Sovereignty regroups to win Breeders' Cup Classic, a year after missing the race because of a fever

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Sovereignty surged past Knightsbridge in the stretch and held off The Puma to win the $7 million Breeders' Cup Classic by 1 3/4 lengths on Saturday, one year after missing the marquee race because of a fever.

Ridden by Junior Alvarado, Sovereignty was in the hunt at the final turn and overtook his stablemate on the outside of four horses. He then withstood charges from defending Classic winner Forever Young and The Puma before going on to his second consecutive victory.

Last year's Kentucky Derby, Belmont and Travers Stakes winner covered 1 1/4 mile in 2 minutes, 0.36 seconds at Keeneland, giving Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott his third Classic victory and first since 2011. Last year's top overall horse and 3-year-old paid $5.94, $4.16 and $2.94 at the season-ending World Championships.

The Puma returned $11.22 and $6.10 while Knightsbridge paid $3.76.

Next were Japan-bred T O Password and Forever Young, the 8-5 favorite who sought a second consecutive Classic victory. He faded after running among the leaders. Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Golden Tempo was never a factor, running last for much of the race and finishing sixth.

In Saturday's other races at Keeneland:

— Nitrogen won the $2 million Distaff by two lengths with Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Jose Ortiz aboard, a year after a runner-up finish at Del Mar.

— Jockey Kendrick Carmouche and trainer Miguel Clement got their first Breeders’ Cup victories as Deterministic held off favorite Notable Speech by 3/4 of a length in the $2 million Mile.

— Japan-based favorite T O Elvis rallied to chase down Englishman in the final 1/16 to win the $2 million Sprint and give jockey Ryusei Sakai his second Breeders' Cup victory.

— Further Ado came on down the stretch and dueled Owen Almighty side by side before winning the $1 million Dirt Mile at the wire in a photo finish. The favorite started on the rail and was fifth on the backstretch before finding room outside to draw even with Owen Almighty.

— Kathynmarissa overtook Gimme a Nother in the stretch to win the $2 million Filly & Mare Turf, paying $13.24 at 5-1 odds for her third consecutive victory.

— Favorite Ways and Means surged from fourth on the backstretch to the lead by the final turn and pulled away to win the $1 million Filly & Mare Sprint opener by 6 1/4 lengths over Foie Gras. Chad Brown's 5-year-old mare earned her third consecutive victory and eighth in 14 career starts.

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