Bill Mott Outlines Near-Term Plans for Sovereignty, Baeza, Knightsbridge, Chief Wallabee

Bill Mott told reporters at Payson Park that he will keep Sovereignty and Baeza separated "for as long as the calendar allows," even as he acknowledged the long-term likelihood the two colts' paths will converge in the fall. "If we have to run against each other, we will. I don't like running against myself but they have different ownerships and those people deserve to run their horse where they have the best chance. Eventually the long-term goal would be looking at the end of the year, you hope they have to run against each other in the Breeders' Cup Classic and you hope they both make it there," Mott said.

Baeza, a 4-year-old by McKinzie co-owned by CRK Stable and breeder Grandview Equine, arrived at Mott’s base roughly two weeks before the March 5 briefing following the death of his former trainer John Shirreffs on Feb. 12 at age 80. Baeza recorded his first work for Mott on Feb. 26, going four furlongs in :49.20, and Mott confirmed the colt "could potentially go to the Alysheba. I know the Oaklawn Handicap was a consideration for the connections, but we've got a ways to go to get him ready."

Sovereignty remains the highest-profile risk-and-reward prospect in Mott's string. The Into Mischief colt was pictured with jockey Junior Alvarado celebrating his victory in the 151st Kentucky Derby on May 3, 2025 at Churchill Downs, a wet-track triumph that has left connections wondering how he will fare on drier tracks down the Triple Crown trail. Mott and Godolphin LLC representative Michael Banahan both expressed confidence in Sovereignty, though Mott sounded cautious about immediate targets and mentioned a small scrape on the horse’s right front pastern, likely from clipping heels leaving the gate, that handlers will watch in the days ahead before deciding Sovereignty’s next step.

Knightsbridge carries his own timeline and health caveat. The juvenile debut winner turned in a nine-length Gulfstream Park victory the following March, then was sidelined twice over the next 18 months before putting together a current four-race streak that started with a November score. Mott said, "We thought we were going to be a big factor in the GII Pat Day Mile, which I was excited to run him a flat mile at Churchill Downs on Derby weekend." In his last work Knightsbridge "came up with a minor injury and we just had to give him time. We've had to do that on more than on occasion, but finally we've got three [graded stakes] races in a row with him now. We feel like we have a" — the quote was left incomplete — and Mott listed a tentative Saratoga target for Knightsbridge on June 6.

Chief Wallabee was included in Mott’s March 5 rundown but no workout times, ownership, or immediate targets were disclosed for that colt. With Sovereignty’s condition to be monitored, Baeza settling into Payson Park after the Feb. 26 work, and Knightsbridge rebuilding toward a June 6 target at Saratoga, Mott’s immediate week of decisions will shape whether the season’s marquee matchups line up for the fall Breeders’ Cup Classic.