Saratoga Race Course witnessed racing history on Saturday as Sovereignty delivered a breathtaking performance in the $1.25 million DraftKings Travers Stakes, capping off a stellar day of thoroughbred competition at the historic venue.
Travers Stakes: A Performance for the Ages
In the day’s marquee event, Sovereignty proved why he entered as the overwhelming favorite, crushing a field of five competitors with a commanding 10-length victory that left the crowd of 48,255 in awe. The Into Mischief colt’s dominant performance made him just the second horse since Thunder Gulch in 1995 to capture racing’s Triple Crown trilogy of the Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes, and Travers Stakes.
Trained by Hall of Fame conditioner Bill Mott and piloted by Junior Alvarado, Sovereignty settled patiently at the back of the field as Magnitude and Bracket Buster set the early pace. The opening quarter went in 23.47 seconds, with the half-mile reached in 47.43 as the pacesetters maintained their duel through three-quarters in 1:11.23.
Alvarado began to move Sovereignty forward approaching the far turn, and once given his cue in the stretch, the bay colt exploded with devastating effect. Running wide and clear, Sovereignty powered past Bracket Buster and drew away effortlessly, completing the 1¼ miles in 2:00.84 while being eased under the wire.
The victory marked a career pinnacle for the 71-year-old Mott, who had been winless in 13 previous Travers attempts. “It’s something I’ve been waiting on,” said the emotional trainer afterward. “I had two or three races on my bucket list and one was the Met Mile which we got done with Cody’s Wish, and the one that was left was the Travers.”
Bracket Buster, trained by Vicki Oliver and ridden by Luis Saez, ran courageously to finish second, while Magnitude completed the trifecta another 10¾ lengths behind in third.
Ballerina Stakes Highlights Undercard
Earlier in the afternoon, the $500,000 Ballerina Stakes for fillies and mares provided its own thrills as Hope Road captured the seven-furlong sprint on the dirt. Under jockey Jose L. Ortiz and trained by Bob Baffert, Hope Road returned $6.10 to win backers, with Scylla finishing second and Majestic Oops completing the exacta.
The Ballerina Stakes serves as a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint Division, giving Hope Road an automatic berth in that championship event. The race attracted a quality field of nine fillies and mares competing for the substantial purse of $500,000.
Full Day of Quality Racing
The Saratoga card featured 14 races total, showcasing the depth of competition that has made the upstate New York track a summer destination for racing’s elite. The opening race saw Bottas capture a maiden special weight event for two-year-olds on the inner turf course, with Flavien Prat guiding the Miguel Clement trainee to victory over the Todd Pletcher-trained favorite Franklin Delano.
Throughout the afternoon, the racing provided the excitement and competitive balance that Saratoga is renowned for, with several competitive betting races complementing the stakes events.
Looking Ahead
Sovereignty’s spectacular Travers triumph positions him as a leading candidate for Horse of the Year honors and sets up a highly anticipated appearance in the $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic later this year. His sweep of the Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes, and Travers Stakes represents one of the most impressive campaigns by a three-year-old in recent memory.
The victory also continued Godolphin’s success at Saratoga, adding to their previous Travers wins with Alpha (2012, dead heat) and Essential Quality (2021). For Alvarado, the win marked another career highlight aboard what he described as “the horse of a lifetime.”
Saturday’s card reinforced Saratoga’s reputation as one of America’s premier racing venues, combining historic significance with world-class competition. As the summer meet continues, expectations remain high for more memorable performances at the track known affectionately as “The Graveyard of Champions” – though on this day, it was Sovereignty who did the burying.
