If Sovereignty were to miss the Preakness, he would become the fourth Derby winner in the past seven Triple Crown seasons to do so (with a technicality in one of those cases). Mott’s own Country House missed out when a respiratory infection turned up the Tuesday morning after the Derby, but he already seemed a bit circumspect that year.

Will Sovereignty run in the Preakness Stakes after winning the 2025 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs? Bill Mott on the second leg of the Triple Crown

Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty dazzled in his late-closing victory at Churchill Downs, but trainer Bill Mott remains uncertain whether the colt will pursue Triple Crown glory in the upcoming Preakness Stakes.