The $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic stands as the ultimate championship for Thoroughbred racehorses in North America. The outcome of the Longines Classic often plays a pivotal role in determining which competitor receives the esteemed title of Horse of the Year at the Eclipse Awards. Over the 41 previous iterations of the Breeders’ Cup, 16 victors of the Classic were subsequently honored as Horse of the Year, with three instances occurring within the past half-decade.
Annually, the 1 ¼-mile Longines Classic attracts some of the sport’s most celebrated athletes, frequently marking the inaugural occasion when the leading 3-year-olds of a given year challenge their older counterparts. In the preceding year, the Longines Classic at Del Mar witnessed a clean sweep by the 3-year-old contingent, with Sierra Leone, Fierceness, and Forever Young claiming the top three positions. These three standouts have each experienced prosperous campaigns at age 4 and are poised to return to Del Mar for another appearance in this year’s Classic on November 1.
Should the presence of that trio prove insufficient to captivate enthusiasts and bettors, the foremost three 3-year-olds from the 2025 Triple Crown series are also setting their sights on the Classic: Sovereignty, Journalism, and Baeza. By incorporating an additional four Grade 1 victors to the mix, in the form of Mindframe, Antiquarian, Locked, and Nevada Beach, the 42nd Longines Classic is shaping up as a supremely competitive showdown in the annals of World Championships history.
(For thorough historical data pertaining to the Longines Classic, consult the Breeders’ Cup statistical repository here. Among trainers fielding a horse in this year’s Classic, Bob Baffert boasts the most wins with four. Similarly, Mike Smith holds the distinction of being the most victorious jockey among those with a mount in 2025, also with four victories.)
The Classic is slated as the sixth of nine Breeders’ Cup races on Championship Saturday, scheduled for November 1, and will be nationally televised on NBC, with live streaming options accessible on Peacock. Further broadcast coverage will be provided by the FanDuel TV network, with a post time designated for 6:25 p.m. ET/3:25 p.m. PT.
Whether you’re inclined to wager a modest sum on the race or simply seek insights into the runners participating this year, we present our 2025 Breeders’ Cup Classic Cheat Sheet for your consideration. Kindly revisit on Monday, Oct. 27, to access an updated Cheat Sheet incorporating post positions and morning-line odds.
Antiquarian
Jockey: TBA
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Owner: Centennial Farms
Career record: 9 starts – 4 wins – 3 seconds – 0 thirds
Career earnings: $944,100
Top Equibase Speed Figure: 113
Pedigree: Preservationist – Lifetime Memory, by Istan
Age: 4
Color: Chestnut
Running style: Press the pace/stalker
Analysis: Antiquarian enters the Longines Classic demonstrating peak form, having achieved his three highest Equibase Speed Figures in his three most recent performances. In his concluding preparatory race, he secured victory in a competitive edition of the 1 ¼-mile Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes on August 31 at Saratoga, an event unfortunately marred by a potentially catastrophic incident shortly after the start, when a cascade of veering and bumping prompted Mindframe to unseat jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. Antiquarian commenced the race outside of the offending horse, Phileas Fogg, thereby largely circumventing the incident. He shadowed the pace set by Phileas Fogg, seized control upon entering the stretch, and successfully fended off a late surge from Sierra Leone, clinching a notable 1 ½-length triumph. Sierra Leone, along with Mindframe, were impacted by the early disruption, and both return to compete in the Classic. Their presence, alongside Sovereignty, Journalism, and Baeza, could elevate Antiquarian’s post-time odds to approximately 15-1, positioning him as a potentially attractive option for exotic wagers such as the exacta and trifecta. This refined, stamina-laden, and dependable racehorse has attained a higher echelon of performance in 2025, necessitating a further elevation in order to secure an upset victory. John Velazquez, his regular rider, is slated to be aboard Fierceness in the Classic.
