Knightsbridge climbed to third place as Godolphin dominates the leaderboard heading toward the Breeders' Cup Classic

Following his sensational victory in the Pacific Classic, the son of Nyquist advanced three positions to sit behind only Sovereignty and Forever Young. Trainer Bill Mott also has Baeza among the top ten in a ranking that is heating up on the road to Keeneland

LEXINGTON, Kentucky (Special for Turf Diario).— The sensational victory achieved by Knightsbridge in the Pacific Classic (G1) did not go unnoticed. The Godolphin contender leaped from sixth to third place in the latest update of the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings, solidifying his position as one of the major contenders heading into the $7,000,000 showpiece scheduled for October 31 at Keeneland.

Trained by Bill Mott, the colt received 301 votes following his 6 1/4-length triumph at Del Mar, where he set a blistering pace alongside Argentine-bred Full Serrano (Full Mast) before drawing away decisively in the stretch. With that victory, he also secured his spot in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) through the "Win and You're In" program.

Godolphin has plenty of reason for optimism, as Sovereignty (Into Mischief), winner of the Whitney Stakes (G1), remains firmly at the top with 381 points and 27 first-place votes. As a result, Sheikh Mohammed's operation now boasts two representatives among the top three in the standings.

Sitting between them in second place with 343 points is Forever Young (Real Steel), winner of the last Breeders' Cup Classic and the Saudi Cup (G1), campaigning for owner Susumu Fujita and trainer Yoshito Yahagi.

In fourth place is Magnitude (Not This Time), owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds and conditioned by Steve Asmussen, with 256 points. Winner of both the Dubai World Cup (G1) and the Stephen Foster Stakes (G1) this season, he has also guaranteed his gate at Keeneland.

The 3-year-old crop holds the next two spots. Golden Tempo (Curlin), hero of the Kentucky Derby (G1) and the Belmont Stakes (G1) for trainer Cherie DeVaux, ranks fifth with 253 points as he prepares for his next assignment in the Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga. Sixth with 190 points is Renegade (Into Mischief), runner-up at Churchill Downs and subsequent winner of the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2).

Mott adds a second representative to the top ten with Baeza (McKinzie), who occupies seventh with 110 points after finishing second in the Stephen Foster and fourth in the Whitney. The formidable mare Nitrogen (Medaglia D'Oro), who pushed Sovereignty when finishing second in the Whitney, ranks eighth with 99 points.

Rounding out the Top 10 are Commandment (Into Mischief), winner of the Florida Derby (G1) and runner-up in the Belmont Stakes, with 76 votes; and Antiquarian (Preservationist), third in the Whitney, with 67 points.

Sovereignty, Forever Young, Magnitude, and Knightsbridge have all secured automatic entry into the Classiccourtesy of their victories in Breeders' Cup Challenge Series races.

The next ranking update will be published on September 8, with subsequent editions slated for September 22 and 29, leading up to the final standings on October 6.

With just over two months to go, Godolphin is assembling a powerhouse hand for Keeneland: Sovereignty continues to lead the field, while Knightsbridge, fresh off his clinic at Del Mar, is knocking loudly on the door from third.