On the morning after Sovereignty won the Kentucky Derby, his trainer, Bill Mott checked him out. It had been a grueling race over a muddy track. The trainer discovered a small scrape about six inches along his right front pastern probably when he clipped heels with another mount coming out of the gate.

Ever since Sovereignty didn’t run in the Preakness, there have been conversations about spreading out the three legs of the Triple Crown.

There will not be a 14th Triple Crown winner for the sports world to celebrate at the end of the Belmont Stakes, horse racing’s third jewel.