As he and the GI Breeders' Cup Classic third-place runner were loaded onto a Godolphin van bound for the start of the second careers at stud, Classic hero Sovereignty (Into Mischief) left his connections with a lot to reflect on, including trainer Bill Mott, who was bullish on his charge's chances of being crowned a repeat winner of Horse of the Year honors.“He has done a lot for Godolphin, for our stable, everyone involved,” Mott said to a group of media at 6:30 Sunday morning. “He gave us a big thrill [in the Classic] and confirmed he was as good as we always thought he was. He wasn't just a one-season sensation.”While unwilling to mark the Classic tour-de-force as the defining moment of a sensational career, noting that a Kentucky Derby victory will always be something special, Mott was thrilled to have checked the World Championship victory off the list after being forced to withdraw in 2025 due to illness.“There is always a lot of chatter about who is better, who's not doing well, who's this, who's that and then, you know what? You have to go out and prove it on the racetrack. The debate is what makes the game so interesting. Not everyone has the same opinion, but if there is an argument, you put it to rest right out there [on the racetrack], And we did that yesterday afternoon.”As such, Mott was wholly convinced that Sovereignty had done more than enough to justify being crowned the 2026 Horse of the Year.“I don't think there is any doubt,” he said. “There are other years when maybe you have to quibble about it. I don't know who would take that spot. I don't know what name you would put in front of him.”The aforementioned third-place finisher Knightsbridge (Nyquist) joined Sovereignty on the van to Jonabell Farm Sunday morning. Their stud fees of $75,000 and $150,000, respectively, were announced later in the morning along with the news that a lifetime breeding right in each stallion would be offered Monday night at Fasig-Tipton's 'Night of the Stars' November sale. Their fees put them in the upper echelon of prices at Jonabell. Nyquist leads the group at $225,000 with Sovereignty second and Knightsbridge coming in third (tied with Maxfield).The Puma to Return in 2027Breeders' Cup Classic runner-up The Puma (Essential Quality) will return for a 4-year-old campaign in 2027 after his sterling effort Saturday evening.While it wasn't a victory, the connections had nothing but praise for the effort their colt put up to finish the best of the 3-year-olds in the contest, and ahead of defending champion Forever Young (Jpn).“The goal is to win,” said trainer Gustavo Delgado Sr. outside his Rice Road barn Sunday morning. “He is the baby, 3-years-old. Yesterday was a very strong race with Sovereignty and Forever Young. It was not an easy race. We are happy with him.”Delgado said The Puma would head back to Gulfstream Park Wednesday and that, while no immediate plan had been mapped for next season, the ultimate goal would be a return to the Breeders' Cup for another shot at the Classic.“We don't think too far ahead,” said assistant trainer Gustavo Delgado Jr.. “But the Classic next year sounds pretty good. The Puma, unraced at two, had two wins, three seconds and a third this year. His biggest win was the [GI] Pennsylvania Derby.”Nitrogen Off to Florida for Spell, To Return in 2027The leading lady of Breeders' Cup Saturday, MGISW Nitrogen (Medaglia d'Oro) emerged from her World Championship victory in fine form and bright spirits, and will depart Keeneland for Florida on Monday destined for a brief freshening. She would also start her planned 2027 campaign in the Sunshine State facing off once again against the boys in the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational.Slated to ship to trainer Mark Casse' farm in Ocala, the daughter of the late, great Medaglia d'Oro will get a 'mini-break' to prevent her getting bored and starting to fret, as was the problem last year when connections tried to give her a more conventional break between seasons.“The only time I've ever seen her fret is when she's not actively training,” said Jon Green, manager of D.J. Stable. “The normal protocol doesn't apply to horses like her. They're individuals, and Team Casse treats them that way.”“If she wants to, and she tells us that she's ready, the plan is to run her in January, probably the Pegasus against the boys,” Green said. “And then we'll see, kind of take it race by race. But we have a couple of races in mind for 2027 that hopefully will bring her back to the Breeders' Cup at Belmont.”Casse stablemate Measure (Essential Quality), who ran third in the Distaff, also emerged from the effort well and is likely for a 4-year-old campaign as well.“She's amazing in herself,” Casse said of Measure. “I'm excited for her 4-year-old campaign. I think we put away early the filly that should be champion 3-year-old and that's Counting Stars. So, if we can keep everybody happy and healthy, I don't know how we beat 2026, but we're going to give it a try.”Further Ado (outside) | Mathea KelleyPlans Uncertain for Further Ado, Decision to be Made in Coming DaysThrilling GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Further Ado (Gun Runner) has emerged from his effort in good shape but despite being slated for retirement after the Breeders' Cup, his connections did not have a concrete plan in place Sunday morning, and said that an announcement (whether or not he'd race in 2027) would likely not be made until Monday or Tuesday.“We're in the business of standing stallions, so it's really tempting to go to the shed after this, off a big win like that,” said Spendthrift's Eric Gustavson.Brown's Breeders' Cup Winners Emerge in Good FormTrainer Chad Brown tallied two Breeders' Cup wins on Saturday, the Filly and Mare Turf with Kathynmarissa (American Pharoah) and the Filly & Mare Sprint with Ways and Means (Practical Joke), and both have emerged from those efforts in fine form.“Both fillies came out great,” the now-21-time Breeders' Cup winner said. “Both are at Fasig-Tipton getting ready for the sale.”Ways and Means is entered in the 'Night of the Stars' November sale as HIP 161 while Kathynmarissa is HIP 208. Both are slated as racing or broodmare prospects.Clement Camp Still Relishing Emotional Mile WinMiguel Clement made a promise to right the ship after his 'TDN Rising Star' Deterministic (Liam's Map) suffered his first loss in six races in the GI Woodbine Mile, and so he did. In what was likely the final race in a sterling career, the son of Liam's Map turned the tables on Europe's Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) to secure Clement's first Breeders' Cup win.“It's very rewarding,” Clement said. “We always thought that the horse was top class, and should have been the Eclipse Award winner last year. We're over the moon that we're able to put it all together this season as well.”Destined for a breeding career at Lane's End, Deterministic began his racing career with the late Christophe Clement, and was moved into the care of the Hall of Famer's son upon his passing in May 2025. Clement described his final weekend with the horse in his barn as 'bittersweet'.“Without doubt, this horse means a lot to the family, especially when we needed it most,” Clement said. “None of this would have been attainable without Dad, obviously. It's a shame that he's not able to be here because he would have loved it yesterday. He would have truly loved it. He would have been very proud of all of it, so it's also sad. But today's his birthday, so it's also a tough day for the family.”The post Breeders’ Cup Followup: Sovereignty Retires as King of the Hill, Nitrogen to Return in 2027 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.