The 2025 Breeders’ Cup Classic Tipsheet

A sensational field of 10, nine of which are Grade 1 winners, will travel 1 1/4 miles over the Del Mar dirt in the exquisite, $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) on Saturday. 

Breeders’ Cup Classic Picks

• #6 Sovereignty
• #2 Baeza
• #7 Sierra Leone
• #5 Forever Young

Breeders’ Cup Classic Wagers

• $5 Trifecta: key 6 with 2,5,7  
• $1 Trifecta: 6 with 2,5,7 with ALL
• $1 Trifecta: 6 with ALL with 2,5,7

Breeders’ Cup Classic Contenders

#1 FIERCENESS (4-1): City of Light four-year-old is one of three major players in the group for Pletcher. Second in the race last season, the colt cruised home to a fine win in the Pacific Classic (G1) at this venue in his latest showing, and his best effort might be good enough to take down this field. John Velazquez will pilot the tactical Kentucky-bred from the tricky rail slot. 

#2 BAEZA (15-1): John Shirreffs' charge earned a well-deserved Grade 1 win when dominating the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) in his latest venture. The son of McKinzie was very professional in the Keystone State most recently, and I can surely see him being in the mix late with even slight improvement on Saturday. Hector Berrios will guide the well-bred bay. 

#3 NEVADA BEACH (20-1): Rapidly ascending son of Omaha Beach will face a stiff class test in his toughest assignment to date for Bob Baffert. The rising sophomore has registered triple-digit Brisnet Late Pace figures in three straight and will thrive with the added distance on Saturday. I expect the dark bay colt to be forwardly placed from the break and well positioned turning for home at a square price under Mike Smith. 

#4 CONTRARY THINKING (50-1): Chad Brown trainee is entered mainly to ensure that there is a swift early tempo to aid his late-running stablemate, Sierra Leone. It’s impossible for me to consider the five-year-old son of Into Mischief to be anything more than a ‘rabbit’ in the tilt. Florent Geroux will be in the silks. 

#5 FOREVER YOUNG (6-1): Japanese star was a very good third in the 2024 Classic and has to be respected in his second trek to Del Mar. The four-year-old from the brilliant Yahagi barn was a facile winner in his tune-up for this contest, and he never runs a bad race. Win threat will have regular pilot Ryusei Sakai in the stirrups.  

#6 SOVEREIGNTY (6-5): Sensational dual classic winner has rolled home to four graded stakes wins in succession for conditioner Bill Mott. The Godolphin homebred is 3-for-3 at the 1 1/4-mile voyage, and the son of Into Mischief comes in fresh for his first run against his elders. The top pick will have to be at his best to topple this outstanding field, but I believe that he will be up to the task under Junior Alvarado. 

#7 SIERRA LEONE (8-1): Defending champ has finished in the top three in each of his 13 lifetime tries to date for trainer Chad Brown. The fantastic son of Gun Runner was in excellent form in the summer and comes into the race fresh with six perfectly spaced morning moves in the interim. The robust late runner will be a major threat if he fires his best shot beneath Flavien Prat. 

#8 MINDFRAME (10-1): Stephen Foster (G1) star unseated his rider early in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) in his latest appearance. The Todd Pletcher pupil has a world of ability and has shown versatility, winning at the top level, from distances ranging from seven-eighths to nine furlongs. The Constitution four-year-old will never be far back in his local debut with Irad accepting the assignment. 

#9 JOURNALISM (10-1): Three-time Grade 1 star had what I felt was a perfect prep for this heavyweight tilt when a clear second in the Pacific Classic S. (G1) on the course and at the distance. The Michael McCarthy pupil has performed well from two lifetime runs over the surface, and his morning moves leading up to the Classic have been sharp, as well. The three-year-old son of Curlin will stalk the early action and make his move approaching the turn for home with Jose Ortiz inheriting the mount. 

#10 ANTIQUARIAN (15-1): Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) star has really come to hand this season and will have no trouble negotiating the 10 furlongs in his local debut for Pletcher. The Centennial Farms’ color bearer might be a tick below the best runners in the cast, but he wouldn’t surprise me with a top-four finish under the guidance of Luis Saez.