The Breeders’ Cup countdown is on. Time for bettors and racing fans alike to pay a little more attention to some of the top contenders preparing for the two-day, 14-race, $34 million Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Del Mar in less than two weeks.
From Saratoga to Keeneland to Santa Anita Park, some of the leading Breeders’ Cup prospects posted workouts over the weekend as trainers fine-tune their horses before the sport’s biggest weekend.
Here’s a look at some of the weekend workout action:
Sovereignty, the likely favorite for the $7 million Breeders Cup Classic (G1), worked 5 furlongs in 1:01.39 on Sunday (Oct. 19) over Saratoga’s Oklahoma training track on Sunday.
“He is not one of those horses that works and breaks the stopwatch," Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott said. “He has good solid works, good useful works, that is kind of him. He does what he has to do and what you have him do.”
Sovereignty, winner of the Kentucky Derby (G1), Belmont Stakes (G1), Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) and the Travers Stakes (G1), will be taking on older horses for the first time in the 1¼-mile Classic. The plan calls for the Into Mischief colt to ship out this week and have a final workout at Del Mar this weekend.
SOVEREIGNTY works five furlongs in 1:01.39, according to NYRA clockers, over Oklahoma training track. He started slightly in front of workmate PLAYA DEL MAR [1:02 1/5] and finished several lengths ahead as he prepares for the G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic. pic.twitter.com/3wPhBekKCW
— Christian (@c__abdo) October 19, 2025
“The main thing is you bring the right horse and get them there in good shape,” Mott said. “The horses are all going to be ready to run. They are going to be fit. Everybody is going to have their horses fit.”
Sierra Leone, last year’s Classic winner, worked 4 furlongs in 49.08 seconds on Saturday (Oct. 18) over Saratoga’s Oklahoma training track.
“He worked super,” trainer Chad Brown said his star 4-year-old. “He has been very consistent with the way he’s been working. He’s been galloping out a strong three-quarters every week and I love the way he is moving.”
The son of top sire Gun Runner worked to the inside of the maiden Duration. “He’s been doing that every week actually: big, strong gallop-outs starting at the half mile,” Brown said. “That is what I like for him, and he is doing it as good as a horse could do it.”
The 🦍 Journalism got serious this morning for @mwmracing working a strong 5-poles @santaanitapark in 59 & change. The Santa Anita Derby, @PreaknessStakes & Haskell @MonmouthPark hero is 15 days from competing in a @BreedersCup Classic for the ages. #BelieveBig pic.twitter.com/5FFSIWlheJ
— Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners (@EclipseTBP) October 17, 2025
Sierra Leone has never missed the board in 13 career starts and has earned more than $7 million with a 13-5-5-3 record. He was second to Antiquarian in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) on Aug. 31 in his last start.
At Santa Anita on Saturday, Pennsylvania Derby (G1) winner Baeza worked 6 furlongs in 1:14.20 with jockey Hector Berrios aboard. Trained by John Shirreffs, Prior to his breakthrough win, Baeza ran third in the Derby and Belmont, and was second in the Santa Anita Derby and the Jim Dandy.
A day earlier at Santa Anita, Preakness Stakes (G1) and Haskell Stakes (G1) winner Journalism worked 5 furlongs in 59.20, the second fastest of 41 works at the distance. He worked in company with Yellow Card.
“It was good for him” regular exercise rider Tony Gutierrez said. “We were going to get a little serious today. I caught my workmate near the quarter pole, but then when (Journalism) saw that horse in front of us, he puffed himself up, went to the rail and chased him. It was perfect.”
Journalism finished second Fierceness in the Pacific Classic (G1) on Aug. 30 at Del Mar. He has never finished out of the top 3 and owns a record of 10-6-3-1 and nearly $4 million in earnings.
Fierceness, Mindframe, Antiquarian and Locked are all being pointed to the Classic and posted workouts at Saratoga’s Oklahoma training track Friday (Oct 17).
“I’m happy with all of them,’’ Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, adding that the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) is an alternative for Mindframe and Locked. “They all galloped well and we’re counting the days.”
Mindframe and Locked breezed together, going 5 furlongs in 1:01.49 over Oklahoma’s training track. Mindframe was bumped and dropped his rider Irad Ortiz, Jr. at the start of the Jockey Club Gold Cup on Aug. 31; Locked recently won the Woodward Stakes (G2).
