SHEPHERDSTOWN — Five weeks proved to be the right amount of rest for Sovereignty as the 2025 Kentucky Derby champion rocketed through the Saratoga stretch to overtake Rodriguez and then Journalism to get a definitive win in the shortened Belmont Stakes.

Now, the rest of the summer lies ahead with the Haskell (Monmouth Park), Travers (Saratoga) and Breeders Classic (Del Mar) on many of the schedules of the most recognizable three-year olds in training.

Sovereignty tore past Journalism, the Preakness winner, and seemingly was full of run when he reached the finish last Saturday. His time between finishing first in the Kentucky Derby and romping in the Belmont was refreshing enough to have him fully fit for the revamped race.

Can they find another Thoroughbred to beat him? Arguments for Journalism will be heard. And then there will be opinions voiced in favor of Baeza or even the front-running Rodriguez. Trainer Bill Mott, as disciplined as he is modest, seems to be the perfect match for the almost-black colt now making inroads in the hearts and minds of teenagers, senior citizens and hardscrabble bettors alike.

The Triple Crown Trail is over. Sovereignty did just what he was asked to accomplish. And with Trainer Mott watching his every move toward his buckets of oats and alfalfa, he should remain hale and healthy as the summer progresses.

The public will generally shift their collective interest to baseball or dreams of college and professional football.

Horse racing will move to the back burner or even off the stove altogether!

The Travers will generate a shallow pulse and the Breeders Days in early November could breathe some life into things.

Throughout the summer season there will be glossed over mention of the Alfred G. Vanderbilt, Coaching Club American Oaks, Jim Dandy, Whitney, Alabama and Jockey Club Gold Cup before a few heads will snap into place when Horse of the Year mentioning gains a little foothold.

Is Sovereignty another Justify or American Pharoah or even Zenyatta or Curlin?

He’s plenty good that’s for sure. He doesn’t seem to be a potential stylistic superstar, but he is full of dark brown charisma and he seems prone to fulfilling the expectations that will now be cast on his accept-the-responsibility shoulders.

He’s photogenic and pleasurable to be in the company of. No controversy has caught him or been hurled in his direction.

Time Magazine won’t be chasing after him to pose for its cover. Neither will Sports Illustrated or People Magazine.

He gave the sport a headline or two with his on-track doings.

And that’s better than words scribbled about dopings, rules-bending trainers or bruised hooves and injured fetlocks.

Like everybody else, check back in late July, August or even November to see if horse racing’s potential leading man is still able to give the sport some resuscitation.