There will be no asterisk necessary in regard to horse racings 2025 Triple Crown.

On Monday the connections of Kentucky Derby Winner SOVEREIGNTY decided against running in the 150th edition of the Preakness Stakes on May 17th at Pimlico Race Course.

Alternately, he is being pointed toward the Belmont Stakes June 7th at Saratoga Race Course.

Mike Rodgers executive vice president of operations at Pimlico on Monday said: “We received a call today from trainer Bill Mott that SOVEREIGNTY will not be competing in the Preakness. Bill informed us they would point toward the Belmont Stakes.”

This is where the asterisk would have come into play; if SOVEREIGNTY ran in the Preakness and Won- the Belmont at Saratoga is contested at only 1.25 miles as that is longest distance the Spa can accommodate around two turns.

The Belmont Stakes (at Belmont Park) is traditionally run at 1.5 miles. Hence, racing purists’ would have a legit point of order in regard to a true Triple Crown.

Alas, there is no need to fret about that now.

Rodgers went on to say; “We extend our congratulations to the connections of SOVEREIGNTY and respect their decision. We continue to see the excitement building toward the milestone celebration of the 150th Preakness Stakes, and we look forward to an incredible weekend of world-class racing and entertainment.”

Each Kentucky Derby Winner from 1997-2018 has raced in the Preakness.

This will mark the third time in the last seven years that Winner on the first Saturday in May did not move on to the Preakness.

In 2019, COUNTRY HOUSE, who was trained by Mott, missed the Preakness due to an illness and in 2022 RICH STRIKE bypassed it to run in the Belmont Stakes.