Breeders' Cup Classic: Sovereignty shows he's once-in-lifetime horse

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LEXINGTON, Ky. - When he arrived on the Keeneland backstretch on Tuesday morning, the day after it was announced that Knightsbridge would join Sovereignty in the starting gate for Saturday’s $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic and not run in the $1 million Dirt Mile, jockey Junior Alvarado, who would be riding Sovereignty, stopped by trainer Bill Mott’s barn.

“I asked Bill, ‘so what’s happening?’ "Alvarado said. “He looked at me and said ‘you’re on the best horse.’ That was it. The way he said it, I didn’t have to ask why or anything else. For me, that’s all I needed to hear and that’s why he’s Mr. Mott.”

Early Saturday evening, as he had Sovereignty in fifth position down the backside with five furlongs to run, Alvarado understood what Mr. Mott meant. Alvarado waited a little longer to ask Sovereignty for his best, but when he did, Sovereignty steamrolled past the opposition - including last year’s BC Classic winner Forever Young - to a 1 3/4-length victory in the Classic, one that could make Sovereignty a repeat Horse of the Year.

The Puma, a Grade 1-winning 3-year-old, rallied to get second by a half-length over Knightsbridge. T O Password finished fourth, followed by Forever Young, Kentucky Derby and Belmont winner Golden Tempo and Preakness winner Napoleon Solo.

The victory was a year in the making, as Sovereignty was forced to miss last year’s Classic at Del Mar due to a fever. He was brought back by Godolphin Racing, the racing operation of Sheikh Mohammed al Maktoum, for the express purpose of winning the Classic.

This year didn’t go as planned as Sovereignty lost his first two starts before dominating the Grade 1 Whitney at Saratoga on Aug. 8. He hadn’t raced since owing to a foot abscess that forced him to miss the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont - and a meeting with Forever Young - on Sept. 18.

Mott said that he didn’t dwell on Sovereignty missing last year’s Classic, but admitted there was a special feeling when he saw Sovereignty cross the wire on Saturday evening.

“It was a real unbelievable feeling just because I know what we missed last year, we missed the opportunity,” Mott said. “Look, I’m not so sure he couldn’t have done it last year, it just wasn’t meant to be. Thank God we had the opportunity to try again and the Godolphin team made the decision to keep him in training and that’s a huge risk.”

Godolphin had never won the Classic. As Godolphin, the record was 0 of 18. In 2006, racing as Darley, Bernardini finished second.

“We placed in it before, it’s one of the great races globally,” said Michael Banahan, director of bloodstock for Godolphin. “We want to compete in these big races all the time, that is what the boss wants to do, is compete in these big races. The last race on Breeders’ Cup day is the one everyone wants to win. To win today is very significant and it was so special to have Sovereignty come back and win the Whitney and come back and win today as well.”

The victory sends Sovereignty out a winner as he will be retired and stand at stud next year. He was scheduled to make the short van ride from Keeneland to Godolphin’s Jonabell Farm on Sunday morning.

Sovereignty added the Classic to a resume that includes victories in the Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes, Travers Stakes, and Whitney. Overall, he won 8 of 13 starts and earned $10,516,550. He went a perfect 4 for 4 at 1 1/4 miles.

“I can’t believe they’re retiring him after this performance,” Alvarado said. “He doesn’t owe us anything. He’s on to his next career, I’m just glad we ended up his career the way we did.”

In the Classic, Sovereignty was sent off the slight second choice behind Forever Young, who became very agitated in the paddock.

When the gates opened, Knightsbridge, as expected under Luis Saez, went to the front. He opened and maintained a one-length advantage through decent fractions of 47.64 seconds for the half-mile and 1:11.43 for six furlongs and a mile in 1:36.26. He was chased by Forever Young and fellow Japanese runner T O Password and Napoleon Solo.

Knightsbridge, being loose on the lead like he was winning the Monmouth Cup and Pacific Classic, made Mott pause momentarily. Then he looked at Sovereignty.

“I thought [Knightsbridge] was in good shape and I know he’ll try all the way to the wire, but I was also looking behind him and I saw the position the other horse was in, he was by himself, he was not hindered in the spot he was in,” Mott said. “I could see he was traveling very well and as Junior said, when he left the three-eighths pole and he started to pick it up, everybody else in the race is going to have to deal with Sovereignty.”

Alvarado said he felt earlier than that he was in good shape.

“At the five-eighths pole I felt already like a winner,” Alvarado said. “He was dragging me. I just couldn’t wait to turn for home to release him. The training job that Bill did with this horse, I don’t think anybody could understand how great you have to be to do something to get the horse to perform like he did today.”

Sovereignty, a son of Into Mischief, covered the 1 1/4 miles in 2:00.36 and returned $5.94.

Knightsbridge will also be retired after his third-place finish in the Classic. Jockey Luis Saez said he felt good about his horse’s chances coming into the lane.

“He came into the straight, he gave me a good turn of foot, but the champion of the world came flying and passed us,” Saez said.

Javier Castellano, aboard The Puma, was thrilled to get second.

“I liked the way he finished, I think I earned my second place,” Castellano said. “When Sovereignty took off I still had to pass Knightsbridge. I focused on second place. He earned it.”

The disappointment was Forever Young, who finished fifth, the worst finish of his 17-race career, which included back-to-back victories in the $20 million Saudi Cup. It’s unsure how much his getting agitated in the paddock had to with it. His connections felt he had the position they wanted, right behind Knightsbridge.

“We got exactly the position we had hoped for, and at that point, I really didn't think we would get beaten,” trainer Yoshito Yahagi said through an interpreter. “But when it mattered, the horse just didn't respond. I honestly don't know why.

“I feel terribly sorry for all the fans who supported us,” Yahagi continued. “He's never run this poorly before. Even when races haven't gone his way, he's always battled on and finished strongly. But there was none of that today. I really don't know what to say. To be honest, I have no idea what happened. I wish there were a clear reason for the defeat, but I genuinely don't know.”

Mott has trained horses for 50 years and won his third Classic. In 1995, he campaigned Cigar through an undefeated season that ended with a victory in the BC Classic. The following year, he could manage only third in the race.

It’s hard to imagine that Mott could train a better horse than Cigar, but he ranks Sovereignty right up there.

“I just know how talented and what a train he is,” Mott said. “He’s a magnificent horse. I had a couple of good ones, but you could almost say he’s a once-in-a-lifetime horse.”

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