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Sovereignty’s Saturday work. (Hannh Bonczkowski/NYRA)
Strategic Focus has Saturday breeze for Travers; Brown preps others including Sierra Leone
NYRA Press Office
SARATOGA, N.Y.—Godolphin’s dual Classic-winner Sovereignty breezed on Saturday over the Oklahoma dirt training track one week out from the Grade 1, $1.25 million DraftKings Travers, a historic 1 1/4-mile test for sophomores, at Saratoga Race Course.
Guided through the exercise by Neil Poznansky, Sovereignty hit the track around 7:30 a.m. and after being escorted around the oval by his Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott on his pony, broke off at least one length in front of workmate Fort Nelson to work five-eighths in 1:00.82 seconds, according to NYRA clockers.
Sovereignty, the last-out Grade 2 Jim Dandy presented by Mohegan Sun winner on July 26 here, was always in front and finished well clear of his workmate, galloping out in 1:14.33. Mott, after surveying his barn area with his young grandson William in his lap, said he was pleased with Sovereignty’s move.
“I thought that went well,” said Mott. “It was something very similar [to] or what we wanted – a decent five-eighths.”
Sovereignty Travers breeze on the Oklahoma pic.twitter.com/IwLOoPoIXt
— Mike MacAdam (@Mike_MacAdam) August 16, 2025
Sovereignty, who leads the sophomore division in earnings with more than $5 million banked this year, seeks to add the Travers to a resume that includes wins in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby and Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets, as well as the Grade 3 Street Sense as a maiden last year and the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth in March at Gulfstream Park.
“We’re not taking anything for granted,” Mott said. “The horse has to show up and run a big race if he is going to win.”
Mott seeks his first Travers victory – he’s been second with Vision and Verse [1999], Hold Me Back [2009] and Tacitus [2019] – and the Into Mischief bay is ready to roll.
“He should be ready,” said Mott. “He should be fit. There shouldn’t be any excuse for him not being fit.”
Sovereignty, out of the unraced Bernardini mare Crowned, is a Kentucky homebred for Godolphin, who has won the Travers with Alpha [2012, dead-heat with Golden Ticket] and Essential Quality [2021].
Trainer Bill Mott, right, watches over @KentuckyDerby/ @BelmontStakes / Jim Dandy winner Sovereignty Saturday morning after his final work before the Travers. @godolphin pic.twitter.com/jy3Nu7jT6Y
— Tim Wilkin (@tjwilkin) August 17, 2025
Strategic Focus ready for Travers after Saturday breeze
NYRA clockers caught Klaravich Stables’ Strategic Focus breezing five furlongs in 1:01 and 2/5 seconds over the Saratoga Race Course main track on Saturday.
He is set to take on dual Classic-winner Sovereignty in next Saturday’s Travers.
Donning blinkers for his second work since a third-place finish in the nine-furlong restricted Listed Curlin on July 24 here, the son of Gun Runner worked with regular exercise rider Kriss Bon aboard to the inside of the maiden Duration.
“He worked great,” Brown said. “Excellent, and exactly what I wanted to see – he worked five-eighths and galloped out in 1:13 and change.”
Strategic Focus adds blinkers for the Travers after pouncing to the front in the final turn of the Curlin and leading through the final sixteenth, but was collared late while turning his head a bit as stablemate Chancer McPatrick came from off the pace to claim the victory.
STRATEGIC FOCUS (Gun Runner), que viene de llegar tercero en el Curlin Stakes, correrá en el Travers Stakes (G1) pic.twitter.com/KZ6AJsETCY
— Javier I. Farache (@jfarache) August 16, 2025
With two works now completed with the addition of blinkers, Brown said he likes what he’s seen from Strategic Focus, who crossed the wire first in an optional claimer two starts back on June 6 here but was demoted to second for interference with stablemate Malarchuk in the stretch.
“Very good, I’m hoping it’s keeping him more focused,” Brown said of the equipment change. “It was disappointing his last two starts, and then when he made the lead he didn’t act right, so let’s see if that’s what it is. We’ll find out. He has a tall order ahead of him, but I do like the way he worked today, so we’ll give it a shot.”
Earlier in the morning, Grade 1 Whitney-winner and reigning Champion 3-Year-Old Colt Sierra Leone returned to the work tab, breezing a half-mile over the main track in 48 4/5 seconds to the inside of Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial contender Chancer McPatrick.
“He did great with a little maintenance work and couldn’t have done it better,” Brown said of Sierra Leone. “He’s doing excellent. He’s held his weight well and he’s moving great.”
Brown noted Sierra Leone is still on target for the Grade 1, $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup on August 31 here, which will serve as a prep for a return to Del Mar to defend his title in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic in November. Chancer McPatrick, last-out winner of the Curlin, will cut back in distance for the seven-furlong Allen Jerkens on the Travers undercard. The son of McKinzie is already a Grade 1-winner over course and distance after taking last year’s Hopeful.
BONUS Work of the Day from #Saratoga—Chancer McPatrick (Outside) and Sierra Leone worked 4 Furlongs in 48.80 on August 16th, 2025, for trainer Chad Brown. pic.twitter.com/vHPFvS3IPF
— 1/ST TV (@Watch1ST) August 16, 2025
Brown also sent out the multiple Grade 1-winning pair of Randomized and Raging Sea to work a half-mile over the main track in 48 1/5 in preparation for the Grade 1, $500,000 Personal Ensign on the Travers undercard. The former is coming off a win in the Grade 3 Molly Pitcher on July 19 at Monmouth Park while the latter seeks to successfully defend her title in this event on the heels of local third-place efforts in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps presented by Ford and the Grade 2 Shuvee last out on July 18.
“More of the same from them,” Brown said. “They both worked well and they’re both on target for the Ensign.”
Raging Sea, left, and Randomized, both trained by Chad Brown, breeze in preparation for the G1 Personal Ensign #SaratogaRaceCourse #Saratoga pic.twitter.com/RDztUQXCnq
— Erica Miller (@EricaPhotog) August 9, 2025
