There’s never been a deeper, more talented field in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) than its 42nd edition. Unfortunately, there’s a good chance that its biggest name won’t run on Saturday.
Sovereignty, the 6-5 morning-line favorite, spiked a fever overnight Monday, leaving the superstar’s status for the race very much in doubt, trainer Bill Mott said Tuesday morning on the Del Mar backstretch.
The 3-year-old colt’s temperature reached 103 degrees, two degrees above normal. After being treated with anti-inflammatories around 6 a.m. PT, it returned to normal, Mott said.
“But if he spikes another fever between now and whenever, we’re done,” Mott said. “We’ll be scratched.
“I guess there’s an outside possibility we’ll be OK. But I’m not going to sugarcoat it. Unless we think he’s himself or 100 percent, we’re not going to run. Don’t be surprised if we scratch. If we don’t run, don’t be surprised.”
So, anybody who made a future bet on Sovereignty to win the Classic shouldn’t be optimistic. He didn’t train on Tuesday, and even if he continues to eat all his food and his temperature remains normal, there’s no guarantee he’ll run.
Victories in the Kentucky Derby (G1), Belmont Stakes (G1), and Travers Stakes (G1) ensure he’ll be the 3-year-old champion. Even if he sits out the Classic, he’s almost sure to be Horse of the Year, no matter who wins the race.
Mott is a conservative, old-school trainer, and Sovereignty’s breeder and owner, Godolphin, always has been ultra protective of its superstars’ reputations.
“I don’t want to do anything to tarnish this horse’s record foolishly,” Mott said. “If there is something wrong come race day, I don’t want to pretend he’s OK and then have him run badly.”
If Sovereignty is scratched, the field for the $7 million Classic would be reduced to eight, with Fierceness, the current 4-1 second choice, the likely favorite, and Japan star Forever Young, the current 6-1 third choice, likely the second betting favorite.
After Sovereignty won the Derby on the first Saturday in May, Mott didn’t wait long to announce that his star would skip the Preakness Stakes (G2), the second leg of the Triple Crown, because it was just two weeks later, and he wanted to make sure his horse would be in top shape for the Belmont. There was minor criticism of Mott’s decision, even though it’s rare that the Derby winner passes on the Preakness, ending any chance of a Triple Crown.
