Bill Mott talks about plans for Sovereignty, Just F Y I

Sovereignty, dramatic late-running winner of the Fountain of Youth (G2) March 1, is being pointed to a return to Gulfstream Park for the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) March 29.

Sovereignty earned 50 Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifying points for his Fountain of Youth victory by a neck over River Thames, and is tied with 2024 2-year-old male champion Citizen Bull for second on the list with 60. The 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby offers points to the top five finishers on a 100-50-25-15-10 basis.

“I think we’re leaning very heavily toward the Florida Derby,” hall of fame trainer Bill Mott said Friday. “We’re 95 percent sure that’s where we’re going.”

Sovereignty, a bay Godolphin homebred son of Into Mischief, entered the 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth having gone unraced since breaking his maiden in his third start, the Oct. 27 Street Sense (G3) at Churchill Downs. He trailed by as many as five lengths after six furlongs in the Fountain of Youth before closing with aplomb to nail previously undefeated River Thames.

Mott said Sovereignty exited his comeback race well and has resumed training at his winter base of Payson Park.

“He looks good,” Mott said. “He’s doing good and back on the track galloping.”

Mott will be bringing back another of his stable stars next week in George Krikorian homebred Just F Y I, the 2-year-old filly champion of 2023 that has not raced since finishing sixth in the Acorn (G1) last June at Saratoga.

Just F Y I, now 4, is entered to return in an optional claiming allowance for older fillies and mares going one mile on the main track Thursday that drew a field of six including Grade 2 winner Gun Song, runner-up to horse of the year Thorpedo Anna in last fall’s Cotillion (G1), and 2024 Alabama (G1) Power Squeeze. Trainer Jorge Delgado said Friday that Power Squeeze would scratch.

“We need to get started,” Mott said. “She’s been away a long time and we decided to try an allowance race, although it’s a very tough allowance race. It could be a stake, really.”

Just F Y I went undefeated in three starts during her championship season, topped by victories in the Frizette (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). She ran three times at 3, finishing second in the Ashland (G1) and Kentucky Oaks (G1), the latter to Thorpedo Anna, prior to the Acorn.

A daughter of 2018 Triple Crown champion Justify, Just F Y I shows nine timed works at Payson Park for her return, most recently going five furlongs in 1:02.60 March 2. Junior Alvarado will ride.

“She’s done well,” Mott said. “We’ve got some decent works in her but she’s been away a long time, so we just need to get her started.”