Sovereignty runner-up in G1 Florida Derby

Sovereignty emerged with plenty of credit in defeat as he closed strongly to take second behind Tappan Street in the G1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park, USA, on Saturday, 29 March.   

The Bill Mott-trained colt, bidding to follow up his G2 Fountain Of Youth Stakes success at the same course earlier in the month, broke on terms from his outside draw and raced wide before finding cover in eighth heading into the first turn.   

After moving up to sixth down the back, Sovereignty continued to make headway under Manny Franco rounding the far turn and went fourth approaching the final quarter-mile.   

Tappan Street quickened by the leading duo of Madaket Road and Neoequos passing the furlong pole, with Sovereignty staying on powerfully to take second half a furlong out.   

Sovereignty saw out the nine furlongs full of running but was unable to challenge Tappan Street, who held on by a length and a quarter at the line. 

Bill Mott said: “Sovereignty ran well and had a pretty good trip. He got a little wide going into the first turn, but he got in and got a pretty good trip. Manny Franco said the ground kind of broke away from him two different times, once at the three-eighths pole and once at the five-sixteenths pole. He said he kind of lost it and gathered himself up, and then he did it again.   

“This doesn’t have to be his best race. Sometimes you can look at it and say, maybe that’s a good thing. You don’t want their best race before the big event. This is a very important race, but I think the fact that he ran very big last time and ran very well this time, maybe he’ll continue to improve. I don’t think the fact that he didn’t win doesn’t mean he didn’t run a good race.”