Bill Mott is doing what he does, and what he’s done is good enough to put the trainer in the thoroughbred racing Hall of Fame. He’s conservative with his horses. Part of that is spacing their races farther apart than a quest for the Triple Crown allows.
Thus came the news Tuesday that Mott is skipping the May 17 Preakness with his Kentucky Derby winner, Sovereignty. There will be no Triple Crown this year, not even an attempt at one. This marks the second time in the last four years that the Derby winner has opted against going to Baltimore, with the other being long shot Rich Strike.
