Several years ago, Godolphin's Michael Banahan knew Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott had two notable omissions on his long list of major New York Racing Association stakes wins
One was the Metropolitan Handicap (G1) and Godolphin ended that skein when Cody's Wish captured the 2023 edition of the Met Mile for Mott.
"We've been around Bill a long time and we knew there were two iconic New York races he hadn't won," said Banahan, Godolphin USA's director of bloodstock. "We gave him one with Cody's Wish, and now we are in a great position to get the other."
The other is, of course, the Aug. 23 Travers Stakes (G1), and Godolphin is in an enviable position to add the other bucket list item as its homebred dual classic winner Sovereignty is a h2-5 favorite to give Mott his first win in the Aug. 23 "Midsummer Derby" at Saratoga Race Course.
"We'd love to get Bill that other signature win," Banahan said.
The odds favor Godolphin's homebred son of Into Mischief , but Banahan knows a legion of famous favorites like Secretariat and American Pharoah have gone down to defeat at Saratoga. Just this past weekend, Godolphin's Good Cheer finished second as the 7-5 favorite in the Alabama Stakes (G1).
Even with Sovereignty's wins in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1), Banahan knows there are no sure things, especially at the Spa.
"We had Good Cheer get beat as a favorite so we know how hard it is to win a grade 1 at Saratoga," Banahan said. "We're taking this very seriously."
In a small field of five, early speed becomes increasingly dangerous, and there is a main challenger in the speedy Magnitude (2-1 second choice), who is coming off lightning-quick wins in the Iowa Derby and Risen Star Stakes (G2) with ankle surgery to remove a bone chip in between.
There is another front-runner in Bracket Buster, but with Sovereignty possessing a lethal late kick, the pace scenario takes on added significance.
"We were happy to see Bracket Buster in there, and I hope it helps us," Banahan said about his 3-year-old who rallied from 16th to win the Run for the Roses. "He has been showing a little more speed in his recent races, and we're confident in (jockey Junior Alvarado). He knows Sovereignty so well, I am sure he'll figure out the right place to put him."
As crucial as pace may be, of even more importance is whether Sovereignty can continue his outstanding current form, which started with his Kentucky Derby win, followed by the victory in the Belmont at the Spa, and most recently included a win in the July 26 Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) at Saratoga.
"Bill and his team have done a tremendous job with him. We are very happy with Sovereignty, and we're going into the race as good as can be," Banahan said.
Godolphin figures to be in continued graded stakes action later this month. According to Banahan, Godolphin's Highland Falls, trained by Brad Cox, remains targeted for the $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) Aug. 31 at Saratoga, where he would be likely to face Mindframe and White Abarrio, among others.
