What projected to be one of the best fields in the history of the Breeders’ Cup Classic lost a star player Wednesday with the scratch of standout 3-year-old Sovereignty, but the $7 million race still features a deep, talented cast that includes the top three finishers from a year ago.

Add three Grade 1-winning 3-year-olds to the mix and the 2025 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic has the makings of a terrific horse race. Three-year-olds have won nine of the last 26 editions of the Classic, and this year’s group is formidable even sans Sovereignty.

1. Fierceness (5-2 morning-line odds): Has run two monster races on this track at this distance, including a 3 ¼-length romp in the Pacific Classic Stakes Aug. 30. Has been a little inconsistent throughout his career but has no excuses here. Last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic runner-up is a major win threat.

JOCKEY: John Velazquez; TRAINER: Todd Pletcher

2. Baeza (10-1): Improving 3-year-old finally broke through with a Grade 1 win last time out in the Pennsylvania Derby. Has finished in the top three in all seven races in 2025, including two Triple Crown races among four Grade 1 starts. A slight improvement could propel him to the winner’s circle.

JOCKEY: Hector Berrios; TRAINER: John Shirreffs

3. Nevada Beach (20-1): Makes his fifth career start against a strong field for four-time Breeders’ Cup Classic-winning trainer Baffert. He showed he could beat older horses, including 2024 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Full Serrano, when winning the Grade 1 Goodwood Stakes Sept. 27. At his 20-1 morning-line odds, the price is right if you are a believer.

JOCKEY: Mike Smith; TRAINER: Bob Baffert

4. Contrary Thinking (50-1): Entered by trainer Chad Brown solely to ensure a fast pace for stablemate Sierra Leone, a deep closer. He will be out of contention by the second turn and should be left off of your tickets.

JOCKEY: Florent Geroux; TRAINER: Chad Brown

5. Forever Young (7-2): Japanese star returns to Del Mar after finishing third in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic. Won the $20 million Saudi Cup in February and finished third in the $12 million Dubai World Cup in April before he was freshened for this race. Easy winner of October return should be in peak form Nov. 1. The pick to give Japan its first Breeders’ Cup Classic win.  

JOCKEY: Ryusei Sakai; TRAINER: Yoshito Yahagi

6. Sovereignty (SCRATCHED): The standout 3-year-old spiked a fever on Tuesday and was scratched from the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Wednesday morning by Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.

JOCKEY: Junior Alvarado; TRAINER: Bill Mott

7. Sierra Leone (7-2): Can become only the second two-time Breeders’ Cup Classic winner with a victory, joining Hall of Famer Tiznow (2000-’01). Showed an affinity for Del Mar when winning the 2024 edition by 1 ½ lengths from Fierceness after an ideal pace setup. Stablemate Contrary Thinking should ensure another solid pace, but not sure Sierra Leone is as good as he was a year ago.

JOCKEY: Flavien Prat; TRAINER: Chad Brown

8. Mindframe (6-1): Fast enough and talented enough to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic, but the road to this race was rocky to say the least. Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. was unseated in the early stages of the Aug. 31 Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes and connections opted to bypass another prep race. Last race he completed was Grade 1 win in Stephen Foster Stakes June 28. Would be a training masterpiece from Todd Pletcher if he’s sharp enough to win Saturday. I’m skeptical. 

JOCKEY: Irad Ortiz Jr.; TRAINER: Todd Pletcher

Preakness Stakes winner Journalism (Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO)

9. Journalism (5-1): Preakness Stakes winner has never finished outside the top three in 10 starts and has six wins and three seconds in his last nine races. The seconds came to Sovereignty in the other two jewels of the Triple Crown and to Fierceness in the Pacific Classic Stakes at this track and distance. He’s a push-button racehorse and tough as nails, so he must be respected.

JOCKEY: Jose Ortiz; TRAINER: Michael McCarthy

10. Antiquarian (10-1): In many editions of the Breeders’ Cup Classic, Antiquarian might vie for favoritism coming off a career-best effort in winning the Jockey Club Gold Cup by 1 ½ lengths over Sierra Leone. The fact that he’s 10-1 on the morning line even after the defection of Sovereignty illustrates the depth of the field. He’s been first or second all four starts in 2025.

JOCKEY: Luis Saez; TRAINER: Todd Pletcher

THE PICK: Forever Young

LIVE LONGSHOT: Baeza

SUPERFECTA: 5-2-9-7