Breeders' Cup Classic favorite Sovereignty is scratched

Morning-line favorite Sovereignty will miss the Breeders' Cup Classic because of a fever.

David Grening of Daily Racing Form reported that trainer Bill Mott announced the decision Wednesday morning.

Mott said Tuesday morning that Sovereignty developed a mild fever Monday night.

"His temp shot up again, we retreated him," Mott told DRF. "That basically made our decision."

Mott said no decision has been made on whether Sovereignty will race as a 4-year-old.

Sovereignty was made the 6-5 morning-line favorite in the Classic field of 10. The Into Mischief colt has a four-race win streak with victories in the Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes, Grade 1 Jim Dandy and Travers (G1).

He worked four furlongs in 49.8 seconds at Del Mar on Monday morning, and Mott said after the work that “he went well, we were happy with him.”

The Godolphin homebred has a career record of 9: 6-2-0 and earnings of $5.8 million.

After news of the scratch, morning-line maker David Aragona revised the odds for the Classic, making Fierceness the top choice at 5-2 followed by Forever Young and Sierra Leone at 7-2. Before the scratch, Fierceness was 4-1, Forever Young was 6-1 and Sierra Leone was 8-1.