Godolphin‘s Sovereignty Dominates Jim Dandy Stakes, Sets Sights on Travers
Saratoga Race Course announced Saturday that Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Sovereignty delivered another commanding performance, capturing the Grade II Jim Dandy Stakes as the overwhelming 1-2 favorite.
The Into Mischief colt, piloted by Junior Alvarado, secured his third graded stakes victory of the season with a professional one-length triumph over Baeza in the traditional Travers Stakes prep race.
Sovereignty raced closer to the pace than in previous starts, settling in third position early as Mo Plex set moderate fractions of :24.54 and :48.49. The Godolphin homebred made his move approaching the quarter pole and quickly dispatched his rivals in the stretch.
“I’d say it was good, it was a winning trip, a winning ride, a winning run,” said winning trainer Bill Mott. “We hope he comes back good and hopefully he trains as well for the Travers as he did for this.”
The victory came in the absence of GI Preakness Stakes winner Journalism, who remained in California rather than face Sovereignty again. The field of five included several Triple Crown also-rans, including Baeza, who finished third in both the Derby and Belmont.
Alvarado expressed complete confidence in his mount throughout the 1â…›-mile contest.
“I was 100 percent confident of what I had underneath of me,” Alvarado said. “I got to about 75 percent, 80 percent out of him. We thought this was a prep. We don’t need to get everything out of him today.”
Baeza, ridden by Hector Berrios in his Saratoga debut, finished a clear second, while 18-1 longshot Hill Road rallied for third, 9¼ lengths behind the runner-up.
The Jim Dandy victory pushes Sovereignty’s career earnings to $5,147,800 with a record of five wins from eight starts. The race is named for the 100-1 longshot who upset Triple Crown winner Gallant Fox in the 1930 Travers Stakes.
Mott, who has never won the Travers in his Hall of Fame career, made no secret of his ambitions.
“We are trying to get ready for the Travers and that is the main objective for everybody, I think,” Mott said. “It is a race I’ve never won, and I’d really like to win it before I check out [laughs]. We’ll give it our best go.”
Sovereignty continues to enhance the legacy of his sire Into Mischief, who also produced 2020 Kentucky Derby winner Authentic. The colt’s dam, Crowned, was a $1.2 million Keeneland September yearling purchase by Godolphin in 2014. She passed away earlier this year after producing a Nyquist colt in 2024.
The $1.25 million Grade I Travers Stakes, known as the “Mid-Summer Derby,” will be contested on August 23 at Saratoga Race Course.
SOVEREIGNTY rules again! 👑
The Belmont Stakes champ proves he’s still on top with a big win in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy pres. by @MoheganSun under @JuniorandKellyA for trainer Bill Mott! pic.twitter.com/ALCT6ZVxOS
— NYRA (🎪) (@TheNYRA)
SOVEREIGNTY rules again! 👑
The Belmont Stakes champ proves he’s still on top with a big win in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy pres. by July 26, 2025
