Fierceness As much as No. 2 in Breeders’ Cup Rankings; Sovereignty No. 1

Fierceness ducked, dodged and dipped his strategy to victory within the $1 million Pacific Traditional over the weekend, transferring to No. 2 behind Sovereignty within the newest Breeders’ Cup Traditional Rankings.

The rankings are a weekly ranking of the highest 10 horses in rivalry for the $7 million BC Traditional (G1) at Del Mar on Nov. 1.

There was a bit extra shuffling within the rankings after two Breeders’ Cup Problem “Win and You’re In” races to the Traditional have been contested, the Pacific Traditional at Del Mar and the $1 million Jockey Membership Gold Cup (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.

Whereas Kentucky Derby (G1), Belmont Stakes (G1) and Travers Stakes (G1) winner Sovereignty held agency atop the rankings launched on Tuesday with 36 first-place votes and 404 factors, Sierra Leone dropped to 3rd from second after a second-place end within the Jockey Membership Gold Cup, received by Antiquarian.

Antiquarian, educated by Corridor of Famer Todd Pletcher, moved into the rankings for the primary time at No. 8 (tied with Baeza). Pletcher additionally trains Fierceness in addition to Mindframe, who unseated rider Irad Ortiz, Jr., within the Jockey Membership Gold Cup, giving him three horses within the high 10.

Nysos, who was scratched from the Pacific Traditional, dropped two spots to seventh.

Fierceness overcame a poor begin and received the Pacific Traditional by 3 ¼ lengths over Journalism, the Preakness Stakes (G1) and Haskell Stakes (G1) winner who dropped just one spot, from fourth to fifth.

Fierceness acquired three first-place votes and 346 factors from the panel of thoroughbred racing media, horseplayers, and members of the Breeders’ Cup administrators/secretaries panel.

Saudi Cup (G1) winner Perpetually Younger (JPN) stays sixth. Highland Falls, third within the Jockey Membership Gold Cup after the disqualification of Phileas Fogg, is 10^th.

Within the rankings, every voter charges horses on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 system in descending order.

The rankings don’t have any bearing on qualification or choice into the Traditional. The 1 ¼-mile race is restricted to 14 starters.

9 horses have already clinched spots within the area by profitable “Win and You’re In” races – Costa Nova (February Stakes), Sierra Leone (Whitney), Perpetually Younger (Saudi Cup), Journalism (Haskell), Mindframe (Stephen Foster), Hit Present (Dubai World Cup), Ombudsman (Juddmonte Worldwide), Fierceness (Pacific Traditional) and Antiquarian (Jockey Membership Gold Cup).

Longines Breeders’ Cup Traditional Rankings – Sept. 2, 2025*

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