DEL MAR — Bill Mott didn’t stop thinking about the Breeders’ Cup Classic after he declared his horse, the morning-line favorite Sovereignty, out of America’s richest race .

Wednesday morning outside barn DD, as Mott talked with one reporter after another about the fever that sidelined Sovereignty, the trainer discussed the excellent lineup of horses still running in the Classic on Saturday at Del Mar.

I asked him about Forever Young, the Japan-based horse who’s an X-factor alongside seven North American Grade I stakes winners.

“I think he’s the horse everybody’s got to beat,” Mott said.

“The horse everybody’s got to beat,” I said, repeating it to make sure I heard right.

“Oh, yeah,” Mott said. “I mean, look at his form. I mean, he’s competed well (when) he ran in this race last year

See Full Page