Sovereignty Pleases In Breeze For Jim Dandy
Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont (G1) winner Sovereignty breezed a half-mile in 48.99 seconds over Saratoga's Oklahoma training track Friday in preparation for an planned start in the $500,000 Jim Dandy (G2) July 26 at the Spa.
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With usual exercise rider Neil Poznansky aboard, Sovereignty started about a length in front of workmate Jefferson Street, going his first quarter in 24.56 seconds, Daily Racing Form reports. Jefferson Street went to the outside Sovereignty heading into the stretch and Sovereignty finished in 24.12 seconds, about a length in front of his workmate at the wire.
Friday's tune-up followed Sovereignty's lone half mile breeze June 27 in a slower :50.85 on the Oklahoma training track.
'I didn't want them head and head because they're going to go too fast,' said trainer Bill Mott told the Form about Friday's breeze. 'I didn't want the other horse joining him until they turned into the stretch, I just wanted something for him to finish with. I just figured he had one easy one, just pick it up a little bit today.'
Godolphin's homebred Sovereignty, an Into Mischief colt, could have two more breezes prior to his expected start in the Jim Dandy, a springboard to the $1.25-million Travers (G1) Aug. 23 at Saratoga.
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Baeza, third in both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, worked six furlongs in 1:11.20 at Santa Anita on Friday morning. Trainer John Shirreffs has previously said he is targeting the Jim Dandy and Travers.
Others possible for the Jim Dandy are Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Sandman, and Peter Pan (G3) winner Hill Road.
Also on Friday's work tab at Saratoga was Metropolitan Handicap (G1) runner-up and Whitney (G1) hopeful Fierceness, who breezed a half-mile in 48.72 seconds over Saratoga's main track.
This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Jul 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
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