Baeza
Jockey: Hector Berrios
Trainer: John Shirreffs
Owners: C R K Stable and Grandview Equine
Career record: 8 starts – 2 wins – 3 seconds – 2 thirds
Career earnings: $1,503,500
Top Equibase Speed Figure: 116
Pedigree: McKinzie – Puca, by Big Brown
Age: 3
Color: Bay
Running style: Stalker
Analysis: Following encounters with either Sovereignty, Journalism, or both in four successive races, Baeza capitalized on their absence on September 20 at Parx Racing, delivering a career-defining performance in the Pennsylvania Derby to secure his inaugural stakes victory. He had risen to the occasion in those preceding four starts against the leading 3-year-olds despite remaining winless, finishing second in the Santa Anita Derby (to Journalism) and in the Jim Dandy Stakes Presented by Mohegan Sun (to Sovereignty), and third behind Sovereignty and Journalism in both the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve and the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets. In the 1 1/8-mile Pennsylvania Derby, he shadowed the early pace under the astute guidance of Hector Berrios and surged clear at the top of the stretch, prevailing by 2 ¼ lengths. Baeza registered a career-best 116 Equibase Speed Figure in that race which, if replicated or surpassed in the Longines Classic, could provide him with an opportunity to win against an exceptionally formidable field. His lineage suggests an aptitude for handling a mile and a quarter, being a half-brother (sharing the same dam [mother], different sire [father]) to 2023 Kentucky Derby victor Mage and 2024 Belmont Stakes champion Dornoch. Under the patient stewardship of John Shirreffs, this horse may be realizing his full potential, albeit on a delayed timeline relative to Sovereignty and Journalism. If this proves to be the case, he warrants close observation.
Contrary Thinking
Jockey: TBA
Trainer: Chad Brown
Owner: Peter Brant
Career record: 7 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Career earnings: $140,140
Top Equibase Speed Figure: 96
Pedigree: Into Mischief – Valadorna, by Curlin
Age: 5
Color: Bay
Running style: Pacesetter
Analysis: Contrary Thinking is participating in the Breeders’ Cup Classic with a specific purpose: to establish a rapid tempo. The gelding, possessing two career victories (over six furlongs and one mile), is owned by Peter Brant, who co-owns the defending Classic champion Sierra Leone. As a deep closer, Sierra Leone relies on swift early fractions within a race to facilitate his come-from-behind style – a scenario that unfolded in last year’s Classic at Del Mar, in which Contrary Thinking was not a participant. Last summer, Contrary Thinking was entered in two of Sierra Leone’s races that lacked speed horses, with the intention of ensuring a brisk, or at least an honest, pace. In the 1 1/8-mile Whitney Stakes, the gelding encountered bumping at the start, impeding his ability to secure the lead and dictate a quick tempo, although Sierra Leone ultimately prevailed nonetheless. In the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes, contested at the same mile-and-a-quarter distance as the Breeders’ Cup Classic, Contrary Thinking surged to an early seven-length advantage before succumbing to fatigue; however, Sierra Leone was hampered by an early incident (Mindframe’s jockey being unseated) and could only rally to finish second. Will Contrary Thinking’s third appearance as a “rabbit” (in racing parlance) redound to Sierra Leone’s benefit? The expectation is that he will immediately seize the lead with the objective of establishing an early tempo so brisk that Fierceness, the principal high-caliber Classic competitor possessing speed, is compelled to expend energy to remain within striking distance. Ideally, Contrary Thinking will withdraw from the race near or before the far turn, at which point the true competition will commence for Sierra Leone, Fierceness, and every other legitimate contender in the Classic.
Fierceness
Jockey: John Velazquez
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Owners: Repole Stable, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith
Career record: 13 starts – 7 wins – 2 seconds – 1 third
Career earnings: $5,155,320
Top Equibase Speed Figure: 117
Pedigree: City of Light – Nonna Bella, by Stay Thirsty
Age: 4
Color: Bay
Running style: Press the pace
Analysis: Amidst a talent-rich field for the 2025 Longines Classic, it could be argued that Fierceness has displayed unmatched brilliance on the track – when this colt is at his best, he is truly exceptional. On several occasions, he has delivered performances that have left racing commentators struggling for appropriate superlatives, one of which occurred in his most recent start, a commanding 3 ¼-length victory in the Pacific Classic Stakes on August 30 at the same track and over the same mile-and-a-quarter distance he will encounter on November 1. After veering inwards at the start, he was expertly guided by regular jockey John Velazquez in the Pacific Classic, assuming control on the far turn and extending well clear of the top-class 3-year-old Journalism. Fierceness also performed admirably in last year’s Longines Classic at Del Mar, pressing a rapid early pace and persevering for a clear runner-up position behind Sierra Leone, who capitalized on an ideal setup for his rally. To help secure a similarly advantageous setup, Sierra Leone’s connections have entered the pacesetter Contrary Thinking in the Classic. This gelding will attempt to compel Fierceness and other forwardly placed runners (such as Mindframe and Nevada Beach) to expend energy attempting to remain close behind during the initial stages. However, Fierceness has demonstrated tactical speed – he does not require the lead to prevail – and Velazquez may simply disregard Contrary Thinking and establish a comfortable position and tempo through the backstretch before unleashing his top gear. Fierceness represents one of the primary win contenders in the Classic, with his occasional tendency to deliver a subpar performance, including his disappointing fifth-place finish in the Whitney Stakes two starts prior, being the sole cause for concern.
