2025 Breeders' Cup Classic Contenders & Odds

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Every sport has a definitive year-ending event to crown its champions. In Thoroughbred racing, the Breeders' Cup World Championships is the culmination of the horse racing season worldwide and the $7 million Breeders' Cup Classic is the defining event of the international racing season.

The Breeders' Cup Classic, run at 1 1/4 miles, draws the top international Thoroughbreds year after year. It is open to horses 3-years-old and older and is limited to 14 starters.

With every major prep and every "Win and You're In" Breeders' Cup Challenge Series race in the rearview mirror, the 42nd Breeders' Cup at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club is in full focus as racing's World Championships beckon October 31 & November 1.

Although there are 14 races and more than $28 million in purses and awards at stake, the $7 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) will garner the most attention. This year's Classic figures to not only decide Horse of the Year, but is shaping up as one of the very best in the race's long and storied history.

Sovereignty

Among the intriguing elements of the Nov. 1 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) is the fall matchup provided between older horses and 3-year-olds in the 1 1/4-mile contest. Last year, 3-year-olds claimed the top spots in the Classic when Sierra Leone, Fierceness, and Forever Young (JPN) recorded a 1-2-3 finish.

Godolphin's 3-year-old homebred Sovereignty is a leading prospect for this year's Classic, not only for his talent but also for his proficiency at the Classic distance. In May and June, he twice won legs of the Triple Crown at 1 1/4 miles: first, the May 3 Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs and then the June 7 Belmont Stakes (G1) at Saratoga.

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott and the Godolphin team chose to have Sovereignty sit out the middle leg of the Triple Crown, the 1 3/16-mile Preakness (G1) at Pimlico.

Sovereignty remained perfect at the Classic distance on Aug. 23 by romping to a 10-length victory over Bracket Buster in the Travers (G1) to become the first horse since Thunder Gulch in 1995 to win the Kentucky Derby, Belmont and Travers and give Mott his first victory in the race.

Before the Triple Crown series, he also fared well in Florida, winning the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) and placing second in the Florida Derby (G1). Those races were at 1 1/16 miles and 1 1/8 miles, respectively.

Prior to the Travers, he also won the 1 1/8-mile Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) over Baeza.

A Kentucky-bred son of Into Mischief out of the Bernardini mare Crowned, Sovereignty is known for his potent stretch kick, which he used to outrun favored Journalism in both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont. The former victory came over a sloppy track, and the latter over a fast surface.

Reflecting on his colt's performance after the Belmont, jockey Junior Alvarado said, "Turning for home, I followed (Journalism) a little bit, put him in the clear and just like he did in the Derby, he just went by him again. He was very exceptional today."

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Fierceness

Fierceness, the champion 2-year-old male of 2023, fell short of another Eclipse Award-winning season as a 3-year-old in 2024, finishing second to Sierra Leone in year-end voting.

Sierra Leone's defeat of Fierceness in the 2024 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) likely tipped the scales in his favor, and this year's fall's Classic at Del Mar on Nov. 1 should again prove influential in year-end awards.

Fierceness is one of the leading candidates for the 1 1/4-mile race this year -- not only based on what four graded stakes wins he recorded in 2023-24 -- but also for what he has done in 2025. Making his first start of the year in the May 2 Alysheba Stakes (G2) on Kentucky Derby Day -- he lowered Churchill Downs' track record for 1 1/16 miles by defeating Most Wanted by 1 1/2 lengths in a track-record 1:40.66.

Then racing on the June 7 Belmont Stakes (G1) undercard five weeks later, Fierceness finished second in the Metropolitan Handicap (G1), beaten 2 1/2 lengths over a sloppy track

Though he subsequently was outrun when fifth as the favorite in the Aug. 2 Whitney Stakes (G1) at Saratoga, his defeat came with an excuse. Two rivals --one of them an intentional pacemaker for victorious Sierra Leone -- dueled through a demanding pace, and then Fierceness, who had stalked the pace, was forced to move early on the second turn when hung wide and some other rivals launching inside bids.

"We were bouncing around at the three-eighths pole ... and he got back into the bridle again a little too soon," Hall of Famer jockey John Velazquez said.

