The last two Kentucky Derby winners were scratched from the Breeders’ Cup

The Breeders’ Cup will be missing two of the biggest names in horse racing.

Sovereignty and Mystik Dan, the last two Kentucky Derby winners, were scratched from running at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in California.

Sovereignty, this year’s Run of the Roses and Belmont Stakes winner, was officially scratched Wednesday after developing a fever. He had been the early 6-5 favorite to win the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic.

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It was announced earlier Saturday that the winner of last year’s race, Mystik Dan, would no longer run in the $1 million Dirt Mile due to a sprained left ankle.

Last year’s Classic was won by Sierra Leone, who lost to Mystik Dan by a nose in the Derby in 2024. Sierra Leone finished third in this year’s Belmont Stakes and won the Whitney Stakes last August at Saratoga. Sierra Leone runs again on Saturday aiming to become the first horse to win the Classic this year since Tiznow in 2000 and 2001.

Mystik Dan #3, ridden by jockey Brian J. Hernandez Jr. crosses the finish line to win the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 4, 2024 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

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The Classic field includes 2025 Derby runner-up Journalism (who won the Preakness and finished second in the Belmont) and Mindframe, who was last year’s Belmont and Haskell Stakes runner-up.

The Dirt Mile field features 2023 Classic and Whitney winner White Abarrio.

Jockey Junior Alvarado reacts aboard Sovereignty (2) after winning the 157th running of the Belmont Stakes, Saturday, June 7, 2025, in Saratoga Springs, NY (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

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Post time for Classic is 6:25 PM ET, and the dirt mile is one hour and 20 minutes after that.