Forever Young
Jockey: Ryusei Sakai
Trainer: Yoshito Yahagi
Owner: Susumu Fujita
Career record: 12 starts – 9 wins – 0 seconds – 3 thirds
Career earnings: $15,718,590
Top Equibase Speed Figure: 113
Pedigree: Real Steel – Forever Darling, by Congrats
Age: 4
Color: Bay
Running style: Stalker
Analysis: Forever Young from Japan presents a unique variable in the Longines Classic, having not competed in North America since securing third place in the previous year’s edition. Leading up to that race, he had already cemented his reputation as a legitimate threat to the finest U.S. 3-year-olds, narrowly missing victory in the 2024 Kentucky Derby, and he subsequently performed well in the Classic at Del Mar, finishing 2 ¾ lengths behind Sierra Leone and 1 ¼ lengths behind Fierceness. This year, Forever Young commenced his 4-year-old campaign with an effortless triumph in the lucrative Saudi Cup contested over 1 1/8 miles (earning $10 million), claimed third in the 1 ¼-mile Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline, and then, following a hiatus of nearly six months, tuned up for the Classic with a dominant victory back home in the 1 1/8-mile Nippon TV Hai against a weaker field. Based on his performances from the preceding year and in the World Cup, where he was defeated by competent-but-not-elite U.S. horses Hit Show and Mixto, Forever Young occupies a tier below the leading Longines Classic contenders … but not by a significant margin. He has never finished outside the top three, has proven his ability to handle a mile and a quarter, and should be poised for a strong showing in his second start following the layoff.
Journalism
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
Trainer: Michael McCarthy
Owners: Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Elayne Stables 5, Robert LaPenta, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith
Career record: 10 starts – 6 wins – 3 seconds – 1 third
Career earnings: $3,998,880
Top Equibase Speed Figure: 110
Pedigree: Curlin – Mopotism, by Uncle Mo
Age: 3
Color: Bay
Running style: Stalker
Analysis: Within a star-studded roster for the Longines Classic, Journalism’s fan appeal rivals that of any other horse, perhaps with the exception of Sovereignty and Forever Young. He embodies the essence of a top-tier equine athlete, having never finished lower than second in any stakes-level race, with two of those runner-up finishes being at the expense of Sovereignty in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve and the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets. Moreover, Journalism has displayed remarkable resilience in competition, most notably when securing a narrow half-length victory in the 1 3/16-mile Preakness Stakes after navigating between horses in the early stretch. Were it not for Sovereignty, this well-bred colt would be a Triple Crown victor. However, that rival’s presence in the Classic, coupled with the improvement demonstrated by Pennsylvania Derby winner Baeza (whom Journalism has outperformed on three occasions), raises concerns for a colt who appears to have plateaued in terms of speed figures. Journalism delivered a commendable performance in his final Breeders’ Cup prep race but was outmatched by a dominant Fierceness when finishing second in the 1 ¼-mile Pacific Classic Stakes at this same track back in August. Since then, he has been training exceptionally well in Southern California and can be relied upon to mount his customary charge at the quarter pole from a stalking position – whether that will suffice against this particular field remains to be seen. Perhaps the jockey switch to Jose Ortiz will augment his chances.