Fierceness rebounded in style Aug. 30 when he returned to Del Mar for the 1 1/4-mile Pacific Classic (G1). Breaking from the inside post, Fierceness ducked in shortly after the start toward the temporary rail and found himself in traffic and off the pace. Velazquez sent Fierceness after the leaders approaching the far turn and getting the jump on odds-on favorite Journalism who was last early on the seven-horse field. Taking a clear advantage into the stretch, Fierceness never was threatened in defeating Journalism by 3 1/4 lengths.

Fierceness, a 4-year-old colt bred by Repole Stable out of the Stay Thirsty mare Nonna Bella, races for Repole Stable, Derrick Smith, Michael Tabor and Susan Magnier. He will become a stallion at Coolmore's Ashford Stud when he wraps up his racing career.

Sierra Leone

Owning an in-demand stud prospect coming off a championship-clinching victory in the 2024 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar, the connections of Sierra Leone could have opted to send the colt to stud in 2025. Instead, owners Peter Brant, Brook Smith and the Coolmore Stud-affiliated Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith and Westerberg chose to race Sierra Leone as a 4-year-old -- much to the delight of racing fans.

Though his first two races of 2025 were losses -- a third in the March 22 New Orleans Classic (G2) at Fair Grounds and a second in the Stephen Foster Stakes (G1) at Churchill Downs -- neither race unfolded with a pace that suited hard-charging Sierra Leone.

That all changed in the Aug. 2 Whitney Stakes (G1) at Saratoga, and Sierra Leone delivered a length victory over Highland Falls under Flavien Prat, beating one of the top fields of older horses assembled to date in 2025 over a 1 1/8-mile distance.

"As you saw in the Breeders' Cup Classic and today, he's a full-rounded, fully polished, fine-tuned, high-level racehorse right now," trainer Chad Brown said after the Whitney.

With the Whitney part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In, Sierra earned a paid automatic berth and travel allowance to seek a second consecutive Breeder's Cup Classic win. This year's 1 1/4-mile Classic is again at Del Mar on Nov. 1.

Sierra Leone's scheduled final tuneup for a Classic defense was the Aug. 31 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Saratoga. In the 1 1/4-mile test, Sierra Leone found himself far back of the field shortly after the start as jockey Flavien Prat had to quickly alter course to avoid jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. who had been unseated from Mindframe. Last of seven runners at the top of the stretch, Sierra Leone ran out of ground and just missed catching Antiquarian by 1 1/2 lengths at the finish.

On the strength of his 2024 Classic win and other accomplishments last year, Sierra Leone was honored at the Eclipse Awards two months later as champion 3-year-old male of 2024.

A son of Gun Runner produced from the Grade 1-winning Malibu Moon mare Heavenly Love, Sierra Leone eventually will become a stallion at Coolmore's Ashford Stud upon the conclusion of his racing career.

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Mindframe

Mindframe's ability was apparent last year as a 3-year-old when he ran second in both the Belmont Stakes (G1) and Haskell Stakes (G1) after just two easy blowout wins by a combined 21 1/4 lengths. His lack of seasoning was also evident, as he drifted under urging from jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. in those two stakes races, miscues that contributed to him twice being runner-up to Dornoch.

Given the second half of 2024 off, Mindframe has been even more effective this year at age 4. He kicked off his year with a victory in the March 1 Gulfstream Park Mile (G2), followed that with a narrow win over a sloppy track in the May 3 Churchill Downs Stakes (G1), and then returned to Churchill Downs to capture the June 28 Stephen Foster Stakes (G1).

In contrast to his first two races of the year, which were around one turn, the Stephen Foster was a route at 1 1/8 miles, and his victory at the distance stamped him as a leading contender for the 1 1/4-mile Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) Nov. 1 at Del Mar. He earned an automatic, paid berth into the race with the Stephen Foster part of the Breeders' Cup Challenger Series: Win and You're In.

What was expected to be Mindframe's final prep for the Classic, the Aug. 31 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Saratoga, turned into a misadventure. Shortly after the start, Mindframe took the worst of a four-horse chain reaction when Phileas Fogg crossed over from an outside post and jockey Ortiz was unseated.

Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher trains Mindframe, a 4-year-old son of Constitution out of the Street Sense mare Walk of Stars, for St Elias Stable and Repole Stable. The colt was a $600,000 purchase from the Betz Thoroughbreds consignment to the 2022 September Yearling Sale at Keeneland. The late R. Larry Johnson bred Mindframe in Maryland.

Mindframe ran 1 1/8 miles in the Stephen Foster in 1:47.48, defeating 2024 Breeders' Cup Classic winner Sierra Leone by a length. His time was the fastest in the Stephen Foster since Tom's d'Etat ran 1:47.30 in the 2020 race.

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Forever Young

Forever Young, who has taken his talents around the world the past two years, winning in Japan and the Middle East and twice contending in Grade 1 races in the United States, is aimed for a return appearance in America this fall in the $7 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar.

The Japan-based 4-year-old Thoroughbred, who came within two noses of victory when third in the Kentucky Derby (G1) in May 2024, also showed in last year's Classic. Breaking from the rail and chasing a fast pace in the 1 1/4-mile Classic, he finished evenly to lose by 2 3/4 lengths to Sierra Leone. Runner-up Fierceness ran 1 1/4 lengths in front of him.

Regrouping from that defeat, he would head home to Japan to capture the Dec. 29 Tokyo Daishoten (G1) at Oi before again venturing to the Middle East, where he had a rewarding winter and spring campaign in 2024.

This year, he would earn even more purse money, capturing the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) Feb. 22 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse before a third-place finish in the $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1) April 5 at Meydan.

Coming off a scintillating performance in the Saudi Cup, in which he outran 12-time Grade/Group winner Romantic Warrior (IRE) in stakes-record time of 1:49.09 for 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles), Forever Young seemed to regress in the Dubai World Cup. The odds-on favorite in international wagering markets, he couldn't find his usual extra gear in the final 200 meters, checking in behind Americans Hit Show and Mixto.

Trainer Yoshito Yahagi then returned the Susumu Fujita-owned Forever Young, a son of Real Steal (JPN), back to Japan for a summer freshening meant to leave his star horse fresh for a fall campaign and another crack at the Classic.

Forever Young's return to the races came Oct. 1 at Funabashi in the Nippon TV Hai at a mile and an eighth in which Forever Young prevailed by 2 ½ lengths under a hand ride in a field of eight.

Journalism

Fans have come to appreciate Journalism for his class and consistency, not to mention his unrelenting heart-stopping finishes.

Appearing beaten at the head of the stretch this year in both the Preakness Stakes (G1) and Haskell Stakes (G1), Journalism somehow found the punch necessary to claim victory in those events, running down Gosger by a half-length on both occasions.

With the Haskell part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In, Journalism earned a berth in the Nov. 1 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar.

The only 3-year-old to compete in all three legs of the Triple Crown this year, he also was second to Sovereignty in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1).

Earlier in the year, he won the Santa Anita Derby (G1) and San Felipe Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park before taking his talents on the road.

Trained by Michael McCarthy and owned by the Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Robert La Penta, Elayne Stables Five, and the Coolmore partners of Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, Journalism is a son of 2007 Breeders' Cup Classic winner Curlin and the late mare Mopotism.

He ran 1 1/8 miles in the Haskell in 1:48.15, overcoming a slow break and rallying from the back of the pack in the early going.

"He can be tactical. You can ride him from behind, you can ride him from everywhere," jockey Umberto Rispoli said after the Haskell. "But today, I think, he was most special, probably more than the Preakness."

Journalism, bred in Kentucky by Don Alberto Corp., will have a home game of sorts in the Breeders' Cup Classic this fall. He broke his maiden at Del Mar as a 2-year-old, and McCarthy bases the bulk of his stable in Southern California.

Journalism got reacquainted with Del Mar in his return to the races after the Haskell when he took on older rivals for the first time in the 1 1/4-mile Pacific Classic Grade 1. Sent off as the odds-on favorite, Journalism was bumped at the start and was last in the field of seven early. He began to weave his way through rivals on the far turn, but multiple Grade 1 winner Fierceness got the jump on him and left Journalism 3 1/4 lengths behind at the finish.

