Sovereignty, the 6-5 morning-line favourite for Saturday’s $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup
Classic, spiked a fever overnight Tuesday and was scratched from the big race on Wednesday morning, according to Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.
The Kentucky Derby/Belmont Stakes/Travers Stakes winner, who worked four furlongs at Del Mar on Monday, was treated with an anti-inflammatory and blood work was taken. Owned and bred by Godolphin, the son of Into Mischief was monitored all day Tuesday and into Wednesday before the decision was made.
Sovereignty’s scratch leaves 9 in the Classic.
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Europe’s all-time leading trainer AIDAN O’BRIEN has the record for most Group 1 wins in a season, 28, which he accomplished in 2017. This year, O’Brien’s horses have been crushing it and he is at 25 Group 1 wins with a host of contenders at the Breeders’ Cup.
One of his best chances is PRECISE (Ire), who will be heavily bet in the $1 million Juvenile Fillies Turf on Friday. The daughter of Starspangledbanner (Aus) has won four of five races and two Group 1’s. The chestnut filly’s main hurdle is likely to be post position 13.
International Report from Tuesday
It was a busy morning on the Del Mar main track as the European horses cleared quarantine. As expected on the first day of training, the vast majority of horses had a trot and canter with nothing else notable to report.
Canadian Interntional (G1) winner Silawi (IRE) (Turf) was the first European horse to leave the quarantine barn heading for a canter on the main track shortly after 6 a.m. Silawi drew post 7 at Monday’s post-position draw. Wathnan Racing’s retained jockey James Doyle will take the ride on Saturday for trainer Hamad Al Jehani.
Cathedral (GB) (Filly & Mare Turf) was the first of the Amo Racing-owned horses onto the main track accompanied by a pony. She was shortly followed by the Adrian Murray and Amo Racing stablemates Bucanero Fuerte (GB) (Turf Sprint) and Valiant Force (Sprint) who is an also eligible. Arizona Blaze (GB) (Turf Sprint) under assistant trainer, Robson Aguiar, the third of the Adrian Murray trained horses came out to the main track in the 8 a.m. slot. All of Murray’s horses did light exercise. Amo Racing’s retained jockey, David Egan, has picked Arizona Blaze over Bucanero Fuerte in the Turf Sprint.
Khaadem (IRE) (Turf Sprint) who has been training on the turf since Sunday because of not having to quarantine having shipped in from Keeneland did the same routine again this morning having a canter on the turf.
Victoria Knight, who looks after him, said; “It would be pretty special if he managed to win as he’s coming towards the end of his career. To win a Grade 2 at Keeneland last time shows he is in great form and comes here with a chance. At Keeneland I remember before turning in thinking it was a bit of a waste of time, but then he took off.”
Donnacha O’Brien has been in California a couple of days and was trackside to watch his team train. O’Brien said: “Havana Anna (GB) (Juvenile Turf Sprint) I think the drop back to 5 furlongs will suit her, as will the sharp track as she’s all speed. Realistically she’s our best chance of the weekend. To run in a Breeders’ Cup race they need gate speed, early pace, and handle fast ground and ultimately need to be very good horses to run in these races.
“Balantina (IRE) (Juvenile Fillies Turf), her form is very strong, especially her Royal Ascot form when third in the Albany (Stakes (G3)). She then went to France and just got touched off. She ran on slower ground at The Curragh on her most recent start which wasn’t ideal for her. She could bounce back and run better than her odds suggest.
“Atsila (IRE) (Filly & Mare Turf), she’s going up 3 furlongs so that’s a gamble. The Matron at Leopardstown was very good form when she was third. She ran a bit below that level next time at Newmarket but if we can get improvement from the trip, she could run a good race.”