Locked
Jockey: TBA
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Owners: Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Walmac Farm
Career record: 11 starts – 6 wins – 1 second – 3 thirds
Career earnings: $1,911,825
Top Equibase Speed Figure: 109
Pedigree: Gun Runner – Luna Rossa, by Malibu Moon
Age: 4
Color: Chestnut
Running style: Stalker
Analysis: Despite boasting impressive credentials, Locked is likely to contend with Nevada Beach for the highest post-time odds in the Longines Classic among horses possessing a legitimate chance of winning (excluding Contrary Thinking). He has amassed an admirable career record (only once finishing outside the top three in 11 starts) and accrued a seven-figure bankroll. His résumé includes two Grade 1 victories, highlighted by a dominant 8 ½-length win in the 1 ¼-mile Santa Anita Handicap Presented by Yaamava’ Resort & Casino back in early March. In spite of these accomplishments, his speed figures suggest that Locked has reached a ceiling below that of most of his Classic adversaries. His Big ’Cap victory was achieved against a field demonstrably inferior to the one he will confront on November 1, and in his preparatory race for the Classic, a win in the 1 1/8-mile Woodward Stakes in New York on September 27, he only defeated two opponents. Locked is an exceptionally resolute racehorse whose best effort could potentially secure him a place in the superfecta in the Longines Classic, albeit even that prospect appears remote against this elite ensemble.
Mindframe
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Owners: Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable
Career record: 8 starts – 5 wins – 2 seconds – 0 thirds
Career earnings: $1,844,580
Top Equibase Speed Figure: 118
Pedigree: Constitution – Walk of Stars, by Street Sense
Age: 4
Color: Dark bay or brown
Running style: Press the pace
Analysis: Despite possessing the highest Equibase Speed Figure in this talent-laden Longines Classic field, Mindframe may be somewhat overlooked at post time if the top three finishers from last year’s Classic and the elite trio of 2025 3-year-olds garner the majority of betting support. Securing odds in the 6-1 to 10-1 range for this runner, who has finished first or second in every race he has completed with a jockey, would be an enticing proposition, as he still possesses untapped potential at age 4, having only made eight career starts. Mindframe commenced 2025 with three consecutive victories in stakes races, the first two around one turn, followed by an impressive one-length triumph over Sierra Leone in the 1 1/8-mile Stephen Foster Stakes at Churchill Downs. The Constitution colt earned a 118 Equibase Speed Figure in the Stephen Foster, the highest among all Classic entrants, and appeared poised to build upon that effort in the 1 ¼-mile Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes on August 31. Instead, he and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. were fortunate to escape injury when Mindframe was bumped shortly after the start, resulting in his rider being unseated due to a chain reaction initiated when Phileas Fogg veered inwards. Mindframe enters the Classic having not made a competitive start since late June, but he has been training consistently at Saratoga in recent weeks and has already demonstrated the ability to win following a lengthy layoff (over seven months) in his 2025 debut. Taking all of these factors into consideration, this colt presents a strong upset possibility over more heralded competitors in the Classic, provided there are no lasting effects from his Gold Cup mishap.
Nevada Beach
Jockey: Mike Smith
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Owners: Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman
Career record: 4 starts – 3 wins – 1 second – 0 thirds
Career earnings: $296,500
Top Equibase Speed Figure: 108
Pedigree: Omaha Beach – Morrow Cove, by Yes It’s True
Age: 3
Color: Dark bay or brown
Running style: Press the pace
Analysis: The 3-year-old contingent in this year’s Longines Classic is represented not only by the well-known Sovereignty, Journalism, and Baeza, but also by this emerging racehorse. Nevada Beach enters off an upset victory against older horses in the 1 1/8-mile Goodwood Stakes at Santa Anita Park, where he defeated the odds-on favorite Full Serrano by 1 ½ lengths. That was an impressive effort, as he pressed Full Serrano’s pace for the initial half-mile before moving ahead and holding that foe, who prevailed in last year’s Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, at bay in the stretch. Nevada Beach elevated his Equibase Speed Figure to a career-best 108 in the Goodwood, and he remains eligible for further improvement in what will only be his fifth career start. However, this represents an incredibly challenging environment in which to make that forward leap. “Big Money” Mike Smith assumed the mount on Nevada Beach for the first time in the Goodwood and is anticipated to position him prominently in the Classic, not far behind the dedicated pacesetter Contrary Thinking. His pedigree suggests that this colt is better suited to races at a mile to the mile and an eighth, as demonstrated in his final prep race; consequently, a rematch against Full Serrano in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile would appear to be a more pragmatic objective.