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Baeza

Few horses have a flashier pedigree or more talent than Baeza. A son of 2019 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) runner-up McKinzie out of the 2024 Broodmare of the Year Puca, he is a half-brother to 2023 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mage and 2024 Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Dornoch.

Baeza has some Triple Crown credentials just like his siblings, having been third in both the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1) for trainer John Shirreffs. Those performances, as well as runner-up finishes in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) and Jim Dandy Stakes (G2), have him considered as one of the top 3-year-olds in the country.

In his four stakes losses from April through July, the only horses to finish in front of him were 3-year-old standouts Sovereignty and Journalism.

Racing July 26 in the 1 1/8-mile Jim Dandy, Baeza gave a test to Sovereignty, the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner. Stubbornly battling him through the stretch, he finished just a length in arrears.

Previously, Baeza had been 6 1/2 lengths behind Sovereignty in the Belmont and 1 3/4 lengths back in the Derby.

"I had a good try. I rode my horse how he was comfortable," jockey Hector Berrios said after the Jim Dandy. "I stayed with Sovereignty and in the turn, I tried to put the horse -- change the lane -- and my horse wanted to feel the other horse and he came back and at the finish he tried well."

Baeza returned to Southern California after the Jim Dandy and then headed back East for the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) on Sept. 20. With no Sovereignty or Journalism at Parx, Baeza delivered as the favorite in the field of 10. Launching a wide move on the far turn, Baeza swept past Goal Oriented in the upper stretch and coasted to a 2 1/4-length victory over a rallying Magnitude.

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Antiquarian

After a couple of seconds in graded stakes competition this spring and in early summer, Centennial Farms' 4-year-old Antiquarian powered to victory in the Aug. 31 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Saratoga.

With the race part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In, Antiquarian earned a paid, automatic berth into the Nov. 1 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar.

Taking advantage of remaining free of traffic and bumping in a roughly contested race, an outside-stalking Antiquarian ran down stretch leader Phileas Fogg and held off the late rally of 2024 Breeders' Cup Classic winner Sierra Leone to notch his first Grade 1 victory. In defeating runner-up Sierra Leone by 1 1/2 lengths, Antiquarian raced 1 1/4 miles in 2:02.16 under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez.

In 2024, Antiquarian won the Peter Pan Stakes (G3) in his 3-year-old highlight.

This year, he kicked off his season with an allowance optional claiming victory April 19 at Gulfstream Park, then was second in both the May 31 Blame Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs and July 4 Suburban Stakes (G2) at Saratoga.

"We always expected him, as he got older, to get better," Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said. "It seemed like the last couple times he got going just a little too late. So, he was able to get there a little sooner this time."

Antiquarian, bred in Kentucky by the late Brereton Jones, is out of the winning Istan mare Lifetime Memory. The chestnut colt is a son of the Centennial Farms-campaigned Preservationist.

Don Little, Jr., president and co-owner of Centennial Farms, expressed satisfaction to win a second Jockey Club Gold Cup after an initial win with Colonial Affair in 1994.

"To have this a second time that Centennial has won this prestigious trophy is really, really exciting and special," he said.

Locked

Locked, sharp in the first few months of the year before running below expectations in the spring and summer, heads into the fall with resurgent form after capturing the Sept. 27 Woodward Stakes (G2) during the Belmont at the Big A meet.

Appearing at a disadvantage in a three-horse race with one controlling speed horse in Phileas Fogg, Locked somehow found a way to win the Woodward, cutting into that foe's lead in the stretch and ultimately prevailing by three-quarters of a length. Key for him being able to move away from an intimidating position on the inside into the clear in midstretch.

"Once I got out, I was close enough that I was going to be there to come out and my horse responded right away," Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez said.

The Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Walmac Farm-owned 4-year-old colt ran 1 1/8 miles on a fast track in 1:48.11.

Locked, a Gun Runner chestnut trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, is a dual Grade 1 winner with scores in the 2023 Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland and the Santa Anita Handicap this March.

