Baeza moved up and Magnitude broke into the Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings this week after finishing 1-2 in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) at Parx.
Once again, there was little movement in the rankings as none of the top-ranked horses led by Sovereignty won’t run again until the $7 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar on Nov. 1.
With his first Grade 1 victory after finishing third behind Sovereignty in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1) and second to him in the Jim Dandy Stakes (G1), Baeza moved up two spots to seventh in week 8 of the rankings.
Magnitude, who closed for second in the Pennsylvania Derby after running third in the Travers Stakes (G1), is ranked 10th for trainer Steve Asmussen.
Sovereignty, trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, collected 391 points and 33 first-place votes after balloting by a panel of thoroughbred racing media, horseplayers, and members of the Breeders’ Cup directors/secretaries panel.
Pacific Classic (G1) winner Fierceness, trained by Todd Pletcher, remains second with 347 points and four first-place votes. Whitney Stakes (G1) winner Sierra Leone, who won last year’s Classic, is third with 319 points and two first-place votes for trained Brad Cox.
Stephen Foster Stakes (G1) winner Mindframe is fourth, followed by Preakness Stakes (G1) and Haskell Stakes (G1) winner Journalism.
The second five is led by Saudi Cup (G1) victory Forever Young, followed by Baeza, Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) winner Antiquarian, Whitney runner-up Highland Falls, and Magnitude.
For John Shirreffs, who won the 2005 Derby with 50-1 longshot Giacomo and trained Horse of the Year Zenyatta, Baeza’s breakthrough win was well-deserved.
“With this kind of horse, you’ve got to be really patient, and he was,’’ Shirreffs said. “When it was time to run, he ran three really good races against that big boy (Sovereignty) and he was just getting stronger. I don’t care who we run against, this horse is right there. If he’s not equal to them he’s right there."
In the Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings, 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 BC Classic. Rankings will be announced each week through Oct. 7.
Fierceness (Pacific Classic), Sierra Leone (Whitney), Mindframe (Stephen Foster), Journalism (Haskell), Forever Young (Saudi Cup), and Antiquarian (Jockey Club Gold 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 final automatic qualifier for this year’s Classic is the Goodwood Stakes (G1) on Saturday at Santa Anita Park.
The 42nd Breeders’ Cup features 14 Grade 1 races at Del Mar on Oct. 31-Nov. 1 worth more than $34 million in purses and awards. In 2026, the Breeders’ Cup is scheduled for Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky, and in 2027, the site will be the new Belmont Park in New York.
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.
