LEXINGTON, Ky. – The thumbs up from exercise rider Jimmy Quispe to Godolphin's Michael Banahan as Sovereignty (Into Mischief) was exiting the track said it all.The reigning Horse of the Year is ready for his career finale in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland on Saturday.After concluding major preparations with a four-furlong move in :48.20 (8/29) in Lexington on Sunday, his lone local workout since arriving from Saratoga, Sovereignty, equipped with draw reins, returned to the track with a powerful gallop just before 9 a.m. on a crisp Tuesday morning.Forced to miss last month's GI Jockey Club Gold Cup on opening day at the new Belmont Park with a foot abscess, last year's GI Kentucky Derby, GI Belmont Stakes and GI Travers Stakes winner continues to train with a bar shoe on his left hind foot. It will come off on raceday, per Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.“He's still got it on there and doing well with it,” Mott said outside his Rice Road barn as this summer's GI Whitney S. winner was being cleaned up before a nice crowd of admirers, including retired Hall of Fame rider Jerry Bailey. “It's on good and giving him plenty of protection. We'll take it off and put a normal racing plate on it.”As for the foot issue, Mott added, “It's always a concern. The thing I can say about this is, it didn't happen the week before the race. It happened far enough out, well over six weeks ago. That gives us some time to correct the situation. Mother Nature requires you to have a little patience and take your time with it, which we were allowed.”Sovereignty is a perfect three-for-three at the Classic distance and will look to join American Pharoah, Authentic, Sunday Silence and Unbridled as Kentucky Derby/Breeders' Cup Classic winners. He was scratched from last year's renewal after developing a shipping fever.Mott has won the Breeders' Cup Classic twice–with the Bailey-ridden Hall of Famer Cigar in 1995 and the 2011 upsetter Drosselmeyer. Sheikh Mohammed's global operation is winless from 19 previous starters in the Classic.“He's pretty special,” Mott said of Sovereignty. “He won my Triple Crown–the Derby, Belmont and Travers. I don't know what more you could ask. That was the highlight of his career and mine.”Knightsbridge, under the watchful eye of Hall of Famer Bill Mott, looking tremendous during training hours #BreedersCup2026 https://t.co/OEKicXgpv0— Steve Sherack (@SteveSherackTDN) October 27, 2026The 'Boys in Blue' and Mott will also be well-represented by 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Knightsbridge (Nyquist) in the $7-million centerpiece.Also accompanied by Mott aboard his stable pony Rocky to and from the track about a half hour earlier, the dominating, front-running GI Pacific Classic S. winner turned in an eye-opening gallop of his own beneath Quispe and was breathing fire heading off as the rising sun provided a spectacular backdrop.“I thought they looked fantastic, both horses,” Mott said. “I couldn't have asked for anything better, for me. We gave them a stroll through the paddock, they both behaved well. Came out, galloped around good. They were happy when it was over and came back good.”Knightsbridge was also pre-entered in the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile on the undercard, a race he would've been heavily favored.“At the end of the day, we all agreed to give the horse the opportunity,” Mott said. “Godolphin would love to win the Classic. If it takes two horses and two chances to do it, I think they are willing to do that.”The post Racing Royalty: A ‘Fantastic’ Morning for Sovereignty, Knightsbridge Ahead of Breeders’ Cup Classic appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.