Welcome to Kentucky Derby Prospect Profiles, where we take a look each week at a recent winner on the Road to the Derby schedule of races that offer qualifying points to the 1 ¼-mile classic race May 3, 2025, at Churchill Downs.

This week, we take a closer look at Sovereignty, the winner by a neck of the $401,650 Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes March 1 at Gulfstream Park. The bay colt earned 50 points toward qualifying for the 2025 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve and ranks third on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 60 points in total.

Racing Résumé: Sovereignty ran well in all three races as a 2-year-old but won only once. The victory was a big one, though, as he rallied from last of nine to win the $197,500 Street Sense Stakes by five lengths. Sovereignty opened some eyes that day as 2-year-old earning his first victory in a two-turn stakes race by that margin at the host track of the Kentucky Derby.

Sovereignty was still a bit of a mystery entering his 3-year-old campaign for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. The Godolphin homebred Into Mischief colt returned from a layoff of more than four months in the Fountain of Youth Stakes March 1 at Gulfstream, and it is difficult to predict how racehorses will mature. Given the extended time away, it’s fair to assume Sovereignty was not at 100% in the Fountain of Youth and that made his sustained rally all the more impressive.

Sovereignty was last of six with three-eighths of a mile to race under Junior Alvarado but passed all of them with a final three furlongs in :37.68 and a final eighth of a mile in :12.61, according to Equibase GPS tracking data. Note: he finished even faster in the Street Sense Stakes with a final three eighths of a mile in :36.74.

Sovereignty defeated a couple of highly regarded peers in runner-up River Thames and Holy Bull Stakes winner Burnham Square (fourth) in the Fountain of Youth. This was a quality win.

Speed Figures: Sovereignty entered 2025 with a career-best 99 Equibase Speed Figure for the Street Sense Stakes and topped out at an 89 Beyer Speed Figure as a 2-year-old. Equibase gave him a 98 for the Fountain of Youth and Daily Racing Form gave him a new top 95 Beyer Speed Figure. If he was at 75% to 85% after four months away, there is reason for optimism that he could take a nice step forward in his final prep race for the Kentucky Derby.

Sovereignty, left, won Fountain of Youth with sustained rally. (Coglianese Photos/Ryan Thompson)

Running Style: Gulfstream Park is not an easy dirt track for deep closers like Sovereignty, who showed acceleration to rally into contention and stamina to reel in gutsy River Thames. Closers in the Kentucky Derby face some variables out of their control that can lead to adversity, like a slow pace or traffic, and bring an element of luck into the equation. Sovereignty will need at least a touch of good fortune on Kentucky Derby day.

Pedigree Notes:  Sovereignty was sired by Into Mischief, the leading sire in North America for six straight years from 2019 through 2024 and the current leading sire. Into Mischief’s top runners include 2020 Kentucky Derby winner and Horse of the Year Authentic, 2021 Kentucky Derby winner Mandaloun, and champions Pretty Mischievous, Gamine, Wonder Wheel, Covfefe, and Citizen Bull, who also is a leading contender for the 2025 Kentucky Derby.

Sovereignty is one of two winners from three starters produced by the unraced Crowned, by 2006 Preakness winner Bernardini. His grandam (maternal grandmother) is Grade 1 winner Mushka, by Empire Maker.

Derby Potential: Sovereignty has the look of a major contender to wear the garland of roses on the first Saturday in May. He has room to improve for a Hall of Fame trainer, owns a win on the main track at Churchill Downs, and his speed figures make him a serious player. Sovereignty also has a pedigree to relish 1 ¼ miles and has shown the ability to finish very strongly in races.