With Travers Complete, Classic Test Awaits Sovereignty

Many accolades have been thrown at Sovereignty throughout his 3-year-old campaign but, after a dominant 10-length triumph in the Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 23, the question is beginning to turn toward whether he ranks as one of the greats. "Greatness is defined by the test of time," his Hall of Fame trainer, Bill Mott, put in perspective with a smile the morning of Aug. 24. "I think greatness, you look at Forego and those horses who were more than one season. If they want to say great (about Sovereignty), I'm not going to argue with them." Although the field he faced in the Travers may not have equaled the same toughness level as his earlier triumphant duels in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1), he handled them as he should have by drawing off to the first double-digit win margin of his career while posting a solid 2:00.84 for the 1 1/4 miles. That margin of victory even took Mott by surprise. "He rarely just gets past the horses. I think he has a little tendency to wait a little bit sometimes," Mott said. "To see him draw off that much, I didn't really expect that. The fact that he won, I'm not surprised, but I knew they had to run the race. He did that quite easily." Sovereignty showed no signs of fatigue Sunday morning as he was out at 6:30 a.m. ET for a nice breakfast of grass outside Mott's barn. With the campaign against straight 3-year-olds completed, the attention will now shift to facing older horses Nov. 1 in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar. "Yes, we got the Travers. But by the same token, we would be going into the toughest race he's probably going to have this year if he runs in the Breeders' Cup Classic," Mott said. "I'm sure the others will be concerned about him as much as we're concerned about everybody else." Sovereignty will continue training at Saratoga throughout the lead-up to a potential start in the $7 million race with no planned races in between. A victory there would assuredly clinch the son of Into Mischief honors as Horse of the Year, with Mott saying he believes he's already wrapped up champion 3-year-old. Someone who knows a thing or two about winning Horse of the Year honors is Kenny McPeek, who trains the 2024 Horse of the Year, Thorpedo Anna. McPeek, who has been watching Sovereignty train throughout his career, threw praise in his direction Sunday. "Even if he didn't win the Classic, he's Horse of the Year," McPeek said. "He's an amazing, amazing individual. … He's won all the big ones and the spotlight is on him, as it should be. I've enjoyed watching him, I'm a big fan." Thorpedo Anna Targeting Breeders' Cup Distaff Of course, the spotlight was also on Thorpedo Anna Saturday as she slugged out a nose victory over George Weaver-trained Dorth Vader in the Personal Ensign Stakes (G1). "Just bravery," McPeek said about what he saw from his star filly. "Ultra impressed with the way George's filly ran. What they both did to the rest of that field, I think, is pretty darn impressive." The pair dueled throughout the stretch of the 1 1/8-mile race, finishing 9 3/4 lengths ahead of the rest of the field. However, despite the hard battle, Thorpedo Anna was bright and alert Sunday morning and eagerly greeted every guest at her stall. "She's doing super," McPeek said. "I just went through every horse I have here (at Saratoga), she's probably the cleanest one right now. Legs clean, cleaned the feed tub, bright, dragging her hotwalker around. Typical Thorpedo Anna. "I jogged her up and back, she doesn't seem to have any aches anywhere. That's the amazing thing about her." Thorpedo Anna's immediate options include the $400,000 Delaware Handicap (G3) at Delaware Park Sept. 28 and the $650,000 Spinster Stakes (G1) at Keeneland Oct. 5. McPeek said he had not decided whether she would remain at Saratoga or return to Kentucky following the conclusion of the Saratoga meet Sept. 1, but that decision could ultimately impact her final prep race before heading to Del Mar for the Breeders' Cup. "If we kept her up here, logistically (the Delaware Handicap) would be a little bit easier," McPeek said. "They're both good races. If she's happier up here, it might be easier to leave her up here, go to Delaware, come back (to Saratoga), then go to California." McPeek had hinted earlier in the season that he was leaving the door open for a potential bid against the boys in the Classic, but after seeing Sovereignty in the Travers, the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) is the most likely target. "You've got to watch your competition out there, and that horse (Sovereignty) yesterday is ultra impressive," McPeek said. "I'm a little intimidated by him, he's pretty massive. … For her to take him on, I think we'd hesitate on that right now. Not that we're scared, but we're realistic." However, the door is still open to a 5-year-old campaign in 2026 should she run well in her final two starts this season. McPeek mentioned the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) and $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1) as goals for the winter months. Rattle N Roll, Mystik Dan Target Kentucky Starts McPeek tested the Middle Eastern circuit earlier this year with Rattle N Roll, who won the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup (G3) in Saudi Arabia before finishing fifth in the Saudi Cup and eighth in the Dubai World Cup. The 6-year-old son of Connect has not raced or been clocked on the worktab since, but is back in training at Churchill Downs. McPeek said the current target is the $350,000 Fayette Stakes (G3) at Keeneland Oct. 25 before attempting to defend his title in the $600,000 Clark Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs Nov. 28. Should all go well there, he could return to the Middle East for the winter. Meanwhile, 2024 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan is targeting the $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Del Mar Nov. 1. McPeek plans to cross-nominate the son of Goldencents into both of Churchill Downs' Sept. 27 stakes: the $500,000 Lukas Classic Stakes (G2) at 1 1/8 miles and the $400,000 Ack Ack Stakes (G3) at one mile. "The goal with (Mystik Dan) is the Breeders' Cup (Dirt) Mile," McPeek said. "Shorten him up a little bit, because he does act like he's a miler." McPeek is also pointing stakes winner Gould's Gold to the Lukas Classic, stating that a decision will have to be made whether they will run against each other or split up. Mystik Dan and Gould's Gold share common ownership partners in 4 G Racing and Lance Gasaway.