Steve Dennis looks ahead to the Kentucky Derby winner’s return to action – at the ‘Graveyard of Champions’
It takes two, if you want to do it properly. That applies to the tango, to the see-saw, and to a duel, in this particular case the absorbing, evolving path that leads to Horse of the Year honours.
In some years the chosen one is obvious, unavoidable. In other years there is no chosen one, just a sort of pass-the-parcel, could be anyone holding it when the music stops. This year is not like those years.
The rivalry between the three-year-old colts Journalism and Sovereignty gains further momentum on Saturday at Saratoga, where Sovereignty heads a short, stacked field for the $500,000 Jim Dandy. Journalism raised the bet with a late-running score in last weekend’s G1 Haskell at Monmouth Park; now Sovereignty must show his cards again in this G2 contest.
The pair shared the Triple Crown series, Sovereignty beating his West Coast rival into the place spot in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont, Journalism making hay in the Preakness in the absence of his east-coast nemesis.
With a 2-0 count over Journalism that includes the keystone Derby, Sovereignty – until Saturday – is in the catbird seat. But Journalism has three G1s in his pocket (add the Santa Anita Derby) and the advantage of the most recent move. Saturday’s race is huge.
Sovereignty must beat his four rivals in the Jim Dandy to keep the momentum, the narrative alive. For all the nod-and-wink about the Spa being the ‘Graveyard of Champions’, it simply wouldn’t do to bury the story too soon.
His preparation has pleased trainer Bill Mott – “His work went well. The main thing is Neil [Poznansky, work-rider] thought it was good, he thought he felt very similar to before he ran in the last race” – and Sovereignty shouldn’t be inconvenienced by cutting back a furlong and spotting weight to horses he has already beaten well.
California shipper Baeza was third in the Derby and the Belmont; Sandman was seventh in the Derby and third in the Preakness; Hill Road was fifth in the Belmont; Mo Plex, winner of the G3 Ohio Derby, is new on the scene. These are undoubtedly good horses, but Sovereignty is expected to beat them (again) and take his bankroll beyond $5 million.
After all, he is in the process of becoming the best horse Godolphin have had trained in North America, moving ahead of such as Essential Quality – himself a Belmont/Jim Dandy winner, a ‘regulation’ Belmont – and the adored Cody’s Wish. It’s important for Godolphin that Sovereignty continues to excel, and although the Jim Dandy is designated as a ‘prep’ for the Travers Stakes at Saratoga on August 23, not an end in itself but more of a means to an end, victory is vital.
US racing needs a rivalry like this, needs these big hitters to keep slugging away until they meet again in either the Travers or the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Mott, as might be expected from a man of his experience, strikes a cautious note.
“Anything can happen,” he says, a phrase that could usefully serve as a slogan for those charged with promoting the sport. “They’ve got to go around there, and it’s not over until those lights say ‘official’.”
That’ll make the result official. It will also keep the rivalry official. It takes two. Over to you, Sovereignty.
Horse of the moment
Everyone loves Saratoga. Book’em Danno is no exception. The four-year-old gelding improved his record at the Spa to three-for-four when cruising in last Saturday’s G2 Alfred G Vanderbilt, wrapping it up by an easy 2½ lengths. He got a 111 Beyer – joint-highest firgure by any horse in 2025.
“I’m pretty sure that horse loves Saratoga,” said jockey Paco Lopez. “He really, really likes this track and this is a very nice horse.”
Book’em Danno – his name is an evocative catchphrase from the cop show Hawaii Five-0 – is perfect over six furlongs, but trainer Derek Ryan says his next stop is likely to be the G1 Forego over an extra panel on August 23.
That was the distance for his only defeat at Saratoga, a slightly unlucky third in the G1 H Allen Jerkens Memorial, but also for his most prestigious success at the track, the G1 Woody Stephens last June. An extra Saratoga furlong; what’s not to love?
Jockey of the moment
This moment, that moment, it seems any moment is all about Irad Ortiz (right), who has established a lead in the meet rankings with 17 wins, two ahead of his kid brother Jose – even though he skipped town on Saturday to ride at Monmouth Park.
He won major stakes races at the Spa either side of his trip to the Jersey Shore, taking Friday’s G2 Shuvee on the Todd Pletcher-trained Leslie’s Rose and Sunday’s G2 Honorable Miss on Halina’s Forte for trainer Phil Bauer. The latter, a 24-1 boilover, got a stylish ride from the Puerto Rican ace, who saved ground on the fence the whole way and eased the filly through a gap at the top of the lane.
“It worked out beautiful, we got the rail open – I got a horse moving great so I go for it,” he said. Even at this early stage, his seventh Spa riding title is a short-odds bet.
Trainer of the moment
Jorge Abreu has been a trainer for nine years and has won two G1s, both with the filly Scottish Lassie, who annihilated the opposition to the tune of 15½ lengths in a scratch-affected four-runner $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks on Saturday.
Scottish Lassie, who also won the G1 Frizette at Aqueduct last fall, took full advantage of the late scratch of pace angle La Cara, leading at every call and drawing right off to beat odds-on favourite Immersive. Both her career wins have been at G1 level; she’s clearly a horse for the big occasion.
“This is a horse I picked out at the sale, and for her to win two Grade 1s for me … I don’t have words to describe it,” said Abreu, doing a fair job of describing it. He has had ten starters at the meet and seven of them have hit the board; the barn is flying.
What they’re saying
“It makes no sense and judging by my Diana record I’d be an expert in this category. I’d ask me, but what do I know?”
Chad Brown vents his frustration at the ever-changing stakes schedule for turf mares after Excellent Truth gave him his tenth victory in the G1 Diana
“I’m not worried about the Breeders’ Cup. It’s not one of my main goals. In this game, you don’t get ahead of yourself.”
Derek Ryan is not getting ahead of himself but going step-by-step with star sprinter Book’em Danno
“A perfect trip today. I break and nobody wants to go. I let her go. Why wait?”
Paco Lopez wasn’t hanging around on Future Is Now, winner of the G3 Caress
“She’s certainly far from done. She’s in a nice routine here and doing well.”
Kenny McPeek with a word for Thorpedo Anna fans, as the reigning Horse of the Year prepares for the G1 Personal Ensign on August 23
Horse to watch
With that name, Stars And Stripes is always going to stand out from the crowd, and he did just that when romping in a mile-eighth allowance on Thursday’s card, rolling home by 7¼ lengths under Jose Lezcano, earning a 90 Beyer.
It was the third start and second victory for the Not This Time colt, a three-year-old who only made his debut in mid-May. His maiden score at Aqueduct was gained by 10½ lengths and he may be a prodigious talent, although his next start has yet to be confirmed owing to a minor foot injury sustained in the race.
“The impressive thing is he grabbed himself pretty good leaving the gate, too,” said trainer Bill Mott. “I’ve got to wait for that foot to heal up first before we decide what’s next. He gouged himself pretty good.”
• Visit the NYRA Saratoga website
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• View the latest TRC Global Rankings for horses / jockeys / trainers / sires