DEL MAR, CA – At 7:30 a.m. Wednesday morning, the racing world got the news nobody wanted to hear. Godolphin’s Sovereignty, the Kentucky Derby, Belmont, and Travers winner — and the 6-5 morning-line favorite for the $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) — has been scratched after spiking a fever at Del Mar.
Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott made the difficult call Wednesday morning to rule the likely Horse of the Year out of the Classic.
“Neil (assistant trainer Poznansky) called me (Tuesday afternoon) and said it had jumped back up. We retreated him and, at that point, it’s not even a conversation. (Sovereignty) made the decision; that incident made the decision.”
Sovereignty had been treated with anti-inflammatories after showing a fever Tuesday morning, and Mott had held out hope the champion would rebound. But when his temperature returned that afternoon, there was no saving the dream.
“Yes, I feel sorry for him and, frankly, my staff … everybody was excited about it,” Mott said. “And the fans. I really think this horse was a fan favorite at this point and I feel badly that they are not going to be able to see him participate. I think a lot of people were really looking forward to seeing him run and seeing that race with him in it.”
Sovereignty will now ship to Kentucky for rest and evaluation. His future — whether retirement or a return to racing — remains undecided.
What It Means for the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Classic
The scratch of Sovereignty sends shockwaves through the Classic field. The once-clear favorite’s exit blows the race wide open, with Sierra Leone, Fierceness, and Forever Young suddenly moving into more prominent contention.
Without the controlling pace and proven stamina of Sovereignty, the Classic could shape up far differently than handicappers expected — both in terms of pace dynamics and betting value.
This isn’t just a late scratch. It’s a complete reshuffling of the odds board, forcing bettors to rethink everything from win bets to exotic structures.
Racing Dudes Picks & Betting Bible: Updated Immediately
As always, Racing Dudes reacted fast.
All Classic picks and Betting Bible strategies have been updated to reflect this massive development:
- The Breeders’ Cup Betting Bible now includes a special “Scratch Alert Update”, highlighting how Sovereignty’s absence impacts the projected pace, key contenders, and betting angles.
- Our AI Top 4 picks, value rankings, and exotic strategy pages for the Classic have been recalculated.
- All Premium products — including Somo Bombs, Rockets, and Bible bonus plays — are already refreshed and live for subscribers.
- The Racing Dudes team will break down the new Classic landscape on the Blinkers Off podcast and across all social channels later today.
This is the exact reason our followers rely on the Dudes during Breeders’ Cup week — when chaos hits, we update instantly so you can bet confidently.
Breeders' Cup 2025 Betting Bible
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Unlock the ultimate wagering guide with the Racing Dudes’ Breeders’ Cup 2025 Betting Bible — your race-by-race game plan for the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, October 31–November 1, 2025, at Del Mar.
A New Race — and a New Opportunity
While Sovereignty’s absence is a gut punch to fans, it creates a brand-new handicapping puzzle that could yield serious value for sharp players.
The Classic field just went from predictable to fascinating — and the Racing Dudes’ Betting Bible is your best tool to navigate the chaos.
🔗 Get the updated Breeders’ Cup Betting Bible (including the 14 Trends FREE)
Stay tuned for the latest podcast reactions and revised picks at RacingDudes.com — because when the race changes, the Dudes change with it.