Joe Leavy, the new champion apprentice jockey in the UK will make his debut in a Breeders’ Cup race aboard Rashabar (IRE) (Turf). The horse has one career win from 11 starts. Leavy said; “It’s my first time over here, so I came out early to try and get as much experience on the track and American races as I could before Saturday. On his pedigree he’s bred to get the trip, we’ve seen in his last couple of runs he does stay well. Obviously, we’re going into new grounds with another 2 furlongs, but I think around three bends will definitely help him. The experience for me being here to see new jurisdictions, only positives will come from it.”
More Breeders’ Cup starters and notes:
Rebel Red, trained by Cherie DeVaux, exercises in preparation for the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, California on October 28, 2025. (Tere Poplin/Eclipse Sportswire/Breeders Cup)
One-Eyed Guy: Rebel Red
Trainer: Cherie DeVaux
Jockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr.
Morning Activity: Galloped 1 3/8m on the main track
Planned Activity: Same routine tomorrow
Closer Look: Rebel Red looks to overcome the odds again in Longines Turf
John D. Gunther and Eurowest Bloodstock Services’ Rebel Red has had more than his fair share of adversity. Last July, he suffered severe injuries to his left eye in a stall accident, leading to the removal of the eye and a question about the Frankel chestnut’s future on the racetrack.
Incredibly, he missed little training and got back to the races in the Bernard Baruch Stakes just two months later at Saratoga Race Course. Though he finished seventh, he found the winner’s circle next in a Keeneland allowance last October, proving that his head was still very much in the game.
“I think we over-thought it more than him,” DeVaux said. “He really lost two weeks and was back training. We just eased him into it and followed horses and saw how it went. We make sure he goes with a pony for safety because he can be a bit of a turkey. The jockeys try to take him wide to be fair for him and everyone. You’d never even know (what happened).”
Rebel Red went to earn his first graded placing with a third in the Grade 2 Red Smith at Aqueduct Racetrack to close out his campaign. This spring, he tested his luck in a trio of graded races, finishing off the board in the first two before facing another spate of bad luck in Churchill Downs’ Grade 3 Louisville in May, where he clipped heels and fell.
Nevertheless, Rebel Red dusted himself off yet again and came back with strong form, winning his next start in Churchill’s Chorleywood Stakes ahead of a seventh in Monmouth Park’s Grade 2 United Nations, but his determination shone again at the highest level with a narrow second to El Cordobes in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer Stakes in August at Saratoga Race Couse.
“There’s a lot that’s happened. He’s run some really good races, but in the spring, he took a nasty fall clipping heels on the turf course at Churchill, and I really thought that might be it for him,”
Canada’s Champion two-year-old filly of 2024, Nitrogen, trained by Mark E. Casse, exercises in preparation for the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff. (Tere Poplin/Eclipse Sportswire/Breeders Cup)
MAKER’S MARK FILLY & MARE TURF
Horse: Be Your Best (IRE)
Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr.
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Set: After renovation break
Morning Activity: Blew out 3f over the main track in 36 3/5
Planned Activity: Will jog or gallop over the main track.
The Quote: “Her schedule was a little further out breeze wise, so we just wanted to let her stretch her legs. We’ll probably just jog or gallop tomorrow. She’s happy. She’s consistent and she tries. A mile and three-eighths probably stretches it a bit, but if it’s the right pace, she can get there.” – Saffie Joseph Jr.
Be Your Best, trained by Saffie Joseph, exercises in preparation for the Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. (Carlos J. Calo/Eclipse Sportswire/Breeders Cup)
Ontario-bred Mission of Joy
Trainer: Phil D’Amato
Jockey: Umberto Rispoli
Morning Activity: Galloped
Planned Activity: Same as Tuesday
The Quote: “I like the post (1). We got her out here (in July) because her owners thought she would run her best on firm ground and there are not that many opportunities back east. She is a filly on the improve.” – Phil D’Amato
Pretty Is… She Feels Pretty
Trainer: Cherie DeVaux
Jockey: John Velazquez
Set: After renovation break
Morning Activity: Galloped over the main track
Planned Activity: Same routine tomorrow
The Quote: “She’s doing great and had a really nice gallop out there with lots of energy. I’ve only been fortunate enough to come here a few times and my career is young. Last year, we came here and won (the Mile) with More Than Looks, so it’s a little different. The pressure is off – there’s always pressure and stress, but not that added thought of, ‘am I going to win the race?’
