From the first week of voting to the final tally, Godolphin’s homebred superstar Sovereignty captured the hearts of racing fans and experts alike, finishing atop the final Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings. The 3-year-old sensation, celebrated for his Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes, and Travers Stakes triumphs, led the weekly international poll with 394 votes, cementing his place as a leading contender for the $7 million showdown at Del Mar.
The Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings track the top 10 horses vying for the Classic (G1), scheduled for Nov. 1 during the 42nd Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in California. Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, Sovereignty’s consistency and star power proved irresistible to voters across the globe.
Fierceness, Sierra Leone, and Rising Contenders
Trailing Sovereignty was Todd Pletcher-trained Fierceness, winner of the Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar, with 338 votes. Defending champion Sierra Leone, fresh off her Whitney Stakes (G1) victory, claimed third place with 317 votes under Chad Brown.
Other notable horses in the final top 10 included Mindframe (Stephen Foster Stakes G1), Japan’s Forever Young, who returned from a Dubai World Cup (G1) third-place finish to win the Nippon TV Hai, and Preakness and Haskell winner Journalism, who slipped one spot to sixth. Baeza, Antiquarian, Locked, and Highland Falls completed the rankings, reflecting a mix of established stars and rising talent.
Voting Details
The rankings were compiled by a distinguished panel of Thoroughbred racing media, horseplayers, and Breeders’ Cup Racing Directors and Secretaries. Horses were rated on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 scale, and votes reflected both first-place nods and overall consistency. While the rankings carry no official weight for Classic qualification, they serve as a pulse on the racing community’s perception of the top contenders.
As anticipation builds for the Nov. 1 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, the spotlight shines on Sovereignty, whose dominance in the rankings mirrors his on-track brilliance. With 14 starters slated for the 1 1/4-mile test at Del Mar’s main track, fans and punters alike are already marking the calendars for a thrilling finale.
Read the full coverage of the 2025 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings on RaceBuzz.
