finisher Baeza, trained by John Shirreffs, is likely skipping the Preakness in favor of the Belmont Stakes in June. Final Gambit, who came from dead last to finish fourth, might test his speed again on a faster dirt track.

All this makes one thing clear: Sovereignty’s big win hasn’t made the Triple Crown chase any more straightforward—it’s made it more unpredictable.

The Preakness, held May 17 at Pimlico, is the shortest leg of the Triple Crown at 1 3/16 miles—but the tight two-week turnaround from the Derby makes it a tough call. With the Belmont set for June 7 in Saratoga (once again shortened due to track design), many trainers are treating the Derby like a standalone milestone—not a starting gun for a three-race gauntlet.

Sovereignty, owned by Godolphin LLC, was led out for a brief appearance Sunday. He looked solid, alert, and composed. But his team says they’ll be watching closely before announcing any decision.

“He has a big year ahead,” said Godolphin rep Michael Banahan. “There’s a lot of big races that we’d love to add to his resume. We’re doing what’s right for the horse.”

And so, as horse racing fans debate whether Sovereignty could be a Triple Crown contender, the reality is simpler: the most dominant horse in the country just won the Derby—and no one knows what comes next.