Bill Mott’s lone Kentucky Derby victory came with an asterisk in 2019, but the Hall of Fame trainer didn’t hesitate when faced with a hypothetical question from a stranger.
What do you say to someone at the airport when they ask if you’ve ever won the Kentucky Derby?
“I say, ‘Damn right I did,’” Mott said with a laugh.
Mott’s Country House — a 65-1 long shot — crossed the finish line second but was declared the winner of the 2019 Kentucky Derby after the disqualification of Maximum Security.
Mott is back in the Kentucky Derby this year with one of the top contenders in Sovereignty. The Florida Derby runner-up is considered by many handicappers to be the No. 2 choice in the Run for the Roses behind likely favorite Journalism.
Mott made his first appearance in the Kentucky Derby in 1984 with Taylor’s Special (13th) and is 1 for 13 all-time. He finished sixth last year with Resilience.
“Over the years I think I’ve come into the race with a little better horse and a little better horse and a little better horse,” Mott said. “I think we have as good of a chance this year as we’ve probably ever had.”
Sovereignty put in his penultimate workout for the Kentucky Derby on Saturday at Churchill Downs, breezing five furlongs in 1:00.60.
Mott already had the luxury of knowing his horse likes the surface, as Sovereignty won the Grade 3 Street Sense at Churchill Downs last October to break his maiden.
“It gives us a little more confidence,” Mott said. “You’d feel terrible if he’d been here and hadn’t run well over the track. Some horses run better over this track than others. Some take to it. Looked like he accepted it and got over it very well when he ran here.”
Sovereignty got a break from racing after the Street Sense victory and didn’t return for his 3-year-old debut until March 2, winning the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park.
He finished 1 ¼ lengths behind Tappan Street in the Florida Derby but showed promise for the Kentucky Derby with the way he was finishing down the stretch.
“He’s been a deep closer, so we always have the impression those horses will go further,” Mott said. “That’s not always true. Sometimes they close well going a mile and an eighth and then they don’t close as well going a mile and a quarter. I hope that’s not the case with him.”
Manny Franco rode Sovereignty in the Florida Derby, but Junior Alvarado will regain the mount in the Kentucky Derby. Alvarado missed three weeks — including the Florida Derby — with a shoulder injury but returned to riding April 16. Alvarado rode Sovereignty in his first four races.
A son of Into Mischief, Sovereignty is a homebred for Godolphin and has earned $572,800 with a 2-2-0 record over five career starts.
If he can withstand the early traffic, Sovereignty figures to be flying late in the Kentucky Derby.
“I hope he continues to be able to sustain his run,” Mott said. “Until they do it, they haven’t proven it. They have to do it on the first Saturday in May.”
Sovereignty was one of seven Kentucky Derby hopefuls to breeze Saturday at Churchill Downs.
The fastest was Blue Grass runner-up East Avenue, who covered four furlongs in 47.60. East Avenue is expected to be the pace-setter in the Kentucky Derby.
Other Derby hopefuls to work Saturday were Burnham Square (four furlongs, 49.40 seconds), Tiztastic (five furlongs, 59.60 seconds), Publisher (five furlongs, 59.60 seconds), Flying Mohawk (five furlongs, 1:00) and Final Gambit (five furlongs, 1:00.80).
Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com. Follow on X @KentuckyDerbyCJ.