“She’s going to run her race and try her hardest. To come in with a filly like this where no matter where she finishes, she’ll put in her best run, that gives you all the confidence to go over there.” – Cherie DeVaux
FANDUEL BREEDERS’ CUP MILE
Horse: Johannes
Trainer: Tim Yakteen
Jockey: Umberto Rispoli
Set: 6:15 a.m.
Morning Activity: Galloped 1½m and walked through the paddock under exercise rider Baltazar
Contreras.
Planned Activity:. Will have a routine gallop and visit starting gate at approximately 6:30 a.m.
The Quote: Can you compare him now to how he was in 2024 when he was a close second in the Mile: “I think if we see another effort like that, like last year’s effort, he’s going to be right there, There’s no reason he shouldn’t be able to do that. He’s given me all the signs that he’s doing really well. And we should see that same effort that he put out last year.” – Tim Yakteen
BREEDERS’ CUP DIRT MILE
Horse: Nysos
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Morning Activity: Galloped 1 ½m
Planned Activity: Same as Tuesday
The Quote: “I wish he was in the Classic. He is doing really good. He is a superstar, a real good horse. He was born that way. He was born with a lot of talent.” – Bob Baffert
CYGAMES BREEDERS’ CUP SPRINT
Horse: Banishing
Trainer: Chad Summers
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione
Morning Activity: Worked 3f in 37.60 seconds over the main track
Planned Activity: To be determined
The Quote: Banishing was previously trained by co-owner David Jacobson, and transferred to
Summers for the Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint. “He’s a cool horse. I’ve had him all week here and he’s done everything the right way. He’s one of those war horses like David [Jacobson] has historically done really well with. He comes from that great foundation of the Godolphin family, and David was able to capitalize and buy him for the right price, so hopefully he can make everybody proud on Saturday.”
On the breeze: “We just wanted to get a little air into his lungs, obviously cutting back from the mile and an eighth to the three-quarters, you want to know where the wire is and pick it up a little down the lane, and that’s what he did. I had him work three-eighths from the quarter-pole and I’m happy with the way he did it. The rest we will leave up to Tyler [Gaffalione].” – Chad Summers
Horse: Bentornato
Trainer: Jose D’Angelo
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Set: 5:45
Morning Activity: Jogged on first day at track after arriving from Keeneland
Planned Activity: Gallop
The Quote: “I think he is better this year and he is an improving horse. Last year I was sure he
would run big (as a 28-1 longshot) and he did. In his last race (at Churchill Downs Sept. 13), he
settled behind horses before making his move.” – Jose D’Angelo
Horse: Mullikin
Trainer: Rodolphe Brisset
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Morning Activity: Galloped once around
Planned Activity: Will gallop. Will visit the starting gate and paddock later in the week.
The Quote: “We’ve just put a line through his last race (when seventh in the Forego (G1) at Saratoga Aug. 23). My best guess is that he just bounced off the two big efforts before that race. Two very huge efforts. He scoped clean. He acted fine. It’s just one of those things you can’t waste your time analyzing it, so we just drew a line through it.
