Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher has three Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) contenders in the weekly rankings, with Fierceness second again behind Sovereignty, Mindframe rated fourth and Antiquarian up a spot to seventh.
In the sixth week of the BC Classic Rankings, Kentucky Derby (G1), Belmont Stakes (G1) and Travers Stakes (G1) winner Sovereignty retained his No. 1 status after voting by a panel of thoroughbred racing media, horseplayers, and members of the Breeders’ Cup directors/secretaries panel.
Sovereignty, trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, totaled 34 first-place votes – down two from last week – and 404 points. Each voter rates horses on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 system in descending order.
Fierceness, impressive winner of the Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar, the site of the 42nd Breeders’ Cup on Oct. 31-Nov. 1, received three first place votes and 341 points.
Sierra Leone, the reigning 3-year-old champion and runner-up to Antiquarian in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) is third with three first-place votes and 329 points.
Mindframe, winner of the Stephen Foster Stakes (G1) who unseated jockey Irad Ortiz., in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, remains fourth, followed by Journalism, Forever Young, Antiquarian, Nysos, Baeza, and Highland Falls.
Antiquarian came through with his best effort in winning the Jockey Club Gold Cup, while Mindframe came out the race in good order, a relief for Pletcher. Fierceness, runner-up to Sierra Leone in last year’s Classic, will likely train up to the $7 million Classic on Nov. 1.
All three of Pletcher’s contenders earned fees-paid automatic berths in the 1 ¼-mile Classic via the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series “Win and You’re In", Antiquarian in the JCGC, Fierceness in the Pacific Classic, and Mindframe in the Stephen Foster Stakes (G1).
Other automatic Classic qualifiers include Sierra Leone (Whitney Stakes), Journalism (Haskell Stakes), Forever Young (Saudi Cup) and Antiquarian (Jockey Club Gold Cup). The final automatic qualifier is the Goodwood Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita on Sept. 27.
The Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings have no bearing on qualification or selection into the Classic. The field is limited to 14 starters.
| Rank | Horse | Votes | First Place Votes | Previous Week |
| 1 | Sovereignty | 402 | 34 | 1 |
| 2 | Fierceness | 341 | 3 | 2 |
| 3 | Sierra Leone | 329 | 3 | 3 |
| 4 | Mindframe | 265 | 0 | 4 |
| 5 | Journalism | 220 | 0 | 5 |
| 6 | Forever Young (JPN) | 191 | 1 | 6 |
| 7 | Antiquarian | 129 | 0 | 8 |
| 8 | Nysos | 121 | 0 | 7 |
| 9 | Baeza | 97 | 0 | 9 |
| 10 | Highland Falls | 65 | 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.
