Sovereignty, the nation’s top 3-year-old and a leading contender for Horse of the Year, remains No. 1 in this week’s Breeders’ Cup Classic Top 10 rankings.
Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, Sovereignty won the Kentucky Derby (G1), the Belmont Stakes (G1), and the Jim Dandy (G2) and is the likely favorite for the $1.25 million Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course on Aug. 23.
Sovereignty received 413 points and 24 first-place votes from a voting group of thoroughbred racing media, horseplayers, and members of the Breeders’ Cup directors/secretaries panel.
Sierra Leone, the 2023 Classic winner who was the last-to-first winner of the Whitney Stakes (G1) in his most recent start, is No. 2 again in the second week of the poll.
The 2024 3-year-old champion collected 376 points and 16 first-place votes. Trained by Chad Brown, Sierra Leone could run next in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Saratoga on Aug. 2.
Mindframe, unbeaten in three starts this year, including the Stephen Foster Stakes (G1), moved up to third with 309 points and one first-place vote.
Preakness Stakes (G1) and Haskell Stakes (G1) winner Journalism, dropped a spot to No. 4 with 300 points.
Nysos, winner in five of six starts for trainer Bob Baffert, most recently captured the San Diego Handicap (G2) at Del Mar on July 26, is fifth, with Japan star Forever Young, winner of the Saudi Cup (G1) and second in the Dubai World Cup, sixth. The 4-year-old received two first-place votes.
Rounding out the top 10 are Fierceness, Baeza, Highland Falls, and White Abarrio.
The Classic rankings list the top 10 horses in contention for the $7 million BC Classic, which will be run at Del Mar on Nov. 1.
Sierra Leone (Whitney), Mindframe (Stephen Foster), Journalism (Haskell), and Forever Young (Saudi Cup) have each earned automatic starting positions, and fees paid, into the Classic through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In. The Classic is limited to 14 starters.
Each voter rates horses on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 system in descending order.
The rankings have no bearing on qualification or selection into the Classic. Rankings will be announced each week through Oct. 7.
The Breeders’ Cup features 14 Grade 1 races over two days (Oct. 31-Nov. 1) worth more than $34 million in purses and awards.
| Rank | Horse | Votes | First Place Votes | Previous Week |
| 1 | Sovereignty | 413 | 24 | 1 |
| 2 | Sierra Leone | 376 | 16 | 2 |
| 3 | Mindframe | 309 | 1 | 4 |
| 4 | Journalism | 300 | 0 | 3 |
| 5 | Nysos | 217 | 1 | 5 |
| 6 | Forever Young (JPN) | 176 | 2 | 7 |
| 7 | Fierceness | 172 | 0 | 6 |
| 8 | Baeza | 120 | 0 | 8 |
| 9 | Highland Falls | 112 | 0 | 9 |
| 10 | White Abarrio | 59 | 0 | 10 |
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
