When a horse wins the Kentucky Derby, there is naturally a question that always follows it next: can it win the Triple Crown?
A total of 13 horses have won the Triple Crown in history, which entails consecutive victories at the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes. In 2025, Sovereignty emerged as the victor at Churchill Downs, making it the lone candidate for a Triple Crown.
With the Preakness Stakes up next, scheduled for May 17, Sovereignty's status has been the biggest story. Will the horse compete and keep its Triple Crown hopes alive?
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Here's the latest on Sovereignty's status for the Preakness Stakes.
MORE: Complete list of Kentucky Derby champions
Is Sovereignty racing at Preakness Stakes?
In a press release from the company that runs the Preakness on Tuesday, 1/ST Racing, it was confirmed that Sovereignty will not be participating in the race.
The press release stated that Bill Mott, the trainer for Sovereignty, informed those who run the Preakness that the horse would not be participating in the race, instead turning Sovereignty's focus on the Belmont Stakes.
#KyDerby winner Sovereignty skipping the #Preakness, pointing to the #BelmontStakes pic.twitter.com/6U3PY6ElI9
— Nicole Russo (@DRFRusso) May 6, 2025
With the Kentucky Derby and Preakness just two weeks apart, Sovereignty seemingly will not be ready in time for the race following a close win in muddy conditions in Louisville. After his horse won the Kentucky Derby, Mott said it's "good to have that option" when it came to the Preakness, and "I don’t think we’re dead set on it," per USA Today.
In recent years, fewer horses have competed in all three Triple Crown legs.
“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, per USA Today. “I think we're looking at a career, you know, and you want the career to last more than five weeks.”
With the Preakness Stakes on May 17 and the Belmont Stakes on June 7, Sovereignty is set to forego a shot at the Triple Crown and go for a maximum of two victories.
MORE: Everything to know about the Triple Crown in horse racing
Triple Crown winners all time
With the decision to withhold Sovereignty from the Preakness Stakes, there will be no Triple Crown winner in 2025. That means the list of horses to do so will remain at 13, and the latest was Justify in 2018.
Here's the full list of Triple Crown winners:
| Year | Horse | Jockey |
| 2018 | Justify | Mike Smith |
| 2015 | American Pharoah | Victor Espinoza |
| 1978 | Affirmed | Steve Cauthen |
| 1977 | Seattle Slew | Jean Cruguet |
| 1973 | Secretariat | Ron Turcotte |
| 1948 | Citation | Eddie Arcaro |
| 1946 | Assault | Warren Mehrtens |
| 1943 | Count Fleet | Johnny Longden |
| 1941 | Whirlaway | Eddie Arcaro |
| 1937 | War Admiral | Charles Kurtsinger |
| 1935 | Omaha | Willie "Smokey" Saunders |
| 1930 | Gallant Fox | Earl Sande |
| 1919 | Sir Barton | Johnny Loftus |