In the days leading up to the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar on Nov. 1, the usracing.com team is publishing contender profiles for the 1¼-mile race. Profiles will be updated with post positions and track odds following the gate draw on Oct. 27.
He's the overwhelming favorite for Horse of the Year, because somehow Sovereignty keeps getting better. It's next to impossible to improve upon decisive victories in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1), but the son of perennial leading sire Into Mischief did it.
After changing his running style to win the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) from closer to the pace, he crushed the Travers Stakes (G1) by 10 lengths while being eased up.
The first horse since Thunder Gulch in 1995 to sweep the Derby, Belmont and Travers continues to surprise jockey Junior Alvarado.
“It's been a hell of a ride,” he said. “He's an unbelievable horse, very powerful. He makes his move, comes up to the last horse he has to pass, then waits a little before leaving him behind.”
After the Travers runaway, trainer Bill Mott decided to run Sovereignty without a prep race in the Classic, which would be a 10-week break. Chad Brown won it last year using the same strategy, and Sovereignty won his 3-year-old debut, the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2), off a 124-day layoff.
“I just don't think it's necessary,” Mott said. “I always think fresh horses usually run well, and he was good enough fresh, so I'm really not that worried.”
Because Sovereignty probably will be odds-on or even money, a win bet isn't attractive unless you're making a big wager. Check the probable payoffs in doubles and exactas and try to locate overlays.
