Kentucky Derby Winner Sovereignty to Skip Preakness Stakes

• Sovereignty raced past Kentucky Derby favorite Journalism to win the 151^st “Run for the Roses” last Saturday at Churchill Downs.
• However, Sovereignty will not run in the Preakness Stakes, losing the opportunity to win the Triple Crown.
• Instead, Sovereignty will aim to run in the Belmont Stakes, and the Preakness odds will have a new favorite.

The Triple Crown season is underway as the first leg, the Kentucky Derby, was won last Saturday at Churchill Downs. It was a thrilling two minutes, as Sovereignty beat Derby favorite Journalism in a duel down the stretch to win the “Run for the Roses”.

But Sovereignty won’t run in the Preakness Stakes on May 17. This means horse betting sites will have another favorite atop the board for the “Run for the Black-Eyed Susans”.  

Sovereignty Being Pointed Towards the Belmont Stakes on June 7

The 151^st Kentucky Derby was a fantastic race, and even more incredible on a sloppy track as it rained in Louisville all day.

But it was revealed on Tuesday that Sovereignty wouldn’t run in the Preakness Stakes, becoming the first horse since Rich Strike in 2022 to skip the Preakness after winning the Derby.

There are many opinions on why this has happened recently. The most prevalent theory is that, simply, there isn’t enough time between the Triple Crown races. The trio of events usually happens within a five-week stretch between the first Saturday in May and the first or second weekend in June. NFL Hall of Famer Randy Moss is now a horse racing analyst for NBC, and said:

“Most trainers hate running their horses back in two weeks. They feel like it’s bad for the horses. The trainers of Derby winners that do run back in the Preakness do it out of a sense of tradition — not because they like it.”

A total of 13 horses have won the Triple Crown, but none since Justify in 2018. But it is telling that this is the fifth time in the past seven years that there will be no chance at the Triple Crown.

Which Horse Will Be Favored at the Preakness Stakes?

Sovereignty would have probably been the favorite at horse racing betting sites for the Preakness. The post draw is set for Monday, May 12, so that’s when the field will be confirmed. But you can most likely expect Journalism to be the favorite in the Preakness Stakes odds as he is being pointed towards Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland.

Rodriguez, which was a late scratch for the Kentucky Derby, should also be near the top of the board. We’ll be sure to keep you updated on the latest for the Preakness in ten days. You’ll get the confirmed field, as well as tips and picks, early next week!