Sovereignty, the top 3-year-old colt and leading Horse of the Year contender, dominated the 156th Travers Stakes at Saratoga with an effortless 10-length victory, marking his fourth consecutive Grade 1 win including the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes. Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, who earned his first Travers win, Sovereignty’s performance earned high praise from rival trainer Steve Asmussen, who called him a “generational” horse. Owner Godolphin’s director of bloodstock, Michael Banahan, echoed the respect, highlighting the importance of such exceptional horses for the industry.
The race featured a small field with notable competitors like Magnitude and Bracket Buster, but Sovereignty’s superior talent was clear as he surged past the leaders in the stretch to finish in 2:00.84 for 10 furlongs. Jockey Junior Alvarado, riding Sovereignty to his first Travers win, described the colt as the “horse of a lifetime.” With a stellar record of six wins in nine starts and earnings nearing $6 million, Sovereignty is now being aimed at the Breeders’ Cup Classic, where he may face off against top older horses and his rival Journalism for Horse of the Year honors. The Travers day handle was $54 million with attendance of 48,255.
