A foot abscess has put the participation of Sovereignty in the upcoming Jockey Club Gold Cup in serious doubt

The 2025 Horse of the Year is dealing with an issue in one of his hind hooves and will not perform his scheduled workout this Saturday; trainer Bill Mott could not guarantee his presence on September 18 at Belmont Park, where his major showdown with Forever Young was expected

SARATOGA SPRINGS, New York (Special for Turf Diario).– Alarm bells rang around Sovereignty, one of the biggest stars in American racing. The champion has developed an abscess in one of his hind hooves, an issue that will force him to miss his scheduled Saturday workout and leaves his participation in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1-$1,000,000) on September 18 at the renovated Belmont Park up in the air.

Bill Mott, trainer of the 2025 Horse of the Year, confirmed the news Friday afternoon at Saratoga, though he refrained from predicting whether the problem will ultimately keep the son of Into Mischief out of his next engagement. "I couldn't say one way or the other," the trainer responded when asked about the likelihood of Sovereignty making the starting gate for the Jockey Club Gold Cup.

The Godolphin homebred had galloped Friday morning on the Oklahoma Training Track, and the abscess was detected shortly thereafter.

"We decided this morning that he wasn't going to work this weekend. We're not trying to hide anything. The horse has an issue in a hind foot, and we have to see if we can get it sorted out over the weekend. He's going to miss a work," Mott explained.

The trainer clarified that establishing a precise recovery timeline for this type of ailment is difficult, as every horse responds differently. For now, Sovereignty will lose a few days of training, and his immediate progress will prove decisive.

If he manages to overcome the issue quickly and returns to the track next weekend, the possibility of keeping him on track for the Jockey Club Gold Cup remains. However, Mott refused to jump to conclusions. "Am I worried? I'm worried every minute of the day," he acknowledged.

Sovereignty is coming off a victory in the August 8 Whitney Stakes (G1) and boasts seven wins from twelve starts. In 2026, he has raced three times, securing one win, one second, and one third-place finish.

The setback also brings back unwelcome memories for his connections. Last year, while preparing for the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), a fever just days before the race forced him to miss the grand event. This time, the calendar still offers some breathing room, though every passing day will carry weight.

The presence of Sovereignty was set to be one of the headline attractions for the Jockey Club Gold Cup, a race holding special significance as it coincides with the reopening of the transformed Belmont Park, rebuilt over the last three years. The card was slated to feature one of the season's premier showdowns: Sovereignty clashing with Japanese champion Forever Young (Real Steel), who once again captured the Saudi Cup (G1) this year.

For now, that duel remains on the schedule. But the abscess in Sovereignty’s hind hoof has introduced the first dose of uncertainty. The coming days will be critical.