His victory in the Santa Anita Handicap was decisive, coming over a field that included eventual Dubai World Cup (G1) winner Hit Show.

Locked's other outings this year resulted in a second to 2023 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner White Abarrio in the Jan. 25 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) at Gulfstream Park, and a fourth-place finish in the May 2 Alysheba Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs and a third-place finish in the Suburban Stakes (G2) July 4 at Saratoga.

Bred in Kentucky by Rosa Colasanti out of the Malibu Moon mare Luna Rosa, Locked was a $425,000 purchase at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He possesses a 6-1-3 record in 11 starts and earnings of more than $1.9 million.

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Highland Falls

Highland Falls, winner of the 2024 Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1) and ninth in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar last fall, appears poised for another crack at the Classic.

After winning an allowance optional claiming race at Aqueduct to kick off his season in late June, the 5-year-old son of Curlin took on many of North America's best in the Aug. 2 Whitney Stakes (G1) at Saratoga. Turning in a brave effort from start to finish, he checked in a length behind Sierra Leone as the runner-up. Notable Thoroughbreds Disarm, White Abarrio, Fierceness, Post Time and Skippylongstocking were among those who finished behind him.

Jockey Luis Saez said it was a "no excuses" loss, with his mount simply second best to champion Sierra Leone, last year's Breeders' Cup Classic winner, in a race that unfolded with lively splits that set up Sierra Leone's closing rally.

The performance from Highland Falls left his connections encouraged, partially due to him being lightly raced this season.

"This is our horse's second run off the layoff and I think as long as he comes out of it in good order, he could move forward again," said trainer Brad Cox, who trains Highland Falls for owner/breeder Godolphin.

He noted that the leaders of the division change from race to race. "Horses beat horses. They take turns punching each other, and we'll see," he added.

On Aug. 31 at Saratoga, Highland Falls was elevated to third after an eventful running of the Jockey Club Gold Cup. Impacted by jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. being unseated from Mindframe shortly after the start, Highland Falls was far back early and rallied to finish fourth, 4 1/2 lengths behind Antiquarian.

Highland Falls is a 5-year-old son of 2007 Breeders' Cup Classic winner Curlin out of the Grade 1-winning Awesome Again mare Round Pond. Last year as a 4-year-old, he won the Blame Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs and the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Saratoga.

Besides his runner-up finish in the Whitney, he was second in the 2024 Monmouth Cup (G3) and in the 2024 Oaklawn Handicap (G2).

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Nevada Beach

Sovereignty, Journalism, and Baeza -- three of the leading 3-year-old dirt horses in North America -- head into the $7 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar without a stakes win against older foes. Sovereignty and Baeza have yet to face their elders, while Journalism ran second to Fierceness in the Pacific Classic (G1) in his only such attempt.

One 3-year-old who has beaten older rivals is Nevada Beach. Racing Sept. 27 in the Goodwood Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita, he dialed up the pressure on 2024 Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner Full Serrano (ARG) and wore him down for a 1 1/2-length victory.

"This one is really special because sometimes you have them over a barrel," Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert said. "I really appreciate a win like this when it's not expected."

Nevada Beach ran 1 1/8 miles on a fast track in 1:48.43 under fellow Hall of Famer Mike Smith, earning a career-best 108 Equibase Speed Figure.

The win in the $300,000 race earned him a paid, automatic berth into the Classic via the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In.

Nevada Beach is a 3-year-old son of Omaha Beach owned by Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman. The dark bay colt improved to 3-1-0 in in the Goodwood, his fourth career start.

Earlier this year he won the June 28 Los Alamitos Derby (Listed) finished second in the June 8 Affirmed Stakes (Listed) at Santa Anita, and scored on debut at Santa Anita in April.

His owners purchased him for $260,000 from the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale from the consignment of Paul Tackett. The Paul Tackett Revocable Trust, Phil Tackett Estate, and Christy Tackett bred him in Kentucky out of the Yes It's True mare Morrow Cove, who won the 2012 Raging Fever Stakes and Serena's Song Stakes (Listed).

2025 BREEDERS' CUP RACE SCHEDULE