Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – Sovereignty won the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland on Saturday, denying Forever Young a rare repeat in the showpiece of the racing extravaganza. Trained by Bill Mott and ridden by Junior Alvarado, 2025 Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty seized his first chance at the Classic after he was scratched from last year’s edition because of a fever.
He was beaten twice to open his 2026 campaign, and his Classic participation was again threatened by a hoof abscess, but Alvarado said he never doubted that Sovereignty could win the Classic. “What he did today, Sovereignty, it’s just spectacular,” Alvarado said. “We really wanted to run so bad the Classic last year. I’m just so glad the Godolphin team gave us a chance to keep him in training and get to do what he did today.”
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Sovereignty settled in well behind pace-setting stablemate Knightsbridge and left no doubt when Alvarado set him loose at the top of the stretch. He finished ahead of The Puma, with Knightsbridge third. Forever Young, who gave Japan a first Classic winner at Del Mar last year, ran just behind Knightsbridge for much of the way but faded to finish fifth.
“Turning in the back side …I was like oh boy, it’s like I can’t wait to turn for home because I knew the power I have underneath me,” Alvarado said. “The way he was traveling the whole time, letting me know, like, I’m here for you. I never had a doubt the whole way around.” Golden Tempo, this year’s Kentucky Derby winner, lagged throughout, never producing his trademark late run.
© 2024 AFP
