Breeders' Cup Classic watch: Pletcher armada is set to sail

This is the 14th installment of a weekly feature exclusive to Horse Racing Nation tracking the Breeders’ Cup Classic horses through the $7 million race on Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

Todd Pletcher has accomplished plenty in 30 years as a trainer. Awarded the Eclipse Award as America’s top trainer eight times, the 58-year-old native of Texas has conditioned 16 champions. He also has won at the Breeders’ Cup 16 times. 

Through all the winning, the Breeders’ Cup Classic has proven to be a difficult nut to crack for Pletcher. He has saddled 20 runners in America’s richest race and has found the winner’s circle on only one occasion. The lone victory came in 2019 when Vino Rosso rolled home at Santa Anita.

Admittedly having an off year with his 3-year-olds in 2025, Pletcher is loaded for bear with 2-year-olds, led by the unbeaten two-time Grade 1 winner Ted Noffey. Most notably, however, the Hall of Fame trainer is very well stocked with his 4-year-old males. 

Ready to pursue his second Breeders’ Cup Classic victory in a big way this year, Pletcher has a quartet of Grade 1 winners pointing for the prestigious race, but unlike the 2019 field, this race is coming up anything but light.

In an absolutely loaded field led by the Kentucky Derby, Belmont and Travers (G1) winner Sovereignty, let’s take a look at Pletcher’s formidable foursome. I’ll start with last year’s runner-up and include my ranking and projected odds for each. 

2. Fierceness (City of Light), 6-1

After a disappointing effort in the Whitney Stakes (G1) two starts back, Fierceness was somewhat overlooked when he travelled to California for a third time in his career. The occasion was the Pacific Classic (G1), where he squared off against the heavily favored 3-year-old Journalism. Showing all the attributes that have made him a top horse since his career debut more than two years ago, the son of City of Light overcame self-inflicted trouble early to easily defeat the highly regarded classic winner.

With excellent tactical speed and the ability to be brilliant at his best, Fierceness remains one of America’s most dangerous runners. A brave second after pressing a very fast pace in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic, the champion 2-year-old of 2023  has displayed a fondness for the Southern California tracks with three strong efforts in as many trips. He does throw in the occasional dull effort, but things appear to be aligning for him to run a good one Nov. 1. Even his Hall of Fame rider, 54-year-old John Velazquez, is coming into the race in top form. 

6. Mindframe (Constitution), 9-1

Standing in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) starting gate, this Maryland-bred had a nearly spotless career record of 7: 5-2-0. His two runner-up finishes came at the top level as a lightly raced 3-year-old, and he was perfect in three starts this year. In an instant, everything went wrong before he even got the chance to run. Luckily, he and rider Irad Ortiz Jr. escaped injury from the scary incident. Healthy, but without a proper prep for the Breeders’ Cup Classic, Mindframe is a real wildcard for the big one. 

It’s hard to argue with his career record, but he remains a bit unproven going the distance against the very best. Supporters will point to a strong Belmont Stakes effort last year in only his third career start, but it would have been nice to have the Jockey Club Gold Cup experience under his belt. Before the JCGC trouble, he was a very nice winner over Sierra Leone in the Stephen Foster (G1) at nine furlongs. Clearly a major talent, he will have the chance to prove himself as America’s top older male when he runs in his first Breeders’ Cup. 

8. Antiquarian (Preservationist), 18-1

Unlike Fierceness and Mindframe, Antiquarian has been more of a work in progress during his two-season career. Unraced at 2, he showed he wasn’t quite ready for last year’s Kentucky Derby by finishing off the board in the Louisiana Derby (G2). He did tip off his developing ability with a nice win in the Peter Pan (G3) but could muster only a fifth-place finish behind Dornoch, Mindframe and Sierra Leone in the 2024 Belmont Stakes. Given time off after that one, he has come back better at 4. 

The Centennial Farms runner looked good in winning a Gulfstream Park allowance in his return to the races, but then he was an unlucky runner-up in the Blame Stakes (G3) and Suburban (G2) in his next two. In his near miss in the latter, he displayed a fondness for the 10-furlong trip, and that came to fruition next out with a victory in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. The Grade 1 win certainly was aided by all the trouble had by others, but still it was a career-best performance. Improving and a real 1 1/4-mile horse, he cannot be ignored in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. 

10. Locked (Gun Runner), 22-1

Still not confirmed for the Classic, with the Dirt Mile an option, it seems as though his connections are leaning to the $7 million race for this son of Gun Runner. He is a bit like Fierceness in that he can be a little in and out, but at his best he is a dangerous competitor. With the lone speed of Phileas Fogg to deal with in the small field of the Woodward Stakes (G2), Locked needed to find his best to run him down, and he did. It was his fourth major victory in an 11-race career, which has seen him take home wins in Grade 1 races at both 2 and 4. 

Like Fierceness, he also has shown the ability to ship to California and run well. A late-running third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile two seasons ago, he turned in what likely was a career best when romping home in the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) on March 1. That victory also confirmed his ability to handle the distance. It’s hard to completely forget about some of his losses this year, though, such as his third two starts back in the Suburban. He is only no. 4 of the Pletcher armada, but he is still in with a chance. 

New to the list: None

Dropped from the list: Luxor Cafe