Triple Crown tracker: Updates on 9, including Sovereignty

The Triple Crown Tracker checks in with the horses who raced in the 2025 Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont, keeping up with what they have done since the classics.

2025 Kentucky Derby

Though Sovereignty has not raced since being scratched from the Breeders' Cup Classic, he was involved in the biggest horse-racing news of the last week. Trainer Bill Mott announced Saturday that the two-time classic winner would return for a 4-year-old season. According to comments Mott made after his trainee Knightsbridge won the Mr. Prospector (G3) at Gulfstream, Sovereignty was expected to arrive at Payson Park within the week and plans were pending for a seasonal debut.

Three horses from the 2025 Kentucky Derby field have seen the starter in recent weeks.

Final Gambit dropped out of the graded-stakes level for the first time since breaking his maiden in February, facing straight 3-year-olds for the last time in the Last Hurrah at Turfway on Dec. 27. Sent off the 1-1 favorite, the Brad Cox charge rallied from last and battled late with Anegada, but he missed by a nose and settled for the place.

Publisher, a Steve Asmussen trainee who still seeks his maiden win, went off the odds-on favorite in a maiden special weight dirt mile at Oaklawn on Friday. He rallied from toward the rear of a compact field, but pacesetter Nu What's New was too strong, leaving Publisher second by 7 1/2 lengths in the end.

Flying Mohawk also got one last try against straight sophomores, running in Saturday's Woodchopper at Fair Grounds. Sent off at 9-2, the Whit Beckman trainee settled at the rear after hopping at the start. He did not find the rally he needed in the end, finishing sixth, six lengths behind favored Montador.

Render Judgment is entered Saturday for his first start since finishing 17th in the Kentucky Derby. The Kenny McPeek trainee steps out of stakes company for the first time since his juvenile year, contesting a first-level allowance going 1 1/16 miles on the Oaklawn dirt. He drew post 3 in the overflow field of 12 plus two on the also-eligible list.

2025 Preakness Stakes

Goal Oriented, who spent much of the year putting up strong efforts against Grade 1 company, finally earned his first top-level score Sunday during the opening-day card at Santa Anita. The Bob Baffert trainee turned back to seven furlongs in the Malibu, where he was sent off the 1-1 favorite. Chasing in last of seven early, he rallied outside horses around the turn and had the most steam in the final furlong, running on to win by a length over up-and-coming stablemate Midland Money.

Maryland-based Pay Billy made his second start since the Preakness on Dec. 20 at Laurel. The Michael Gorham charge lined up in the Robert T. Manfuso, a 1 1/16-mile stakes on the dirt, against local stars Post Time and Barbadian Runner. He was no match for that duo but hung on best of the rest to hold the show, 16 1/2 lengths behind the retiring graded-stakes winner Post Time.

River Thames, unraced since the Preakness, returned to the work tab for the first time since June. The Todd Pletcher trainee posted a three-furlong drill at WinStar Training Center on Dec. 18 before shipping to Florida. He posted another three-furlong move at Palm Beach Downs on Sunday. Florida is familiar territory for River Thames, who began his career last year for Todd Pletcher with maiden and allowance wins at Gulfstream Park, as well as a second-place finish behind Sovereignty in the Fountain of Youth (G2).

2025 Belmont Stakes

Though UAE Derby (G2) runner up Heart of Honor was off the board in both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, the Jamie Osborne trainee has bounced back into top form after a long break and a return to Dubai. He followed his winning return in November up with another score Dec. 19 in the Entisar, a listed race at 1 3/16 miles on the Meydan dirt. Despite a bit of a slow beginning, Heart of Honor found a smooth rally and took over in the final furlong, winning by 1 1/2 lengths.