Ky. Derby prep: Godolphin could get its 1st Florida Derby win

Sovereignty, winner of the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth, is favored to deliver Godolphin its first victory in the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) on Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

Going forward, the 8-5 morning-line favorite for Gulfstream’s marquee Triple Crown prep also has the potential to provide his owner-breeder with its first success in the Kentucky Derby on the first Saturday in May.

Godolphin’s victories in major stakes across the globe are virtually countless, but the Kentucky Derby has eluded Sovereignty’s owner-breeder. Godolphin USA’s director of bloodstock Michael Banahan doesn’t underestimate the importance of a Kentucky Derby victory.

“I think any race of the magnitude of the Derby around the world is important. Any race that a group hasn’t won before, it’s probably important to do so. We’d love to have the opportunity to have a horse in with a chance and try to win it.” Banahan said. “We’ve had good horses in it before and been close but haven’t got it done. It’d be fantastic if we could get that done. Any owner group with a 3-year-old colt in the springtime, that’s the big race that you’re targeting. “

Essential Quality finished third in the 2021 Kentucky Derby before going on to deliver Godolphin its first success in the American Triple Crown with a victory in the Belmont Stakes.

Sovereignty, who also will seek to add victories in the 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby and the 1 1/4-mile Kentucky Derby onto Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott’s resume, rallied from last to capture the 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth by a neck over previously undefeated River Thames on March 1. The son of Into Mischief was making his first start since winning the 1 1/16-mile Street Sense (G3) on Oct. 27 at Churchill Downs.

“We’re very excited to see what he can do during the weekend. It was a very good comeback race in the Fountain of Youth. He probably did more than we expected him to do. We were just looking for a good run. He was just about ready to run. We didn’t think the track at the distance would suit him. It’s a quick run into the first turn. We were very pleased with how well he did,” Banahan said. “Eating up the ground the last sixteenth of a mile showed that he’ll probably like more distance, which we always thought about him. So, we’re pretty excited about going into this weekend. We think the extra distance is going to help him.”

Sovereignty drew the far outside no. 10 post position for his highly anticipated return in the Florida Derby.

“He got a better draw the last time, but he’ll be coming from the back probably. We’d rather save ground, and an inside draw is preferable, but dirt getting kicked back at him is something that doesn’t effect him badly,” Banahan said. “We’ll go into it with great expectations Saturday and hope he can run another big race. He’s coming back a little bit quick off a big effort, but he’s been training well. We’re very happy with him.”