The 2025 Breeders’ Cup Classic post time is 6:25 p.m. ET on Saturday, Nov. 1, at Del Mar Racetrack in San Diego. This year the Breeders’ Cup Classic will feature top horses competing on a 1 1/4 mile dirt track for a $7 million purse.
Get ready for the Breeders’ Cup with the Wizard’s analysis.
Who are the contenders and pretenders?
All 9 horses are listed in post-position order, including their rider and morning-line odds.
Program # 1: Fierceness, Velazquez, 5-2
Except for a 5th place finish in the Gr. 1 Whitney at Saratoga, the 4-year-old has been nothing short of pure excellence for quite some time. His 2nd in last year’s BC Classic was one of the greatest performances in defeat. Run down late by the deep closer Sierra Leone after being heavily involved in a blistering pace battle the entire way. Exits a decisive win in the Pacific Classic over this course and distance. Will get first run on Contrary Thinking and try to fend off the closers. The rail is not what his connections wanted, but if he shows up with his “A” game he’s certainly the one to beat as the morning line favorite. In the 2 recent races when he broke from the one post, he was very troubled out of the gate. No one is riding any better right now than John Velazquez. CONTENDER
Program # 2: Baeza, Berrios, 10-1
Enters the Classic in peak form. Finally broke through with his first stakes win last time out in the Gr. 1 Pennsylvania Derby. He’s run very well in defeat to Sovereignty and Journalism in 4 encounters this year. He must step it up another notch to beat this stellar field of older horses. His master trainer John Shirreffs is a proven winner in marquee events. Upset the field with Giacamo in the 2005 Kentucky Derby and scored with the great filly Zenyatta in the 2009 Breeders Cup Classic. CONTENDER
Program # 3: Nevada Beach, Smith, 20-1
With only 4 career starts and having never run this far and stepping way up in class, I see no scenario where he can make his presence felt. PRETENDER
Program # 4: Contrary Thinking, 50-1, Geroux
His sole mission is to carve out fast fractions to help set up the late run of his barn mate Sierra Leon, both trained by Chad Brown. PRETENDER
Program # 5: Forever Young, Sakai, 7-2
Japanese globetrotter is one of best managed horses I’ve ever seen. His average earnings are over one million dollars in each of his 12 career starts, 9 of which were victories, 6 in Japan. He’s proven to be in the conversation as the equine version of LA Dodgers great Shohei Ohtani. Even in his 3 defeats, all 3rd place finishes, Forever Young has run huge. He was beaten a head in last year’s Kentucky Derby, 2 ¾ lengths in the 2024 BC Classic and 2 lengths in this year’s Dubai World Cup. His running style will place him in perfect striking position early on and his class and will to win are all qualities to be reckoned with in the run to the wire. CONTENDER
Program # 6: Sovereignty (SCRATCHED)
Program # 7: Sierra Leone, Prat
1 run deep closer got the fast pace he needed in winning last year’s BC Classic over this course and distance. With his trainer Chad Brown entering a rabbit in Contrary Thinking to ensure a good pace scenario for him to close into, he will once again be rolling late. He’s hit the board in all 13 starts, so it would be folly to think he could not win this race again. He got a very good set up in the Jockey Club Gold Cup but was held off by Antiquarian. I’m sure that race was used as a springboard for the Classic in which Brown has indicated he’s been training beautifully in defense of his title. CONTENDER
Program # 8: Mindframe, Irad Ortiz, 6-1
1 of 3 horses trained by Todd Pletcher and the one I like least. Got nothing out of his last race when he lost his rider soon after the start. Even though he was narrowly beaten in last year’s Belmont Stakes at this distance and has run very well in 4 subsequent starts, I feel 1 ¼ miles is a tad too far against this type of competition. Having only run once in 4 months, is not a good recipe for success against more well-seasoned rivals at this level. PRETENDER
Program # 9: Journalism, 5-1, Jose Ortiz
A gem of consistency throughout his career, he’s not been able to defeat Sovereignty in 2 encounters and was easily handled by Fierceness in the Pacific Classic. The rider change to Jose Ortiz after being ridden by Rispoli in 9 of his 10 starts, could prove beneficial, but I don’t feel it’s enough to win the Classic at a distance which has proven to push his limits. It’s hard to see a well-travelled and heavily raced 3-year-old taking the necessary step forward late in the long season. PRETENDER
Program # 10: Antiquarian, Saez, 10-1
Has continued to improve as a 4-year-old, especially his last 2 starts stretching out to 1 ¼ miles. Exits a career best race upsetting 7 rivals in the Gr. 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup. Kept last year’s Classic winner Sierra Leone at bay in the late stages of the race. Gets a similar fast pace to close into. What he lacks in brilliance, he makes up for it with his staying power. Of the major contenders, he’s expected to go off at the longest odds. CONTENDER