The rain that turned the Churchill Downs track to mud for the May 3 Kentucky Derby (G1) had finally disappeared by May 7, giving an opportunity for Sovereignty to take in a beautiful Kentucky sunrise a final time before departing for Saratoga Race Course.
One day following the announcement that the Godolphin homebred would not pursue winning the Triple Crown by competing in the May 17 Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course, Sovereignty made his way to the track to train for the first time since his 1 1/2-length Derby triumph.
READ: Sovereignty to Skip Preakness, Point Toward Belmont
It was a light morning for the son of Into Mischief , taking a one-mile jog around the outer rail of the track beneath exercise rider Guesler Cardona. Sovereignty was accompanied for the jog by Bill Mott's longtime assistant trainer Kenny McCarthy aboard the stable pony.
"Bill just wanted him to have a jog around there and stretch his legs," McCarthy said. "(Sovereignty) seemed very happy with himself. Everything went nice and quiet, just the way we like it."
The morning after the Kentucky Derby, Mott reported that Sovereignty had developed a scrape on his right foreleg. McCarthy reported that it looked "perfect" Wednesday morning.
"It's one of those things that, to us, wasn't going to be a big issue," McCarthy said. "Obviously, because of who he is now as an individual, Bill wanted to address it right away."
Sovereignty is scheduled to leave Churchill Downs Wednesday afternoon and head to Mott's Saratoga barn, where he will begin preparations for the June 7 Belmont Stakes (G1), the final jewel of the Triple Crown.
Sovereignty Dons Custom Saddle After Derby Victory
Before he left, Sovereignty was showing off his new fashion piece: a custom beavertail exercise saddle designed by Weber Tack.
Weber's beavertail saddles are made with a unique tree design, extra-long billets, and full English bridle leather. Sovereignty's custom-made saddle was embossed with the Derby 151 logo on one side of the stirrup and Mott's diamond logo embossed on the other.
Mike Weber, 66, began making tack when he was 14 and has operated Weber Tack for over 20 years. Although based in the Fairdale neighborhood of Louisville, Ky., just a few miles south of Churchill Downs, Weber ships tack across the country and across the world. According to Weber, 17 of the 19 horses that ran in Saturday's Kentucky Derby wore Weber Tack in their training.
"This is all I've ever done," Weber said. "This is a saddle that I have designed and perfected. We manufacture the tree, it's made to our standards, and the patent is pending on it. Over the years, we tweaked all the products that we sell because I'm here every morning and I ride myself."
Weber feels his constant presence on the backstretch and communication with the horsemen gives his company an advantage in making a top saddle. This was the first time he decided to make a custom saddle for the Derby winner.
"It's something that we want to get started to commemorate that once-in-a-lifetime moment," Weber said. "We service most all the Thoroughbred industry and felt like we needed to do it from the advertising standpoint, as well as the fact that people need that product."
In recent years, Weber has been joined in the business by his son, Dustin, who has helped bring new ideas to advance the products and their marketing.
"It's been everything I've wanted," the 29-year-old said. "I've grown into the horse business as a fan and somebody who can actually create some of the products and equipment that you see all these Derby horses using. It's been a crazy journey for me, and it's just getting started."
Asked about the pride of seeing their saddle on a Kentucky Derby winner, Mike Weber said, "We're very proud of it. We still feel grateful every time the phone rings. With us being so entrenched in the horse business ourselves, I feel very fortunate to make a living in this industry."
