Baeza Rises In BC Classic Rankings

Baeza and Berrios best field in Pennsylvania Derby. (Taylor Ejdys/EQUI-PHOTO)

Sovereignty Holds Top Position in Weekly International Poll Tracking Leading Contenders for $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar

Breeders’ Cup Release

LEXINGTON, Ky. ― C R K Stables and Grandview Equine’s Baeza, dominant winner of the Pennsylvania Derby (G1),has risen to seventh place in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings, while Sovereignty maintains the overall lead.

The Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings are a weekly rating of the top 10 horses in contention for the $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), which will be run Nov. 1 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, California, during the 42^nd Breeders’ Cup World Championships.

Baeza, trained by John Shirreffs, produced a powerful stretch drive for a 2 1/2-length victory in last Saturday’s Pennsylvania Derby for his first Grade 1 triumph. The win boosted the son of McKinzie in the Classic Rankings with 167 votes after the eighth week of the poll.

Godolphin’s Sovereignty, winner of the Kentucky Derby (G1), Belmont Stakes (G1), and Travers Stakes (G1) for trainer Bill Mott, leads the rankings with 391 votes. Repole Stable, Derrick Smith, Michael B. Tabor, and Mrs. John Magnier’s Pacific Classic (G1) winner Fierceness, trained by Todd Pletcher,is in second place with 347 votes.

Peter Brant, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg, and Brook T. Smith’s Sierra Leone, winner of the Whitney Stakes (G1), and last year’s Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic winner, is in third place with 319 votes for trainer Chad Brown.

The Pletcher-trained Stephen Foster Stakes (G1) winner Mindframe is in fourth place with 257 votes for owners Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables LLC.

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Robert LaPenta, Elayne Stables Five, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, and Derrick Smith’s Journalism,winner of the Preakness Stakes (G1) and Haskell Stakes (G1) for trainer Michael McCarthy, is in fifth placewith 225 votes. 

Susumu Fujita’s Saudi Cup (G1) winner Forever Young (JPN),trained byYoshito Yahagi, is in sixth place with 189 votes. 

Following Baeza in eighth place is Centennial Farms’ 4-year-old Antiquarian, winner of the Aug. 31 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1). Trained by Todd Pletcher, Antiquarian has 133 votes. Godolphin’s 5-year-old homebred Highland Falls, runner-up in the Whitney Stakes (G1), moved up one spot and into ninth place with 62 votes for trainer Brad Cox. 

Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC’s Magnitude has joined the top 10 for the first time following his fast-closing second-place finish in the Pennsylvania Derby. Trained by Steve Asmussen, Magnitude earned 23 votes for 10^th place.

Fierceness (Pacific Classic), Sierra Leone (Whitney), Mindframe (Stephen Foster), Journalism (Haskell), Forever Young (Saudi Cup), and Antiquarian (Jockey Club Gold Cup) have each earned automatic starting positions, and fees paid, into this year’s Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In. The final automatic qualifier for this year’s Classic will be this Saturday’s Goodwood Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park.

The Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings are determined by a panel of leading Thoroughbred racing media, horseplayers, and members of the Breeders’ Cup Racing Directors/Secretaries Panel. Rankings will be announced each week through Oct. 7. A list of voting members can be found here.

In the Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings, each voter rates horses on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 system in descending order.

Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings – Sept. 23, 2025*

*Note – The Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings have no bearing on qualification or selection into the Breeders’ Cup Classic. 

The 2025 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, which will be run at 1 1/4 miles on the main track at Del Mar, is limited to 14 starters. The race will be broadcast live on NBC.