A number of years in the past, Godolphin’s Michael Banahan knew Corridor of Fame coach Invoice Mott had two notable omissions on his lengthy record of main New York Racing Affiliation stakes wins.
One was the Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap, and Godolphin ended that skein when Cody’s Want captured the 2023 version of the Met Mile for Mott.
The opposite is, after all, the Aug. 23 DraftKings Travers Stakes, and Godolphin is in an enviable place so as to add the opposite bucket-list merchandise as its homebred twin traditional winner Sovereignty is a 2-5 morning-line favourite to offer Mott his first win within the “Mid-Summer time Derby” at Saratoga Race Course.
“We’ve been round Invoice a very long time and we knew there have been two iconic New York races he hadn’t received,” stated Banahan, Godolphin USA’s director of bloodstock. “We gave him one with Cody’s Want, and now we’re in an ideal place to get the opposite.”
The percentages favor Sovereignty, however Banahan is aware of a legion of well-known favorites like Secretariat and American Pharoah have gone right down to defeat at Saratoga. Simply this previous weekend, Godolphin’s Good Cheer completed second because the 7-5 favourite within the Alabama Stakes Offered by Keeneland Gross sales.
Even with Sovereignty’s wins within the Kentucky Derby Offered by Woodford Reserve and Belmont Stakes Offered by NYRA Bets, Banahan is aware of there aren’t any certain issues, particularly on the Spa.
“We had Good Cheer get beat as a favourite so we all know how laborious it’s to win a Grade 1 at Saratoga,” Banahan stated. “We’re taking this very significantly.”
In a small area of 5, early pace turns into more and more harmful, and there’s a essential challenger within the speedy Magnitude, the 2-1 second alternative on the morning line. That colt is coming off lightning-quick wins within the Iowa Derby and Fasig-Tipton Risen Star Stakes with ankle surgical procedure to take away a bone chip in between.
There may be one other front-runner entered in longshot Bracket Buster, however with Sovereignty possessing a deadly late kick, the tempo situation takes on added significance.
“We have been glad to see Bracket Buster in there, and I hope it helps us,” Banahan stated. “Sovereignty has been exhibiting a bit extra pace in his current races, and we’re assured in (jockey Junior Alvarado). He is aware of Sovereignty so properly, I’m certain he’ll work out the appropriate place to place him.”
As essential as tempo could also be, of much more significance is whether or not Sovereignty can proceed his excellent present type, which began together with his Kentucky Derby win, adopted by the victory within the Belmont on the Spa, and most just lately included a win within the July 26 Jim Dandy Stakes Offered by Mohegan Solar at Saratoga.
“Invoice and his staff have executed an amazing job with him. We’re very pleased with Sovereignty, and we’re going into the race pretty much as good as will be,” Banahan stated.
