Every week, a group comprised of media professionals, betting experts, and authorities from the Breeders’ Cup World Championships compiles and publishes a poll reflecting their assessments of the leading contenders nationwide for the 2025 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic. The rankings constitute a regular assessment of the top 10 horses in contention, determined by each voter assigning points to their top 10 horses on a scale of 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1.
The fourth iteration of the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Classic rankings sees Sovereignty at the forefront, following a decisive 10-length victory in the Aug. 23 DraftKings Travers Stakes held at Saratoga Race Course. Sovereignty has now won 5 of his 6 races this season, cementing his position at the top by increasing his first-place votes from 20 in the previous week to 33 this week.
The rankings will be refreshed on a weekly basis. The findings of the most recent poll are presented below.
Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings for Aug. 26, 2025
1. Sovereignty (33 first-place votes)
Owner: Godolphin
Trainer: Bill Mott
Jockey: Junior Alvarado
2025 record: 6 starts – 5 wins – 1 second – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, DraftKings Travers Stakes, Aug. 23 at Saratoga Race Course
Next race: Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, Nov. 1 at Del Mar
2. Sierra Leone (8 first-place votes)
Owners: Peter Brant, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg, and Brooke Smith
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Flavien Prat
2025 record: 3 starts – 1 win – 1 second – 1 third
Last race: 1st, Whitney Stakes, Aug. 2 at Saratoga Race Course
Next race: Jockey Club Gold Cup, Aug. 31 at Saratoga Race Course
3. Mindframe (1 first-place vote)
Owners: Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
2025 record: 3 starts – 3 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Stephen Foster Stakes, June 28 at Churchill Downs
Next race: Jockey Club Gold Cup, Aug. 31 at Saratoga Race Course
4. Journalism
Owners: Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, LaPenta, Robert V., Elayne Stables 5, Magnier, Mrs. John, Tabor, Michael B. and Smith, Derrick
Trainer: Michael McCarthy
Jockey: Umberto Rispoli
2025 record: 6 starts – 4 wins – 2 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes, July 19 at Monmouth Park
Next race: FanDuel Pacific Classic Stakes, Aug. 30 at Del Mar
5. Nysos
Owner: Baoma Corporation
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Flavien Prat
2025 record: 3 starts – 2 wins – 1 second – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, San Diego Handicap, July 26 at Del Mar
Next race: FanDuel Pacific Classic Stakes, Aug. 30 at Del Mar
6. Forever Young (1 first-place vote)
Owner: Susumo Fujita
Trainer: Yoshito Yahagi
Jockey: Ryusei Sakai
2025 record: 2 starts – 1 win – 0 seconds – 1 third
Last race: 3rd, Dubai World Cup sponsored by Emirates Airline, April 5 at Meydan Racecourse
Next race: TBD, possibly the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, Nov. 1 at Del Mar
7. Fierceness
Owners: Repole Stable, Derrick Smith, Michael Tabor, and Susan Magnier
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: John Velazquez
2025 record: 3 starts – 1 win – 1 second – 0 thirds
Last race: 5th, Whitney Stakes, Aug. 2 at Saratoga Race Course
Next race: FanDuel Pacific Classic Stakes, Aug. 30 at Del Mar
8. Baeza
Owners: C R K Stable LLC and Grandview Equine
Trainer: John Shirreffs
Jockey: Hector Isaac Berrios
2025 record: 6 starts – 1 win – 3 seconds – 2 thirds
Last race: 2nd, Jim Dandy Stakes presented by Mohegan Sun, July 26 at Saratoga Race Course
Next race: Pennsylvania Derby, Sept. 20 at Parx Racing
9. Highland Falls
Owner: Godolphin
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Luis Saez
2025 record: 2 starts – 1 win – 1 second – 0 thirds
Last race: 2nd, Whitney Stakes, Aug. 2 at Saratoga Race Course
Next race: Jockey Club Gold Cup, Aug. 31 at Saratoga Race Course
10. White Abarrio
Owners: C2 Racing Stable, Barber, Gary and La Milagrosa Stable
Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr.
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
2025 record: 4 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 4th, Whitney Stakes, Aug. 2 at Saratoga Race Course
Next race: Jockey Club Gold Cup, Aug. 31 at Saratoga Race Course
