The racing world was shaken when Sovereignty, the heavy 6-5 morning-line favorite for the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Classic, was scratched from the $7 million race. The decision came after the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner spiked a fever.

Indeed, trainer Bill Mott confirmed this, stating, “He spiked another fever even though he’d had some medication in him from 6 o’clock that morning. He re-spiked another fever, and we re-treated him, and of course, now he’s on antibiotics. Seems to be doing well this morning; his temp’s down to just one tick above normal, and he looks bright and looks pretty good. But he’s definitely out of the Breeders’ Cup; I mean, there’s no, you know, he’ll be scratched.”

So, in the wake of Sovereignty’s withdrawal, the focus has shifted decisively to the four-year-old bay colt, Fierceness, who has been elevated to the new morning-line favorite at 5-2 odds. This shift was immediate and pronounced, with odds for Fierceness dropping rapidly on a global scale following the announcement of the scratch.

Trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by jockey John Velazquez, Fierceness is no stranger to the sport’s biggest stages. His career is marked by brilliant performances, including a stunning 6 1/4-length victory in the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile that secured him the Eclipse Award as the champion two-year-old male.

He arrives at Del Mar for this year’s Classic off an impressive win in the Pacific Classic at the same track on August 30, where he defeated Journalism by 2 1/2 lengths.

This versatility is a key part of his appeal; Fierceness does not need the lead to win and can sit off the pace or stalk the leaders, a running style that should serve him well in a competitive field. However, the co-owner of this particular horse even stood up for the current condition of Sovereignty, explaining a certain side of horse racing to fans.

Sovereignty received immense support from Mike Repole

Mike Repole, one of the co-owners of Fierceness, recently shared a big statement about what’s going on with Sovereignty. On X, the billionaire expressed, “My deepest sympathies to Sovereignty, Bill Mott, and everyone connected to this incredible athlete. What most fans never see is the stress, the sleepless nights, and the tireless work that trainers, veterinarians, grooms, and every person in the barn put in to prepare these horses for the biggest moments. It’s overwhelming… and when something like this happens, it’s absolutely gut-wrenching.”

As a horse racing enthusiast, he’s owned multiple talented horses, and seeing someone like Sovereignty get scratched due to a fever is really heartbreaking. It’s tough not just for the fans but also for the people who dedicate their time to prepping and caring for the horse. Repole also mentioned, “Unfortunately, I’ve been on this side and it’s sucks. As competitors, we live for the chance to race against the great ones — and Sovereignty is one of the greats. Today, I’m thinking of Bill, his entire team, and everyone who loves this horse.”

Indeed, this scratch not only ruined expectations for a definite Horse of the Year showdown, but it also maintained Mott and owner Godolphin’s practice of careful, horse-first management, since the colt had already missed the Preakness Stakes earlier this year to safeguard his health.

It’s really unfortunate what happened with Sovereignty. It just goes to show how delicate horse racing can be—months of hard work can be thrown off course by an unexpected illness. Even though there’s disappointment, it’s clear that people like Repole and the broader community are coming together. They all get that the horse’s well-being is what really matters, no matter what happens in any one race.