"Sovereignty, the top-ranked horse in the country, will not run in the $7-million Breeders' Cup Classic after developing a fever this week. The winner of the Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes and Travers Stakes will recover although it's unclear if he will ever race again. Trainer Bill Mott made the announcement Wednesday morning and informed Breeders' Cup officials of the scratch. "I actually started thinking, 'We might be OK.' But then, in a matter of hours, my optimism was taken away," Mott said."
"On Wednesday morning, Sovereignty was standing upright in his stall munching on hay and showed no obvious discomfort. "We've gone through the entire year with this horse without a hiccup," Mott said. The fever was detected on Monday and he was treated with an NSAID, similar to Tylenol. He could not be given an antibiotic at that time because he would then likely fail a drug test."
"On Tuesday, Mott puts his odds at running at 50-50. "If we don't think he's 100%, he won't run in the Breeders' Cup Classic," Mott said on Tuesday. After he was initially treated, his temperature went back to normal but then it spiked again overnight. Sovereignty was the biggest star of the 42nd Breeders' Cup and was installed as the 6-5 favorite to win the Classic. Mott and owner Godolphin have been very cautious with this Sovereignty."
Sovereignty, the top-ranked racehorse and winner of the Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes and Travers Stakes, was scratched from the $7-million Breeders' Cup Classic after developing a fever. Trainer Bill Mott informed Breeders' Cup officials and withdrew the colt when his temperature spiked overnight despite initial NSAID treatment. Antibiotics were withheld because they could cause a drug-test failure. The horse appeared comfortable in his stall afterward, but connections remain cautious. Owners previously skipped the Preakness to protect the colt, and a decision on returning to racing or retiring to stud has not been made.
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