Breeders' Cup Classic watch: Sovereignty towers over Travers

This is the sixth installment of a weekly feature exclusive to Horse Racing Nation tracking the Breeders’ Cup Classic horses all the way through the $7 million race on Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

Although Saturday's Travers Stakes drew its shortest field in more than three decades, the big horse in the field at Saratoga still could have a significant say in what happens in this year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Sovereignty will be in search of his third consecutive victory at the Spa and fourth overall when he towers over four others in this year’s renewal of the mid-summer derby. The impressive winner of the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes figures to go to post as one of the heaviest favorites in the history of Saratoga’s signature race. Another win here for the Bill Mott and Godolphin charge figures to send him to California as this year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic favorite.

The rest might be in competition for second-place money, but the Steve Asmussen-trained Magnitude adds at least a bit of intrigue to the 1 1/4-mile affair.

The speedy son of Not This Time ran away from his competition in his last two starts by a combined 19 lengths. After blitzing the Risen Star (G2) by 9 3/4 lengths in February at Fair Grounds and missing the Triple Crown series because of a physical setback, he returned to romp by 9 1/4 lengths in the Iowa Derby seven weeks ago. He could prove himself worthy of a trip to Del Mar with a strong effort Saturday.

The other three in the Travers, Bracket Buster, McAfee and Strategic Focus, all have some ability, but anything better than second on Saturday would be a major surprise.

On the same afternoon at Saratoga, the reigning Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna will return to the oval where she made so much noise last summer. The 4-year-old daughter of Fast Anna will be pointed to either the Breeders’ Cup Classic or a defense of the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, depending on how she performs in her next two races. The first step happens in Saturday’s Personal Ensign Stakes (G1), where she will break from the outside post 7 against six other fillies and mares.

Refreshed since an easy victory in the Fleur de Lis (G2) at Churchill Downs two months ago, the Kenny McPeek-trained star will make her first start at Saratoga since running a bang-up second against the males in last year’s Travers. A good-looking win in the Personal Ensign would strengthen her connections' belief that she belongs in the $7 million Classic on Nov. 1. She will face a quartet of Grade 1 winners Saturday in Dorth Vader, Leslie’s Rose, Raging Sea and Randomized.

The other race this week with a potential starter for the Breeders’ Cup Classic will take place overseas. As a challenge series event, the winner of Wednesday’s Juddmonte International Stakes (G1) will earn an automatic berth for the big one at Del Mar if the connections choose to come over and try the dirt.

Run on the turf in England, Tepin’s son Delacroix will renew his rivalry with Ombudsman after the pair ran first and second in last month’s Coral Eclipse (G1). Japanese invader Danon Decile also figures to have a big chance in the prestigious race at York Racecourse.

After the Juddmonte International, the next races to offer an automatic berth into the Classic will be next weekend’s Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar and the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Saratoga. Both are contested at 1 1/4 miles and will feature many of the top older horses in training.

The fields are still fluid for both, but the Pacific Classic should include the lightly raced and highly talented Nysos from the barn of Bob Baffert. An easy winner of the San Diego (G2) most recently, he will look to prove his ability to stay 10 furlongs in the $1 million race next Saturday.

Possible opposition to Nysos in the Pacific Classic is led by Preakness winner Journalism and the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic hero White Abarrio. Trainer Todd Pletcher has also said that he could send the champion Fierceness or the Grade 1 winner Locked. A decision on all of them should be made from their respective camps within the next week.

As for the Jockey Club Gold Cup on the following day back east, Mindframe and Sierra Leone are expected to renew acquaintances after finishing first and second in the Stephen Foster (G1) at Churchill Downs in June. The former is perfect in three starts this year, and the latter won the Whitney (G1) last time out and the Breeders’ Cup Classic in 2024.

Their competition at the Spa is expected to include the defending race champion Highland Falls, as well as Antiquarian, Arthur’s Ride, Disarm, Phileas Fogg and White Abarrio if he does not ship to Del Mar.

Track all the top contenders for the Breeders’ Cup Classic each week right here.

New to the list: None.

Dropped from the list: First Mission, Most Wanted, Mystik Dan.