With less than two weeks to go for the historic 150th running of the Preakness Stakes (G1) on May 17 at Pimlico Race Course, anticipation is mounting over whether Kentucky Derby (G1) winner SOVEREIGNTY will line up for the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown. While his connections have yet to confirm participation, the colt appears to be bouncing back in excellent shape after his determined 1½-length victory over JOURNALISM in the Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs last Saturday.
Godolphin’s star 3-year-old, trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott and ridden by Junior Alvarado, settled far back early before unleashing a powerful rally to take command in the final furlong of the 1¼-mile classic. Assistant trainer Kenny McCarthy, who oversees Mott’s Churchill Downs division, confirmed that SOVEREIGNTY has shown all the right signs in his post-Derby recovery.
“He’s been eating up well, finishing everything in his tub within 20 minutes,” McCarthy said. “That’s a strong indicator for us that he’s feeling good.” The colt had previously demonstrated top-class ability as a juvenile when he won the Grade 3 Street Sense Stakes, and stamped himself as a top contender this season by taking the Fountain of Youth (G2) and finishing second in the Florida Derby (G1).
Michael Banahan, Godolphin’s director of bloodstock, indicated that a final decision regarding the Preakness will be made within the next few days. “We fully respect what the Triple Crown means, but our priority is the horse’s welfare. He has a small pastern scrape we’re monitoring. If he continues to show energy and soundness, we’ll make that call soon,” Banahan said.
Meanwhile, Derby runner-up JOURNALISM, trained by Michael McCarthy and owned by a powerhouse partnership including Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Don Alberto Stable, and Coolmore associates, is set to resume training on Wednesday. His Preakness status remains undecided.
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, an eight-time Preakness winner, confirmed that RODRIGUEZ, who was scratched from the Derby due to a foot bruise, is pointing for Pimlico. “The foot is fine now. We didn’t want to risk it on a wet track,” said Baffert, who has postponed his return to California to monitor training conditions in Louisville.
Another confirmed Preakness entrant is AMERICAN PROMISE, trained by 89-year-old Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas. The colt had a troubled trip in the Derby, finishing 16th, but was previously dominant in the Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs. “The best horse won the Derby, and it was a very good effort,” said Lukas, who seeks his record-tying eighth Preakness victory.
Several emerging contenders are being considered for the $2 million Preakness Stakes, each bringing a unique profile to the 150th edition of the historic race. Among them is CLEVER AGAIN, trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, who captured the Hot Springs Stakes in just his third career start. His training schedule has been delayed due to persistent wet conditions at Churchill Downs, but he remains firmly under consideration. Brendan Walsh’s GOSGER also enters the conversation after a sharp win in the Lexington Stakes (G2); the colt races for the estate of Harvey Clarke, the breeder of 2012 Preakness winner I’LL HAVE ANOTHER.
Other notable possibles include RIVER THAMES, trained by Todd Pletcher, who finished second to Sovereignty in the Fountain of Youth (G2) before placing third in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1); HEART OF HONOR, an English-bred runner trained by Jamie Osborne, who was runner-up in the UAE Derby (G2) and could add international depth to the lineup; and PAY BILLY, who secured an automatic Preakness berth with his win in the Federico Tesio Stakes at Laurel Park. The undefeated son of Improbable is trained by Mike Gorham and appears well-suited for the Pimlico surface.
As final decisions loom, all eyes remain on whether Sovereignty will pursue Triple Crown glory. A win at Pimlico would place him one step closer to immortality, making the Belmont Stakes (G1) on June 7 a potential coronation.
The Preakness Stakes, first run in 1873, will celebrate its 150th edition this year, adding historical weight to every entry. With horses from powerhouse barns, rising stars, and seasoned trainers all targeting the Middle Jewel, fans can expect a fiercely competitive renewal—regardless of whether the Derby winner lines up.