"I thought Mindframe went super," Pletcher said. "He had a really strong gallop out. Locked, since he's run more recently, we weren't looking for quite as much on the gallop out from him, but I thought they both went well.”
Fierceness, winner of the Pacific Classic, breezed to the inside of Antiquarian and they covered 5 furlongs in 1:00.56
"Just another 'typical' of what we've seen from (Fierceness). Every breeze, he just does things very effortlessly," Pletcher said. "He looked good coming to the wire, stayed on, galloped out nicely. We wanted to match him up with a little stronger mate today, to get a good solid work.
"I thought (Antiquarian) responded well. He stayed on course and galloped out nicely, a good work from both of them.”
He added: “We felt like with all four horses, today was the sternest work we were going to look for. They are going to ship next week. We won't look to do quite as much next week.’’ All four are expected to have a final workout this weekend before being shipped to Del Mar.
Other Breeders’ Cup contender workouts:
Full Serrano, last year’s Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner at 13-1 odds for trainer John Sadler, worked for a second time since running second in the Goodwood Stakes (G1). He worked 5 furlongs in 59.40, second fastest of 48 works at the distance ... Chancer McPatrick worked 4 furlongs in 49.34 over the Oklahoma training track Saturday; he won a pair of Grade 1s last year, the Champagne Stakes and the Hopeful Stakes, but is 1-for-5 in 2025. “My hope is that this horse is circling back into his fall form of last year when he won the Champagne, which was a great race,” trainer Chad Brown said.
Scottish Lassie, trained by Jorge Abreu, worked 5 furlongs in 59.00 over the Belmont Park training track Saturday for the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1). The 3-year-old filly finished fourth in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). She won the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) by 15 ½ lengths and finished fourth in the Cotillion (G1) on Sept. 20 at Parx Racing ... Scylla, trained by Mott, breezed 4 furlongs in 48.20 on Saturday at Churchill Downs ... Dorth Vader, second by a nose to Thorpedo Anna in the Personal Ensign Stakes (G1) last out on Aug. 23, worked 4 furlongs in 48.53 on Friday over Saratoga’s Oklahoma training track. The 5-year-old mare won the Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) to earn her automatic berth in the Distaff.
Percy’s Bar, who finished first in the Darley Alcibiades (G1) but was disqualified to second for interference with Tommy Jo being elevated to the official winner, worked 4 furlongs in 48.20 under jockey Luan Machado. Trainer Ben Colebrook said: “I loved it for her first and only work for the Breeders’ Cup. She acted like she wanted to do something this morning. Luan never asked her. She cruised up to her workmate and got to do what we set out to do.” ... Tommy Jo, trained by Pletcher, also is on target for the race, working 4 furlongs in 48.09.
Praying, winner of the Thoroughbred Club of America (G2) two weeks ago at Keeneland, worked 3 furlongs in 38.40 on Saturday at Keeneland (another work is scheduled for next weekend). “She went nice and easy to the pole and worked well,” trainer Robbie Medina said ... Vahva, second to Praying the TCA, worked 4 furlongs in 48.00 on Saturday at Keeneland. Trained by Cherie DeVaux, Vahva will have one more work before being shipped to Del Mar on Oct. 27. Vahva ran eighth in the last year’s Filly & Mare Sprint ... Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (G1) winner Seismic Beauty and Splendora (Tranquility Lake winner at Del Mar) each worked 5 furlongs for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert on Saturday. Seismic Beauty was timed in 59.60 seconds; Splendora in a sharp 58.20.
Bentornato, runner-up in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1), breezed 5 furlongs in 1:00 Saturday at Keeneland under Irad Ortiz, Jr. The time was fastest of 24 at the distance. “He will have his final work here next week,” trainer Jose D’Angelo said ... Imagination, trained by Baffert, worked 6 furlongs in 1:11.60. The 4-year-old Into Mischief colt won the Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G2) on Sept. 28.
Baffert-trained Brant, 2-for-2, worked 6 furlongs in 1:11.80 at Santa Anita on Saturday for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1). The 2-year-old son of Gun Runner was purchased for $3 million by owner Zedan Racing ... Intrepedo, winner of the American Pharoah Stakes (G1) for trainer Jeff Mullins on Oct. 4, worked 4 furlongs in 52.80 with Hector Berrios aboard on Saturday at Santa Anita. Ted Noffey, the expected Juvenile favorite, breezed 4 furlongs in 49.45 on Thursday (Oct. 16) at Saratoga for Pletcher.
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.
