Is Sovereignty in the Preakness? Explaining Kentucky Derby winner's absence from Triple Crown race

Horse racing fans will have to wait at least another year to witness one of the greatest feats in sports.

Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty will not run in the Preakness Stakes on Saturday, taking the horse out of contention for the Triple Crown.

Only 13 horses have accomplished the feat, which entails consecutive victories at the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes in the same year. The last horse to win the Triple Crown was Justify in 2018. Before him, American Pharoah accomplished it for the first time in 37 years in 2015.

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With the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness just two weeks apart, winning legs one and two is extremely difficult to accomplish. Sovereignty's trainer, Bill Mott, has decided to rest his horse so he's at full strength for Belmont.

Here's an update on Sovereignty at the Preakness.

MORE: Preakness Stakes horses 2025: Fast facts before you bet on second Triple Crown race

Is Sovereignty in the Preakness Stakes? 

Sovereignty is not racing in the Preakness Stakes. Mott informed the organizers of the Preakness that the horse would not be participating in the race, instead turning Sovereignty's focus to the Belmont Stakes. 

#KyDerby winner Sovereignty skipping the #Preakness, pointing to the #BelmontStakes pic.twitter.com/6U3PY6ElI9

Mott told reporters that the health of his horse was the primary consideration when deciding to skip the second leg of the Triple Crown.

“I think over the years, people realize that spacing these horses out a little bit gives you the opportunity to make them last a little longer,” Mott said. “I think we're looking at a career, you know, and you want the career to last more than five weeks.”

Triple Crown winners all-time

With Sovereignty out of the Preakness, there will be no Triple Crown winner in 2025. The list of horses to do so will remain at 13.

Here's the full list of Triple Crown winners: