Sovereignty displayed powerful closing ability and got up just in time to win the Grade 2 $400,000 Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes March 1 at Gulfstream Park.

Sovereignty, a Godolphin homebred son of Into Mischief, raced for the first time since capturing the Grade 3 Street Sense Stakes at Churchill Downs as a 2-year-old last October when he went from last to first on the outside to win. He produced a similar achievement Saturday, surging late to go ahead in the final strides to defeat River Thames by a neck in a winning time of 1:43.12.

"It was a great run, he had a great trip," trainer Bill Mott said. "We saved some ground on the first turn. He was able to tip out. He's got some acceleration."

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The Fountain of Youth awarded qualifying points to the 2025 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale to the top five finishers. Sovereignty earned 50 points and is now third on the leaderboard with 60 points for the May 3 run for the roses.

The 1 1/8-mile Grade 1  Florida Derby on March 29 seems to be a likely next step for Sovereignty. "I guess it's a good thing we've shown we can run over the track," Mott said. "It's on the list of things to be considered very strongly."

Neoequos and River Thames vied for the lead out of the gate in the six-horse field and Neoequos gained the edge in fractions of :23.12, :47.07, and 1:10.68 with River Thames right behind.

Sovereignty was last on the backstretch but moved into third while leaving the turn. River Thames took the lead turning for home and drew clear in mid-stretch until the winner came with his impressive stretch run.

"I was already riding him a little bit and when I put him in the clear," said winning jockey Junior Alvarado. "It was like, 'I hope we get there in time,' and he did. He kept grinding his way there."

Sovereignty paid $8.40. River Thames crossed the wire 2 1/2 lengths ahead of Neoequos.

River Thames' trainer, Todd Pletcher, said his colt is "still maturing."

"We actually got a perfect trip, stalking the horse that we thought would show speed," Pletcher said. "We were able to put him away and it looked like he was maybe home and I think he got a little complacent. The winner ran a very good race."

Burnham Square, the favorite and winner of the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes in his last start, finished fourth, a neck behind Neoequos. -- By Charlie McCarthy