The final work of Sovereignty at Del Mar on Monday. (Zoë Metz)
Breeders’ Cup Classic Notes
Sovereigntythe 6-5 favorite in the morning line for Saturday’s $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic developed a fever overnight and his status for Saturday’s race hangs in the balance.
Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, who stood about 20 feet away from Sovereignty’s stall on the Del Mar backstretch Tuesday morning, said the Kentucky Derby/Belmont Stakes/Travers Stakes winner was being treated with an anti-inflammatory and had blood tests done.
Owned and bred by Godolphin, the son of Into Mischief will be monitored all day Tuesday and Wednesday.
“The results are still pending,” Mott said, “but if he gets another fever between now and anytime, we’re done. If I don’t think he’s right, he won’t run.”
Sovereignty worked four furlongs at Del Mar on Monday and Mott said he thought about sending him to the track on Tuesday, but that was scrapped after the fever was discovered.
Mott said Sovereignty has shown no sign of discomfort. The foal was in its stable on Tuesday morning and looked alert.
“He looks good, he ate everything,” Mott said. “He hasn’t missed an oat. He seems normal.”
A normal temperature for a horse, Mott said, is 101. Sovereignty’s temperature rose to 103, he said, before he was treated at 6 a.m. Tuesday.
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