After another emphatic victory, this one in the $1.25 million Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course, Sovereignty strengthened his hold on No. 1 in the latest Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings.
In fact, Sovereignty collected nearly 77% of the first-place votes cast by a group of thoroughbred racing media, horseplayers, and members of the Breeders’ Cup directors/secretaries panel.
The Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1) winner totaled 33 of the 43 first-place votes and totaled 418 points.
Sierra Leone, the 3-year-old champion and 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner, remains second with 360 points and eight first-place votes. Sierra Leone is back in action on Sunday in the $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Saratoga.
Mindframe, unbeaten in 2025 for trainer Todd Pletcher, is third in the fourth week of the BC Classic rankings with one first-place vote and 307 points. Mindframe, winner of the Stephen Foster Stakes (G1), is also entered in the Jockey Club Gold Cup.
The top 10 remained the same once again, with Preakness Stakes (G1) and Haskell Stakes (G1) winner Journalism fourth, Nysos fifth, Japan star Forever Young sixth (one first-place vote) and 2024 BC Classic runner-up Fierceness seventh.
Those rankings could change after Saturday, when Journalism, Nysos, and Fierceness go at it in the $1 million Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar, the site of the Breeders’ Cup on Oct. 31-Nov. 1. Add the Sierra Leone-Mindframe matchup in Sunday’s JCGC, and who knows what kind of shuffling could take place.
Sovereignty, though, has been ranked No. 1 from the start and it’s unlikely that will change. Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott says the colt will be training up to the 1 ¼-mile BC Classic.
The Pacific Classic and Jockey Club Gold Cup are “Win and You’re In" races to the Classic. Seven horses have already clinched spots in the field limited to 14 starters by winning earlier “Win and You’re In” races – Costa Nova (February Stakes), Sierra Leone (Whitney Stakes), Forever Young (Saudi Cup), Journalism (Haskell), Mindframe (Stephen Foster), Hit Show (Dubai World Cup) and Ombudsman (Juddmonte International)
Rounding out the top 10 are Baeza, Highland Falls and White Abarrio. Highland Falls and White Abarrio are also entered in the Jockey Club Gold Cup
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 BC Classic Rankings have no bearing on qualification or selection into the Classic.
| Rank | Horse | Total Votes | First Place Votes | Previous Week |
| 1 | Sovereignty | 418 | 33 | 1 |
| 2 | Sierra Leone | 360 | 8 | 2 |
| 3 | Mindframe | 307 | 1 | 3 |
| 4 | Journalism | 239 | 0 | 4 |
| 5 | Nysos | 184 | 0 | 5 |
| 6 | Forever Young (JPN) | 191 | 1 | 6 |
| 7 | Fierceness | 165 | 0 | 7 |
| 8 | Baeza | 109 | 0 | 8 |
| 9 | Highland Falls | 102 | 0 | 9 |
| 10 | White Abarrio | 57 | 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.
