At the start of the week, Sovereignty opened as the 2025 Breeders' Cup Classic favorite, with Fierceness and Sierra Leone drawing plenty of action as well.
Sovereignty has the name recognition in the casual sector, making for understandable chalk.
Of course, Sierra Leone is the defending champion of the Classic, and that status is reflected in the betting odds.
Fierceness, who finished second to Sierra Leone in that 2024 Classic, is aiming for revenge, and many gamblers believe it is possible.
The biggest race of the year takes place Saturday at Del Mar on NBC.
Naturally, gambling activity will be at record highs for this showcase event.
Horse Racing Betting Lines
Sovereignty 6/4, Fierceness 9/2, Sierra Leone 11/2, Forever Young 8/1, Mindframe 9/1, Journalism 9/1, Baeza 16/1, Antiquarian 20/1, Nevada Beach 25/1, Contrary Thinking 150/1.
The greatest horses in the world will take the starting gate at Del Mar for the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Consider the intrigue of Sovereignty, the best horse in 2025, going up against the defending Breeders’ Cup Classic champion and the runner-up.
Indeed, Gamblers have a quality field to work with and several realistic possibilities as the winner. Thus, the odds will be relatively straight.
Sovereignty will bear the greatest public price on the board due to recency bias.
The starting positions are as follows: 1-Fierceness, 2-Baeza, 3-Nevada Beach, 4-Contrary Thinking, 5-Forever Young, 6-Sovereignty, 7-Sierra Leone, 8-Mindframe, 9-Journalism, 10-Antiquarian.
Naturally, Fierceness getting the inside position as Sovereignty and Sierre Loene start next to each other gives horse players plenty to talk about.
2025 Breeders' Cup Top Contenders
Sovereignty
Junior Alvarado will get the ride aboard Sovereignty for trainer William Mott.
Sovereignty has proven its ability to go longer distances with wins at the 2025 Kentucky Derby and the marathon 2025 Belmont Stakes.
Sovereignty was held out of the Preakness, forgoing the shot at a Triple Crown.
Sovereignty is riding a 4-race winning streak and coming off a win at the 2025 Travers Stakes on August 23, 2025. The Grade 1 Travers is one of the most prestigious races in the sport and adds to already strong credentials for Sovereignty.
Previously, Sovereignty won the Grade 2 Jim Dandy on July 26, 2025.
As mentioned earlier, he won the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes on June 7, 2025, and the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 3, 2025.
Additionally, Sovereignty won Grade 2 Fountain of Youth and Grade 3 Street Sense to enhance the resume.
Sierra Leone
Chad Brown trains the defending Breeders’ Cup champion Sierra Leone and will be ridden by Flavien Pratt.
Sierra Leone finished 2nd at the 2024 Kentucky Derby but redeemed himself with that 2024 Classic win.
This year, he finished 2nd at the Grade 1 Stephen Foster on June 28, 2025.
On August 2, 2025, Sierra Leone won the Grade 1 Whitney.
On August 31, 2025, he finished 2nd at the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup.
Fierceness
The great veteran John Velazquez will get the mount on Fierceness, trained by Todd Pletcher.
Last year, Fierceness finished 2nd to Sierra Leone in the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic.
In 2025, Fierceness won the Grade 2 Alysheba on May 2, 2025.
Next was a 2nd place finish at the Grade 1 Metropolitan on June 7, 2025.
Fierceness finished 5th at the Grade 1 Whitney on August 2, 2025.
However, in his last start, Fierceness got the win at the Grade 1 Pacific Classic.
Forever Young
Namely, Ryusei Sakai will be aboard Forever Young, trained by Yoshito Yahagi.
Forever Young finished third at the 2024 Breeders ' Cup Classic and had a Grade 1 win this year at the 2025 Saudi Cup.
Forever Young (Japan) is the only horse in the field not from the United States.
Mindframe
Todd Pletcher trains Mindframe with Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard.
Last time out, Mindframe finished 8th at the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup on August 31, 2025.
That poor performance snapped a 3-race winning streak that included victory at the Grade 1 Stephen Foster, the Grade 1 Churchill Downs Stakes, and the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Mile.
Journalism
Michael McCarthy trains Journalism with Jose Ortiz getting the mount.
Journalism is best known for winning the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes after finishing second in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby to Sovereignty.
Journalism won the Grade 1 Haskell Stakes on July 19, 2025.
In his last start, he was 2nd to Fierceness in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic.
Breeders' Cup Best Bets
Sovereignty has been the horse of the year in the eyes of most observers and gamblers. He should conclude 2025 in style with a win in the Classic.
Main Pick: Sovereignty
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