Breeders’ Cup Roundup: Sovereignty leads Classic workers

The 2025 Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar is 17 days away. Catch up on the latest news and developments with our weekly Breeders’ Cup Roundup:

Champion Stakes concludes Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series

The final Win and You’re In qualifier for the 2025 Breeders’ Cup is Saturday’s Champion (G1) at Ascot in England, which awards an automatic entry into the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1).

The 1 1/4-mile turf test is expected to draw a strong field led by previous Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series race winners Delacroix and Ombudsman.

The two talented Group 1 stars have met twice already. Delacroix defeated Ombudsman by a neck in the Eclipse (G1), and then Ombudsman turned the tables by 3 1/2 lengths in the Juddmonte International (G1).

Delacroix has since bounced back to win the Irish Champion (G1) over reigning Champion Anmaat, who is back to defend his title. Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (G1) and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (G1) winner Calandagan adds further depth to the prospective field.

Sovereignty works toward Breeders’ Cup Classic

Sovereignty, winner of the Kentucky Derby (G1), Belmont (G1), and Travers (G1) in succession, took another step toward the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) when breezing a fast five furlongs on Sunday at Saratoga.

Working in company over the Oklahoma training track, Sovereignty clocked the distance in :59.80. It was his fifth timed exercise since trouncing the Travers by 10 lengths.

Several other heralded Breeders’ Cup Classic contenders have posted workouts in recent days.

On Friday at Santa Anita, Preakness (G1) and Haskell (G1) winner Journalism worked an easy half-mile in :49.00, his fourth move since finishing second in the Pacific Classic (G1). On the same day, but across the country at Saratoga, Pacific Classic winner Fierceness traveled five furlongs in 1:01.25 over the Oklahoma training track.

Sierra Leone, who defeated Fierceness in the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic, took his own spin over the Oklahoma surface on Sunday, breezing half a mile in :48.55. Mindframe, who conquered Sierra Leone in this year’s Stephen Foster (G1), clocked five furlongs in 1:01.07 in company with Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) winner Antiquarian on Friday at Oklahoma.

Baeza has finished behind Sovereignty and Journalism on a few occasions this year. Still, the improving Pennsylvania Derby (G1) winner is coming up to the Classic in fine shape, as evidenced by his swift five-furlong workout in :59.00 on Friday at Santa Anita.

Patch Adams, Napoleon Solo, and Cavalieri withdraw from Breeders’ Cup consideration

A few high-profile horses are no longer under consideration for the Breeders’ Cup.

Woody Stephens (G1) and H. Allen Jerkens Memorial (G1) winner Patch Adams was training toward the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1), but suffered a condylar fracture in his right hind leg, prompting an early retirement. He will fully recover and stand at stud at WinStar Farm in 2026.

Napoleon Solo will skip the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) to rest up following his blowout 6 1/2-length win in the Oct. 4 Champagne (G1). He’ll instead focus on a three-year-old campaign in 2026.

The undefeated Cavalieri might have been favored to win the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) after taking the Beholder Mile (G1), Zenyatta (G2), and La Canada (G3) this year, but trainer Bob Baffert revealed she’ll miss the Breeders’ Cup.

Minnie Hauk could take aim at Breeders’ Cup Turf

Minnie Hauk, the accomplished three-year-old filly who just missed victory in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1), remains under consideration for a start in the Breeders’ Cup Turf.

The Epsom Oaks (G1), Irish Oaks (G1), and Yorkshire Oaks (G1) winner would seek to become the first sophomore filly to conquer older males in the Breeders’ Cup Turf since Found in 2015. Aidan O’Brien trained Found, and he’s likewise the conditioner of Minnie Hauk.

Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series Qualifiers

The following horses have secured Win and You’re In berths to the 2025 Breeders’ Cup via the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series:

Breeders’ Cup Classic

Antiquarian
Costa Nova
Fierceness
Forever Young
Journalism
Hit Show
Mindframe
Nevada Beach
Ombudsman
Sierra Leone

Breeders’ Cup Turf

Calandagan
Danon Decile
Daryz
Delacroix
El Cordobes
Gold Phoenix
Intense for Me
Meisho Tabaru
Ole Crazy Bone
Ombudsman
Sinsel

Breeders’ Cup Distaff

Cavalieri
Dorth Vader
Gin Gin
Sarawak Rim
Seismic Beauty
Thorpedo Anna

Breeders’ Cup Mile

Deterministic
Docklands
Gran Oriente
Jantar Mantar
Johannes
Maranoa Charlie
Notable Speech
One Stripe
Qirat
Rhetorical
Soul Rush

Breeders’ Cup Sprint

Dark Saffron
Imagination
Lovesick Blues
Nakatomi
Patriot Spirit
Self Improvement
Straight No Chaser

Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile

Book’em Danno
Diktaean
Dr. Venkman
Raging Torrent 
Touch of Destiny

Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf

Ascoli Piceno
Barnavara
Bellezza
Double Grand Slam
Fallen Angel
La Kika
Minnie Hauk
Mission of Joy
She Feels Pretty
Whirl

Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint

Haulin Ice
Hope Road
Praying

Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint

Ag Bullet
American Affair
Arizona Blaze
Asfoora
Bear River
Motorious

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile

Intrepido
Napoleon Solo
Ted Noffey

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies

Explora
Tommy Jo

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf

Argos
Bottas
Benvenuto Cellini
Final Score
Gewan
Puerto Rico

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf

Corsia Veloce
Diamond Necklace
Ground Support
Imaginationthelady
Precise

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint

Charles Darwin
Lady Iman