Sierra Leone
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Trainer: Chad Brown
Owners: Peter Brant, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg, and Brook Smith
Career record: 13 starts – 5 wins – 5 seconds – 3 thirds
Career earnings: $7,006,200
Top Equibase Speed Figure: 117
Pedigree: Gun Runner – Heavenly Love, by Malibu Moon
Age: 4
Color: Dark bay or brown
Running style: Closer
Analysis: In the prior year, Sierra Leone recorded a mild upset in the Longines Classic at Del Mar as the fourth betting choice at 6.90-1 odds. He entered the race following four consecutive performances where he closed from well back in the field to finish second or third, including a runner-up loss by a nose in the 2024 Kentucky Derby, but in the Classic, everything aligned in his favor. He capitalized on a rapid pace to rally from 13 ¼ lengths off the lead after a half-mile and surged through the stretch, overtaking Fierceness (who had pressed the early pace) to win by 1 ½ lengths. Sierra Leone returned in 2025 and finished a disappointing third in his debut race, a 1 1/8-mile stakes at Fair Grounds, before improving to run a solid second to Mindframe in Churchill Downs’ Stephen Foster Stakes at the same distance. In his third start of the year, Sierra Leone secured victory in the 1 1/8-mile Whitney Stakes at Saratoga by a length over Highland Falls, courtesy of a perfectly timed rally executed by Flavien Prat. He concluded his Longines Classic prep campaign with a runner-up finish behind Antiquarian in the 1 ¼-mile Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes at the same track, where he was forced to check abruptly early in the race after Mindframe unseated his jockey. Sierra Leone is a straightforward horse to evaluate: he is an elite-caliber runner with an ideal pedigree for racing a mile and a quarter, who is also a one-dimensional closer and, as such, relies on a brisk pace to set up his charge. Consequently, co-owner Peter Brant has once again entered the gelding Contrary Thinking to serve as a “rabbit” (dedicated pacesetter) with the objective of establishing fast early fractions through the first mile or so of the Classic, thereby enhancing Sierra Leone’s chances of winning. Contrary Thinking was entered in both the Whitney Stakes and the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes, although it is debatable whether his presence made a significant difference: the pace in both races was solid but not blistering, yet Sierra Leone performed to his customary standard in both races, despite encountering interference in the Gold Cup. Whether or not a rabbit is present, if Sierra Leone is to join Tiznow as a dual Breeders’ Cup Classic victor, he will need to surpass his 2024 Classic rivals, a formidable contingent of current 3-year-olds, and Mindframe to reach the winner’s enclosure. Accomplishing that feat could earn him another Eclipse Award, this time as champion older dirt male, and potentially a Horse of the Year trophy as well.
Sovereignty
Jockey: Junior Alvarado
Trainer: Bill Mott
Owner: Godolphin
Career record: 9 starts – 6 wins – 2 seconds – 0 thirds
Career earnings: $5,835,300
Top Equibase Speed Figure: 113
Pedigree: Into Mischief – Crowned, by Bernardini
Age: 3
Color: Bay
Running style: Stalker
Analysis: Sovereignty enters the Longines Classic with the potential to secure a victory that would position him alongside American Pharoah (2015) and potentially Curlin (2007) as possessing one of the finest seasons ever achieved by a 3-year-old male in the 21st century. He has strung together four consecutive victories in visually striking fashion, commencing in the 1 ¼-mile Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve and followed by the 1 ¼-mile Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets, the 1 1/8-mile Jim Dandy Stakes Presented by Mohegan Sun, and the 1 ¼-mile DraftKings Travers Stakes. His Travers win at Saratoga in late August came against four outmatched opponents and amounted to little more than a paid workout, but in his other three wins, Sovereignty handled the best of his age group with distinction. In the Classic, he will once again encounter two familiar adversaries in Journalism and Baeza, but the more intriguing question revolves around whether Sovereignty can elevate his performance and defeat a high-caliber group of older competitors led by Fierceness, Sierra Leone, Mindframe, and Forever Young (it is worth noting that Journalism finished well behind Fierceness in his initial attempt against older horses, the Pacific Classic Stakes). This supremely gifted colt possesses an ideal stalking running style for the Classic, his 3-for-3 record at a mile and a quarter is particularly noteworthy, and jockey Junior Alvarado possesses an intimate familiarity with his mount. It would be surprising if Sovereignty failed to challenge in the stretch of the Longines Classic on November 1, and should he succeed in securing a fifth consecutive victory against this formidable field, a Hall of Fame induction may await him in the future.
