DEL MAR, Calif. — Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Sovereignty has been scratched and will not run in the Breeders' Cup Classic on Saturday after catching a fever this week, taking the favorite out of the $7 million world championship race.

The Breeders' Cup announced the scratch of the country's top 3-year-old horse on Wednesday after trainer Bill Mott told the Daily Racing Form about the decision he and his camp made. Mott had previously said Sovereignty not racing was a possibility.

“It’s not good for the race; it’s not good for racing,” said Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey, who won the Classic five times. “Any time you have a great horse that doesn’t run when planned, it’s disappointing. But the horse is going to be fine. It was a fever. Just the timing is terrible.”

Sovere

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