Sovereignty is strong in BC Classic Rankings

Sovereignty in the travers. (Angelo Lieto)

Travers Winner Tops Weekly International Poll Tracking Leading candiders for $ 7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar

Breeders’ Cup rlease

Lexington, Ky. – Shows a dominant performance in Saturday Travers Stakes (G1) on Saratoga Race Course, Godolphin’s HomeBred Sovereignty strengthened his overall lead in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings for the fourth consecutive week.

The classic rankings of the Longines Breeders’ Cup are a weekly rating of the top 10 horses that compete for the $ 7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), which will be performed on 1 November in Del Mar Groundbred Club in Del Mar, California, during the 42nd Breeders’ Cup World Championships.

Trained by Bill Mott, the 10-length victory of sovereignty that the travers has added to his control of the 3-year division in which he also conquered the Kentucky Derby (G1), Belmont Stakes (G1) and the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2). The son of Intin Mief collected 418 votes, including 33 votes in the first place.

Sierra LeoneThe defensive Breeders’ Cup Classic Champion and 2 August Whitney Stakes (G1) winner is in second place with 360 votes for owners by Peter Brant, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg and Brook T. Smith and trainer Chad Brown.

Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables LLC’s HomeBred 4-year-old Mind frameWinner of the Stephen Foster (G1) is in third place with 307 votes. He is followed by Preakness (G1) and Haskell Stakes (G1) winner Journalismwho is in fourth place with 298 votes for owners Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Robert Lapenta, Elayne Stables Five, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor and Derrick Smith, and trainer Michael McCarthy.

NysosWinner of the San Diego Handicap (G2) for trainer Bob Baffert and Baoma Corp, is in fifth place with 239 votes.

4-year-old Forever Young (JPN)who conquered the Saudi Cup (G1), sixth is 191 with 191 votes for owner Susumu Fujita and trainer Yoshito Yahagi. FiercenessSecond in the 2024 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic for owners Repole Stable, Derrick Smith, Michael B. Tabor and Mrs. John Magnier and trainer Todd Pletcher, is in seventh place with 165 votes.

BaezaThird in the Kentucky Derby and third in the Belmont Stakes for trainer John Shirrreffs, and CRK Stable LLC and Grandview Equine, is in eighth place with 109 votes.

Godolphin’s 5-year-old homeboard Highland FallsSecond in the Whitney Stakes, is in ninth place with 102 votes for trainer Brad Cox.

White AbarrioWinner of the 2023 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, is 10th with 57 voices for trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr., and owners C2 Racing Stable, Gary Barber and La Milagrosa Stable LLC.

Sierra Leone (Whitney), Mindframe (Stephen Foster), Journalism (Haskell) and Forever Young (Saudi Cup) have each automatic starting positions and paid costs in the Longines Breeders ‘Cup classic via the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and you are in.

The classic rankings of the Longines Fokers Cup are determined by a panel of leading thoroughbred racemedia, horse players and members of the panel of the Breeders’ Cup Racing Directors/Secretaries. Rankings are announced every week up to and including 7 October. A list of voting members can be found here.

In the classic rankings of the Breeders Cup, each voter rates horses on a system of 10-9-8-7-6-4-4-3-2-1 in decreasing order.

Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings – 26 August 2025*

*Note – The classic rankings of the Breeders Cup have no influence on qualifying or selection in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

The 2025 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, which is performed at 1 1/4 miles on the main job in Del Mar, is limited to 14 starters. The race is broadcast live on NBC.