“We refreshed him for two or three weeks and got him back to Keeneland. He loves Keeneland. Since then, he’s been working lights out. Physically, he may be even better than last year. “At first glance, there looks like a lot more speed than last year. Looks like there are horses even farther out than us that like to be forwardly placed. (Mullikin) can do about anything. Our main focus has to be making sure things go smoothly and getting him into the gate.– Rodolphe Brisset
PNC BANK BREEDERS’ CUP FILLY & MARE SPRINT
Horse: Sweet Azteca
Trainer: Richard Baltas
Jockey: Juan Hernandez
Morning Activity: Galloped
Planned Activity: Same as Tuesday
The Quote: “I was surprised she is the (morning line) favorite. I thought Ag Bullet would be in her race (the Prevagen Turf Sprint). She drew post 6. It’s not bad, so that is good.” – Richard Baltas
PREVAGEN BREEDERS’ CUP TURF SPRINT
Horse: Governor Sam
Trainer: George Weaver
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Set: 8:45 a.m.
Morning Activity: Galloped 1 1/8m
The Quote: “He’s doing very well, and he’s actually training better into his race this year than he was last year. He’s really grown into himself and has put together a nice resume. Running against older horses is a tall task, but we dipped our toe in that water at Keeneland and even though he finished fourth, it wasn’t by very far and cutting back to five-eighths is going to help him. I think he likes this course and it’s up to him and Flavien [Prat] to figure it out.” – George Weaver
JOHN DEERE BREEDERS’ CUP JUVENILE FILLIES TURF
Horse: Celebrity Warrior
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Luis Saez
Morning Activity: Visited gate and galloped one mile under Nora McCormack.
Planned Activity: Gallop at time TBD
The Quote: “She’s run well in both starts. We’re taking a shot to see if she can maybe get lucky and get a good trip and improve a little bit. Didn’t really anticipate that she would get in, originally. When we saw that the field was coming up a little shorter than it usually does, we were happy to take a chance with her.” – Todd Pletcher.
More Todd: Time to Dream
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr.
Set: 8:10 a.m.
Morning Activity: Visited gate and galloped 1m under Nora McCormack.
Planned Activity: Routine gallop at time TBD.
The Quote: “Well, the one thing we learned from Up to the Mark, buying him out of Not This Time’s first crop, is that it seems like the Not This Times do everything. Some of them turf. Some of them dirt. Some of them sprint. Some of them are like Next, who was the best marathon horse in the country last year. It’s just such a versatile stallion. We were just hoping to get a runner on any surface and training her, we did breeze her once on the turf, and we thought we saw some improvements. Once we saw that, we were pretty focused on getting her career started on the turf and the way she ran, there’s obviously no reason to make a change. Unfortunately, she got shuffled back a little bit and got stuck in some traffic in the Jessamine and didn’t get clear running until it was too late, but she was still closing very well at that stage. Hopefully, we can work out a better trip.” – Todd Pletcher.
FANDUEL BREEDERS’ CUP JUVENILE
Horse: Blackout Time
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Jockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr.
Morning Activity: Galloped 1 1/4m with Danny Ramsey at 6:15 a.m.
Planned Activity: Will gallop at the same time.
The Quote: “If this horse moves forward, I think we have a big chance to have our first champion 2-year-old. He is an amazingly beautiful horse and his race at Keeneland (second in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1)) was excellent. He had not run in two months going ito that. We think he could take us back to the Derby in the spring if all goes right.” – Kenny McPeek
Plodd Tetcher: Ted Noffey (named after Spendthrift’s Ned Toffey)
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: John Velazquez
Set: 6:30 a.m.
Morning Activity: Visited starting gate and galloped 1m under Carlos Quinonez Perez
Planned Activity: Routine gallop at time TBD.
The Quote: “He’s a very straightforward, very professional horse around the barn. He can be a playful colt at times, but it’s all in a good-mannered way. Basically, came in and never missed a beat. Trained very well for his debut and didn’t surprise us by running well. Then the preparation for the Hopeful was very good, I thought he was really impressive that day. Then handled two turns first time in the Breeders’ Futurity. That was another impressive win. He’s just like a lot of the Into Mischiefs. He’s just naturally talented, figures things out early on and has a big gallop to him. When he gets in a rhythm, like he’s been doing, he just keeps going and going. I couldn’t say enough good things about him.” – Todd Pletcher.
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