Sovereignty has fever, could miss Breeders' Cup Classic

Sovereignty has developed a fever and could miss Saturday's Breeders' Cup Classic, trainer Bill Mott said Tuesday morning.

Addressing reporters at Del Mar, Mott said Sovereignty was found to have a "mild fever" after Monday's Breeders' Cup draw, according to video posted by Florida-based racing reporter Carlos Morales. "He seemed to be doing very well otherwise."

Mott said the Godolphin homebred still had a mild fever Tuesday morning and that he was given medication Tuesday morning that alleviated his fever. Blood samples were taken, but the results were not yet complete.

"If we don't feel like he's 100%, he's not going to run … ," Mott said. "We're going to re-evaluate every day and probably several times every day.”

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.”