Oct. 27 (UPI) -- Saturday's $7 million Grade I Longines Breeders' Cup Classic has it all: the first three finishers from last year, the winners of all three of this year's Triple Crown races and a few long shots lurking in the weeds.
The field for the Classic was drawn Monday at Del Mar, site of the 42nd Breeders' Cup World Championships. The 14 races, starting with five for 2-year-olds Friday, bring together many of the world's best horses and most of the best owners, breeders and trainers.
This year's Classic truly lives up to its name, starting with Sierra Leone, Fierceness and Japanese star Forever Young -- the 2024 Classic trifecta.
Add in Sovereignty, winner of this year's Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes, Jim Dandy and Travers and Journalism, who won this year's Santa Anita Derby, Preakness Stakes and Haskell, finished second to Sovereignty in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont and second to Fierceness in the Pacific Classic.
Also lining up for the 1 1/4-mile test are Baeza, third in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes and recent winner of the Grade I Pennsylvania Derby; Antiquarian, winner of the Grade I Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga in his last start; and Grade 1 Stephen Foster winner Mindframe.
