Sovereignty rewards faith with storming G3 Street Sense success

Sovereignty recorded a remarkable first career success as he powered from last to first in the G3 Street Sense Stakes at Churchill Downs, USA, on Sunday, 27 October. 

Pitched into Graded company after making the frame in two maiden appearances for Bill Mott, the Into Mischief colt was a stride slow leaving the stalls and raced in a clear last of the nine runners. 

Junior Alvarado had six lengths to make up when he switched Sovereignty to the outside of the field approaching the final quarter-mile, with the Godolphin juvenile challenging six wide at the top of the lane. 

Sovereignty surged past the field in a matter of strides, taking up the running just inside the final furlong before streaking away to win by an easy five lengths, a victory that earns him 10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points. 

Michael Banahan, Director of Bloodstock, Godolphin USA, said: “It’s all down to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, who has given us a great opportunity to have a wonderful broodmare band. He has allowed us to develop these horses for his enjoyment to run in races like this and then try and get to the big three-year-old races next year. 

“To have horses that are homebreds makes it extra special. We sent Crowned [Sovereignty’s dam] to Into Mischief three times and it has taken three horses to get to a Graded Stakes winner. 

“Sovereignty had trained very impressively up in New York and ran well in two maidens up there. It’s very unusual for us to try and break a maiden in a Graded Stakes race but we felt that he had the quality to do that. We saw on the racetrack today what he is capable of, and he relished the trip. 

“It’s great to have a winner at Churchill Downs with a view to next year. We think he has all the talent in the world, and we can dream through the winter as to where we might end up.” 

Junior Alvarado added: “This is rare to see a horse break their maiden in a two-turn Stakes race like today. We knew that this horse had a lot of talent. He broke great today and, when I turned for home, I just showed him the road and he took off. Things are coming together with his development, and I think as the distances get longer they will not be a problem for him.”