Horse of the Year Sovereignty took his first gallop around Keeneland on Thursday as he prepares to take on defending champion Forever Young in the $7 million Breeders' Cup Classic on Oct. 31.
Stablemate Knightsbridge, also pre-entered in the Classic as well as the $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1), also galloped around the track under the watchful eye of Hall of Famer Bill Mott, who trains both standout horses for Godolphin.
“It was a nice first morning,” Mott told the Keeneland press office. “Everybody went around good. They looked good out there. The big guy (Sovereignty) galloped really well over it.”
Sovereignty, winner of the 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1), Belmont Stakes (G1) and Travers Stakes (G1), comes into the 1 ¼-mile Classic off a victory in the Whitney Stakes (G1) at Saratoga on Aug. 8. He missed last year's Classic due to a fever.
Sovereignty arrived at Keeneland early Wednesday from Saratoga, where he worked 5 furlongs in 1:02.76. A final workout is planned for this weekend.
Knightsbridge, meanwhile, has the Dirt Mile as a first preference, and it remains to be seen whether Godolphin will go with both stars in the Classic. The post-position draw is on Monday at 5 p.m. ET.
While Forever Young, who also recently arrived at Keeneland, is the likely favorite, Sovereignty looks to be a top challenger, along with 2026 Derby and Belmont winner Golden Tempo in a pre-entered field of 11.
Phileas Fogg, one of 11 horses pre-entered in the Breeders' Cup Classic, will not run in the race due to an ongoing foot issue, drf.com reported Thursday.
“We’re not going to make it,” trainer Gustavo Rodriguez said. “The horse looks OK, but he’s not 100 percent. I got together with my owner and my doctor and we decided to pass.”
Phileas Fogg, who won the Suburban Stakes (G2) by 10 lengths two races back, is being pointed to a 2027 return. The 6-year-old gelding has earned more than $1 million in a career totaling 25 starts.
Of the 10 other pre-entries to the Classic, five others were pre-entered in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile -- Knightsbridge, Napoleon Solo, Further Ado, Forged Steel, and T O Password.
Other defections a day after pre-entries were taken include three trained by Irishman Aidan O'Brien: last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) winner Gstaad and Constitution River from the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1); and Ten Bob Tony.
Also, Minnie Hauk and Lambourn have been withdrawn from the $5 million Breeders' Cup Turf (G1); Net Par has been withdrawn from the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) and Al Hudaiba has been withdrawn from the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
