In a classic summer showdown of the best dirt routers in the nation, it was the reigning Horse of the Year Sovereignty who won the $1 million Whitney S. (G1) at Saratoga. With his Whitney victory, Godolphin’s Kentucky homebred son of Into Mischief was awarded a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) in October at Keeneland.

Sovereignty’s stirring 4 ¾-length triumph quelled any doubts about his 4-year-old form following a runner-up finish to White Abarrio in the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) in April and third-place finish last out in the Stephen Foster (G1) in June at Churchill Downs. In the Whitney, he demonstrated the class that propelled him to victory last year in the Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill, the Belmont Stakes (G1), Jim Dandy S. (G2), and the Travers S. (G1).

A grateful Bill Mott said it was a relief to see Sovereignty return to the winner’s circle in such grand fashion.

“Absolutely, without a doubt,” Mott said. “I mean naturally any time a horse is undefeated or has a win streak going, and they get beat, you always wonder ‘OK, what’s going to happen next time?’ So, I must admit, I think there’s always some concern that they’re going to fire their best shot, but he did today. I knew he was doing well coming into the race, but you’ve got to see it out here in the afternoon. You’ve got to see it against the group of horses he’s running against, and he showed up today.”

Clear Sailing in the Stretch for Sovereignty

With regular rider Junior Alvarado at the helm, Sovereignty traveled through an eventful trip over the fast footing. He settled in fifth, 5 1/2 lengths back of the pacesetting Champion 3-Year-Old Filly Nitrogen, who stumbled at the start. Nitrogen took clear command on the backstretch. A tough Nitrogen kept Antiquarian at bay exiting the turn while Sovereignty swung wide and set his sights on Nitrogen.

“I knew I got him in gear,” Alvarado said of Sovereignty’s turn-of-foot. “He was just eating the ground, so I knew I was good at that point turning for home.”

Sovereignty struck the front a furlong out, drew clear late, and won by nearly five lengths at the finish. He covered 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.94. Nitrogen held second by a neck over Antiquarian.

“We had a good racetrack, I said last time, there was a concern about the racetrack,” Mott said. “It was sealed, probably a little slippery, for whatever reason, he didn’t finish up. But today he was getting a hold of it, as you could see, coming through the stretch.”

Sovereignty now sets sights on what is sure to be another showdown of stars in the 10-furlong  Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Belmont Park on Sept. 18. There, he’ll likely finally get his chance at global superstar Forever Young (JPN), who won the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) last November that Sovereignty was forced to miss due to illness.

With the Whitney win, Sovereignty boosted his bankroll to more than $6.8 million. The bay colt is out of the Bernardini mare Crowned.