The $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), the race that usually crowns the Horse of the Year, is shaping as one of the most contentious in its 42-year history.
Sovereignty, the recent Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) winner after victories in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1), leads the first week of the Breeders’ Cup Classic top 10 rankings.
Sierra Leone, who rallied from last-to-first in winning the Whitney Stakes (G1) at Saratoga on Aug. 2, is ranked second, and Preakness Stakes (G1) and Haskell Stakes (G1) winner Journalism round out the top three.
The 42nd Breeders’ Cup Classic is Nov. 1 at Del Mar. The rankings for the Classic are decided by a panel of thoroughbred racing media, horseplayers, and members of the Breeders’ Cup racing directors/secretaries panel. Rankings will be announced each week through Oct. 7.
Sierra Leone, second by a nose in the 2024 Derby, won last year’s Classic, earned the Eclipse Award as the 3-year-old champion, and could become the second horse to win the Classic twice (Tiznow did it in 2000 and 2001).
Sovereignty earned 383 votes from the panel – 22 first-place votes – based on a sliding scale of 10 points for first, 9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1. Sierra Leone collected 365 votes and 15 first-place votes.
| Rank | Horse | Total Votes | First-Place Votes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sovereignty | 383 | 22 |
| 2 | Sierra Leone | 365 | 15 |
| 3 | Journalism | 289 | 1 |
| 4 | Mindframe | 286 | 2 |
| 5 | Nysos | 197 | 1 |
| 6 | Fierceness | 186 | 0 |
| 7 | Forever Young (JPN) | 143 | 1 |
| 8 | Baeza | 109 | 0 |
| 9 | Highland Falls | 107 | 0 |
| 10 | White Abarrio | 64 | 0 |
Journalism totaled 289 points and one first-place vote. Mindframe, the Stephen Foster Stakes (G1) winner, was fourth with 286 points. He’s 3-for-3 this year and runs next in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) on Aug. 31.
Rounding out the top 10: Nysos, recent winner of the San Diego Handicap (G2); 2024 Classic runner-up Fierceness; Saudi Cup (G1) winner Forever Young, third in last year’s Derby and Classic; Baeza, third in the Derby; Highland Falls, the Whitney runner-up; and 2023 Classic winner White Abarrio, who ran fourth in the Whitney.
Sierra Leone, Journalism, Mindframe, Sierra Leone, and Forever Young 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 rankings have no bearing on qualification or selection into the race. The maximum field for the race is 14. The race will be televised by NBC.
The Breeders’ Cup features 14 Grade 1 races over two days (Oct. 31-Nov. 1) worth more than $34 million in purses and awards.
Look who’s back: Chunk of Gold ($6.80), ninth in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and second in the Ohio Derby (G3) on June 21, won the $400,000 West Virginia Derby (G3) on Sunday night at Mountaineer.
Sent off at 2-1 behind 4-5 favorite East Avenue (also a Derby also-ran finishing eighth), Chunk of Gold (wearing blinkers) went gate-to-wire and topped a closing McAfee (3-1) by 4 ¼ lengths in the 1 1/8 miles over two turns. Winning time was 1:50.97 over a fast main track.
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.
