LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Sovereignty came into the Travers Stakes as the top-rated 3-year-old in the country, and will leave with his sights on bigger superlatives than that.
The Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner ran away from the field Saturday at Saratoga, delivering a breathtaking 10-length victory in the $1.25 million Grade 1 Travers Stakes, becoming the first horse since Thunder Gulch in 1995 to sweep America’s most prestigious trio of summer races – the Belmont, Jim Dandy and Travers.
By the time jockey Junior Alvarado let the colt loose at the top of the stretch, there was nothing left to settle — only admiration to offer.
“We are witnessing greatness,” track announcer Frank Mirahmadi declared as Sovereignty widened his margin with ease. “Sovereignty is pouring it on!”
The performance capped a summer of dominance and solidified Sovereignty’s grip on the 3-year-old championship — and potentially Horse of the Year — as he heads next to the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar in November.
“He just does it so professionally,” said Alvarado, who has ridden the colt to all six of his career wins. “He’s the horse of a lifetime. All my big wins come from him.”
Sent off at 1-4 odds before a crowd of 48,255, Sovereignty raced comfortably in fourth early as Magnitude and Bracket Buster carved out moderate fractions. Approaching the far turn, Alvarado guided him outside — and the race was over.
“I was just watching the horses in front of me, and my horse felt like he was galloping while the others were running,” Alvarado said. “When I turned for home and asked him, he responded beautifully.”
He stopped the clock in 2:00.84 for 1¼ miles, with Bracket Buster finishing second and Magnitude third. The race wasn’t close. It was a statement.
Even Steve Asmussen, trainer of Magnitude, couldn’t help but marvel.
“It’s unbelievable,” he said. “That sort of horse may be generational.”
The win also presented trainer Bill Mott with an elusive Travers victory in his 14th try.
Mott, 71, called Sovereignty “the best 3-year-old I’ve trained.” And now, he’s also the one that helped him win the race that meant the most.
“Two Kentucky Derbies are great,” Mott said. “But for me, I think the Travers is a great race to win. It’s very satisfying and gratifying to get that done.”
Sovereignty, a son of Into Mischief out of the Bernardini mare Crowned, is now 6-for-9 with more than $5.8 million in earnings. He has reeled off four straight wins: the Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes, Jim Dandy, and now the Travers — a sweep never before accomplished in American racing.
Many race fans are left to wonder – what if he had tried the Preakness instead of skipping the second jewel of the Triple Crown. But Mott and Godolphin director of bloodstock Michael Banahan are happy enough.
Their next stop: the Breeders’ Cup Classic, where Sovereignty likely will again face Preakness winner Journalism and top older horses with Horse of the Year honors at stake.
“We know the older crop is very good,” Banahan said. “But he’s a big, strong horse, very mature. What he’s done all year — and again today — we’re just excited to see what he can do.”
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