“We want the career to last more than five weeks,” said Bill Mott as justification for why Sovereignty was given the chance to sit out the Preakness Stakes. With that statement, the veteran trainer made it clear that the horse’s health was of greater concern for the owners and the other stakeholders, instead of pushing for Triple Crown immortality. While the decision stirred up quite a lot of controversy, it looks like Sandman could be the latest name to add to the debate.
The Mark Casse-trained horse was among the biggest names that entered the 150th Preakness Stakes. With an Arkansas Derby (G1) under its belt, the colt had a lot of horse racing fans putting their money on Sandman. And yet, the 3-year-old thoroughbred only managed a disappointing 3rd-place finish at Pimlico Race Course. But it was the horse’s body language during the race that got Casse thinking.
“When we got to the quarter pole I thought I was home free but he got to looking around and stopped concentrating,” said the jockey John Velazquez, who was riding on Sadman in last Saturday’s race. But that seems to have prompted its trainer to take a radical decision. In a post on X from May 18, freelance horse racing writer Tim Wilkin shared new updates about Sandman’s Triple Crown campaign.
“Sandman, Saturday night after finishing 3rd in @PreaknessStakes, “unlikely” for Belmont at Saratoga June 7 says @markecasse,” the social media update notes that the horse won’t be running in the third and final leg of the Triple Crown. “I don’t like doing it, but we may put blinkers on,” Mark Casse was further quoted as saying about Sandman.
Sandman, Saturday night after finishing 3rd in @PreaknessStakes, “unlikely” for Belmont at Saratoga June 7 says @markecasse. Jim Dandy/Travers target. “I don’t like doing it, but we may put blinkers on “ Casse said
“I have given him plenty of time to grow up.” 1/2 pic.twitter.com/hKLq4WCjzW
— Tim Wilkin (@tjwilkin) May 18, 2025
The story is developing
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