Forever Young Draws Level with Sovereignty at the Top of the NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll

Just 10 days before their highly anticipated showdown in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), the champions from Japan and the United States ended up deadlocked with 253 points apiece in the association's poll, with the Japanese contender securing more first-place votes

LEXINGTON, Kentucky (Special for Turf Diario).— Anticipation for the clash between Sovereignty (Into Mischief) and Forever Young (Real Steel) in the October 31 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Keeneland continues to soar. The latest National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) Top Thoroughbred Poll confirmed just how evenly matched the two marquee contenders for the $7,000,000 centerpiece truly are: for the first time, they share the top spot in the rankings with 253 points apiece.

The results of the poll released this Tuesday, October 20, feature an even more intriguing nuance, as Japan's Forever Young garnered 13 first-place votes compared to 11 for Sovereignty, out of a total of 29 racing journalists who submitted ballots.

That edge was neutralized once the cumulative points for all ranked positions were tallied, yielding a dead heat that serves as a fitting prelude to what could transpire on the racetrack in a matter of days.

Sovereignty, the 2025 Horse of the Year in the United States, had maintained a firm grip on the top spot since his decisive victory in the Whitney Stakes (G1) on August 8 at Saratoga. Since then, the Into Mischief colt trained by Bill Mott for Godolphin held onto the leadership, even as Forever Young steadily whittled away at the margin.

The Susumu Fujita colorbearer, conditioned by Yoshito Yahagi and crowned Horse of the Year in Japan last season, finally drew level at the most opportune moment—just ahead of the showdown the international racing community has eagerly awaited.

In the previous poll, which featured 26 voting members, Sovereignty received 12 first-place votes to Forever Young's 10, holding a 229-223 point advantage. With 3 additional voters participating this week, the landscape shifted entirely.

Naturally, these totals should be evaluated considering that panel participation has fluctuated throughout the season. The full voting body consists of 32 turf writers, though the last instance in which all members submitted ballots occurred on September 14, during Week 34 of the rankings.

Ranked behind the co-leaders is Knightsbridge, another major contender for the Classic, who holds third place and received 3 first-place votes. The formidable son of Nyquist, also trained by Mott for Godolphin, comes off a brilliant victory in the Pacific Classic (G1), establishing himself as a top-tier threat to the favorites.

Fourth position belongs to the standout mare Nitrogen (Medaglia D'Oro), while Magnitude (Not This Time), another key player targeting the big event at Keeneland, sits fifth and collected the remaining 2 first-place votes.

The inclusion of Sovereignty, Forever Young, Knightsbridge, and Magnitude among the top 5 horses in the United States according to the NTRA highlights the immense stature of this year's Classic, a race that will also feature several other world-class competitors seeking to make their mark.

Beyond the numerical breakdown, the deadlock at the summit adds another compelling layer to a rivalry that has yet to write its first chapter on the racecourse. Sovereignty will aim to defend his home turf and claim undisputed status, while Forever Young seeks to validate the extraordinary peak achieved by Japanese racing.

The poll placed them on equal footing. On October 31 at Keeneland, the track itself will deliver the final verdict.