Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – Sovereignty, the 6-5 early favorite for Saturday’s $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar, spiked a fever that put his status for the race in limbo, trainer Bill Mott said Tuesday. “As of right now, there’s a possibility that he won’t make the race on Saturday. If we don’t feel like he’s 100 percent, he’s not going to run,” Mott told reporters at the Southern California track near San Diego hosting the 14-race, $34 million slate on Friday and Saturday.
Sovereignty won the Kentucky Derby in May to give Godolphin stables a long-awaited first victory in the first jewel of US flat racing’s Triple Crown. He sat out the Preakness then returned to win the Belmont Stakes, becoming the first horse to win two legs of the Triple Crown since Justify became the 13th horse to win all three in 2018.
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Mott said the colt’s temperature rose overnight and on Tuesday was treated with medication that had brought it to normal. Mott was awaiting full results on blood tests. “The results are pending,” Mott said. “But if he spikes another fever between now and whenever, we’re done. If I don’t think he is right, he’s not going to run.”
That said, Mott said he would like to give himself some “wiggle room” with the Classic five days away. “He looks fine, he ate everything,” Mott said. “He hasn’t missed an oat … he seems to be sharp.”
© 2024 AFP
