Sovereignty Holds Firm Atop Rankings Toward Breeders’ Cup Classic
- Turf Diario
- Aug 14
- 2 min read
The Godolphin colt retained the top spot after the second week of the standings, while Mindframe climbed from fourth to third
LEXINGTON, Kentucky (Special for Turf Diario).- Godolphin’s promising sophomore Sovereignty once again asserted himself atop the leaderboard in the second edition of the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings, the weekly poll that ranks the 10 leading contenders for the $7 million Classic on November 1 at Del Mar, part of the 42nd edition of the series.
Trained by Bill Mott, the conditioner behind Kentucky Derby (G1), Belmont Stakes (G1), and Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) heroics, Sovereignty collected 413 points, including 24 first-place votes. Defending champion Sierra Leone (Gun Runner), winner of the Whitney Stakes (G1) for owners Peter Brant, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg, and Brook T. Smith, and trained by Chad Brown, remained in second with 376 points.
Mindframe (Constitution), representing Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables LLC, vaulted to third with 309 points following three undefeated outings in 2025, highlighted by his Stephen Foster Stakes (G1) victory for trainer Todd Pletcher, pushing Journalism, winner of the Preakness Stakes (G1) and Haskell Stakes (G1) for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Bridlewood Farm under Michael McCarthy, down to fourth with 300 points.
Fifth continued Nysos (Nyquist) for Baoma Corp, fresh off a win in the San Diego Handicap (G2) at Del Mar, with 217 points for Bob Baffert. Japan’s Forever Young (Real Steel), trained by Yoshito Yahagi for Susumu Fujita, third in the 2024 Classic and winner of the Saudi Cup (G1), rose to sixth with 176 points, while Fierceness (City of Lights) dropped to seventh with 172.
Three-year-old Baeza (McKinzie), representing C R K Stable LLC and Grandview Equine, who finished third in both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, held steady in eighth with 120 points for John Shirreffs. Highland Falls(Curlin) for Godolphin / Brad Cox, second in the Whitney, was ninth with 112, and closing out the top 10 was veteran White Abarrio (Race Day) for C2 Racing Stable, Gary Barber, and La Milagrosa Stable LLC, winner of the 2023 Classic and the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) in January, with 59 points.
Through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” series, Sierra Leone, Mindframe, Journalism, and Forever Young already have secured their spots in the Classic. Voting, conducted by journalists, handicappers, and the Breeders’ Cup Racing Directors/Secretaries Panel, will continue weekly through October 7.
Comments