Sovereignty and Forever Young share the lead in global rankings
The Godolphin homebred retains top spot in the NTRA poll, while the Japanese standout leads the Breeders’ Cup Classic rankings; both are separated by a mere eight points
The duel between Sovereignty (Into Mischief) and Forever Young (Real Steel) is being contested off the track as well. With the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) as their ultimate target, the two standout performers top North America’s major racing polls, albeit in reverse order: the Godolphin homebred retains the lead in the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) Top Thoroughbred Poll, while the Japanese contender holds top billing in the dedicated rankings for the multi-million-dollar feature.
In the September 28 NTRA update, Sovereignty held a narrow eight-point margin over Forever Young, despite the latter garnering more first-place votes: 13 to 11. The microscopic gap reflects the tight battle expected to culminate on the main track at Keeneland on October 31.
Winner of the Whitney Stakes (G1), Sovereignty was forced to miss the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) due to a foot abscess, but his brief absence was not enough to unseat him from the top spot. Furthermore, on September 25, he returned to the worktab for the first time since August, drilling a half-mile in 49.40 over the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga.
Forever Young, meanwhile, had jumped from fourth to second in the previous poll following a commanding 3 1/4-length victory in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. The defending Classic champion remains firmly on course for another tilt at the $7 million showdown, now backed by another dominant display of class on American soil.
Behind the top pair sits Knightsbridge (Nyquist), winner of the Pacific Classic (G1), who holds third with 216 points and two first-place votes. Champion Nitrogen (Medaglia D'Oro) remains fourth with 194 points after a emphatic return to the winner's circle in the Beldame Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park.
The only positional change within the NTRA top ten was a swap between Golden Tempo (Curlin) and Notable Speech (Dubawi). The winner of both the Kentucky Derby (G1) and the Belmont Stakes (G1) moved up from eighth to seventh while continuing his preparations at Keeneland for the Classic; the Woodbine Mile (G1) winner fell back one spot.
In the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings, the top positions are flipped. There, Forever Young leads with 380 points and 25 first-place votes, compared to Sovereignty’s 372 points and 12 first-place votes—likewise an eight-point margin.
The top five remained unchanged. Knightsbridge sits third with 315 points and two first-place votes, followed by Magnitude (Not This Time) with 283 points and one top vote, and Golden Tempo with 254.
The removal of Nitrogen, who was ranked sixth in the previous edition, allowed two top 3-year-olds to climb. The Puma (Essential Quality), recent winner of the Pennsylvania Derby (G1), moved up to sixth with 139 points, just ahead of Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Napoleon Solo (Liam's Map), who holds 134.
The main novelty was the arrival of Forged Steel (Vekoma), who entered directly in eighth place with 105 points following his victory in the Goodwood Stakes (G1). Further Ado (Gun Runner) gained two spots to land ninth with 84 points, while Baeza (McKinzie) rounded out the top ten with 66.
The Classic rankings are determined by a panel composed of racing journalists, handicappers, and members of the Breeders’ Cup directors and racing secretaries panel.
The final update will be published on October 6. After that, voter preferences will yield to final training drills and, ultimately, the only verdict that matters: the one delivered on the racetrack.
