A Major Blow to the Classic: Sovereignty Ruled Out of Del Mar

Following the fever episode he suffered on Tuesday, the Godolphin colt will miss the Breeders’ Cup Classic, a major setback for the event’s marquee race

Sovereignty Withdrawn from the Most Anticipated Race of the Year / BENOIT PHOTO

By Diego H. Mitagstein, special correspondent for Turf Diario in Del Mar, California

DEL MAR, California—Thoroughbred racing can be as dazzling as it is unforgiving, and the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) has just suffered a blow as shocking as it is painful. Sovereignty, the Godolphin champion and overwhelming 6-5 favorite, was officially withdrawn from Saturday’s $7-million feature at Del Mar after developing a fever episodeupon arriving in California.

The Kentucky Derby (G1), Belmont Stakes (G1), and Travers Stakes (G1) hero—who was aiming to cap a dream season with a performance worthy of Horse of the Year honors—will not take part in the race that was to be his coronation. The news, first reported by Daily Racing Form and later confirmed by trainer Bill Mott, leaves a massive void in the centerpiece of the Breeders’ Cup weekend.

“He spiked a fever again yesterday, even under medication, and we decided to play it safe,” Mott told FanDuel TV, his voice heavy with disappointment. “He’s bright, eating well, looks good—but he’s definitely out of the Breeders’ Cup. There’s nothing we could’ve done differently. These things happen. When something like this comes up, you can’t control it. It’s just bad luck.”

Mott added that Sovereignty will remain under observation and is expected to be transported back to Kentucky in the coming days, as was originally planned post-race. “It hurts not to run—not just for us, but for all the people who wanted to see him one more time.”

Sovereignty’s absence robs fans of the chance to see the colt who dominated the American Triple Crown series and dismantles much of the competitive intrigue that made this year’s Classic so compelling. With the Into Mischief colt out, Fierceness (City of Light)—winner of the Florida Derby (G1) and Pacific Classic (G1) but inconsistent throughout the year—will inherit favoritism in a field now reduced to nine starters.

For Mott, who had meticulously orchestrated his colt’s preparation since the Travers, the setback is immense. Sovereignty arrived at Del Mar as the undisputed leader of his generation, boasting six wins from seven starts this season and more than $6 million in earnings.

The champion’s withdrawal strips the Breeders’ Cup Classic of its brightest star and its greatest narrative. This was to be the moment when Sovereignty faced the nation’s best older horses and sealed an extraordinary campaign—the kind that etches a name in the annals of racing history.

Nothing can replace the anticipation that surrounded his return to the track. But, as this sport so often reminds us, the horse’s health must always come first. Racing loses its brightest attraction, and the Classic its leading man.