2026 Breeders' Cup Contenders, Entries, and Top Horses
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Which horses are running in the 2026 Breeders' Cup?
Meet the Breeders' Cup Contenders based on the victors of "win and you're in" Challenge races.
Last updated: June 22nd at 9:00 p.m. EDT
Breeders' Cup Contenders & Entries
The latest contenders for the 2026 Breeders' Cup can be found below. Final entries are drawn the Tuesday of Breeders' Cup Week.
- Breeders' Cup Friday - Contenders based on the victors of "win and you're in" Challenge Series races.
- Breeders' Cup Saturday - Contenders based on the victors of "win and you're in" Challenge Series races.
- FILLY & MARE SPRINT | TURF SPRINT | DIRT MILE | FILLY & MARE TURF | SPRINT | MILE | DISTAFF | TURF | CLASSIC
2026 Breeders' Cup Contenders for Future Stars Friday
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint Contenders
The BREEDERS' CUP JUVENILE TURF SPRINT (GI) is a 5 furlong race for 2-year-olds. The race carries a guaranteed purse of $1 million, including travel awards.
ORTHODOX (GB)
Jockey: Rossa Ryan
Trainer: Clive Cox
Owner: J Goddard
BC Challenge Race won: Norfolk Stakes
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Contenders
The BREEDERS' CUP JUVENILE TURF (GI) is a one mile race for 2-year-old colts and geldings to be run on the turf. The race carries a guaranteed purse of $1 million, including travel awards.
Contenders will be listed beginning on 8/19 with the running of the Acomb Stakes
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Contenders
The BREEDERS' CUP JUVENILE FILLIES (GI) is a 1 1/16-mile race for 2-year-old fillies. The race carries a guaranteed purse of $2 million, including travel awards.
Contenders will be listed beginning on 9/5 with the running of the Spinaway Stakes
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Contenders
The BREEDERS' CUP JUVENILE FILLIES TURF (GI) is a one mile race for 2-year-old fillies to be run on the turf. The race carries a guaranteed purse of $1 million, including travel awards.
Contenders will be listed beginning on 7/25 with the running of the Princess Margaret Stakes
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Contenders
The BREEDERS' CUP JUVENILE (GI) is a 1 1/16-mile race for 2-year-old colts and geldings. The race carries a guaranteed purse of $2 million, including travel awards.
Contenders will be listed beginning on 10/3 with the running of the Oak Leaf Stakes
2026 Breeders' Cup Entries for Championship Saturday
Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint Contenders
The BREEDERS' CUP FILLY & MARE SPRINT (GI) is a seven furlong race for 3-year-olds and up, fillies & mares. The race carries a guaranteed purse of $1 million, including travel awards.
Contenders will be listed beginning on 8/29 with the running of the Ballerina Handicap
Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Contenders
The BREEDERS' CUP TURF SPRINT (GI) is a five furlong race for 3-year-olds and up to be run on the turf. The race carries a guaranteed purse of $1 million, including travel awards.
KINGDUNDEE (SAF)
Jockey: Calvin Habib
Trainer: Dean Smith
Owner: Clive Murphy
BC Challenge Race won: World Pool Cape Flying Championship
REEF RUNNER
Jockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr.
Trainer: David Fawkes
Owner: Lieborg, Alex and JoAnn
BC Challenge Race won: Jaipur Stakes
MISSION CONTROL (IRE)
Jockey: Ryan Moore
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Owner: Tabor / Magnier / Smith / Westerberg / Brant
BC Challenge Race won: King Charles III Stakes
Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile Contenders
The BREEDERS' CUP DIRT MILE (GI) is a one mile race for 3-year-olds and up. The race carries a guaranteed purse of $1 million, including travel awards.
HERR KITTEN (BRZ)
Jockey: Carlos Lavor
Trainer: Ricardo Colombo
Owner: Los Trico
BC Challenge Race won: Gran Premio Pedro Pineyrua
NYSOS
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Owner: Baoma Corporation
BC Challenge Race won: Metropolitan Handicap
Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Contenders
The BREEDERS' CUP FILLY & MARE TURF (GI) is a 1 1/8-mile race for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up, to be run on the turf. The race carries a guaranteed purse of $2 million, including travel awards.
WISH LIST (SAF)
Jockey: Andrew Fortune
Trainer: Justin Snaith
Owner: Main Chance Farm (Johnathan Bloch and Nancy Hossack)
BC Challenge Race won: Cartier Paddock Stakes
SE VA COLANDO (ARG)
Jockey: Huber Bocanegra
Trainer: J. Suárez Villaroel
Owner: Stud Jet Set
BC Challenge Race won: Gran Premio Pamplona
EMBROIDERY (JPN)
Jockey: Christophe Patrice Lemaire
Trainer: Kazutomo Mori
Owner: Silk Racing Co. Ltd.
BC Challenge Race won: Victoria Mile
Breeders' Cup Sprint Contenders
The BREEDERS' CUP SPRINT (GI) is a six furlong race for 3-year-olds and up. The race carries a guaranteed purse of $1.5 million, including travel awards.
IMAGINATION
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Owner: SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Bashor Racing LLC, Masterson, Robert E., Waves Edge Capital LLC, Donovan, Catherine and Ryan, Tom J.
BC Challenge Race won: Riyadh Dirt Sprint
DARK SAFFRON
Jockey: Connor Beasley
Trainer: Ahmad bin Harmash
Owner: Sultan Ali
BC Challenge Race won: Dubai Golden Shaheen
Breeders' Cup Mile Contenders
The BREEDERS' CUP MILE (GI) is a one mile race for 3-year-olds and up, to be run on the turf. The race carries a guaranteed purse of $2 million, including travel awards.
THE REAL PRINCE (SAF)
Jockey: Craig Zackey
Trainer: Dean Kannemeyer
Owner: Khaya Stables Ltd.
BC Challenge Race won: L'Ormarins King's Plate
OMBUDSMAN (IRE)
Jockey: William Buick
Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
Owner: Godolphin
BC Challenge Race won: Dubai Turf
SIXPENCE (JPN)
Jockey: Yutaka Take
Trainer: Hiroyasu Tanaka
Owner: Carrot Farm
BC Challenge Race won: Yasuda Kinen
TEN BOB TONY (IRE)
Jockey: Kieran Shoemaker
Trainer: Ed Walker
Owner: TBT Racing
BC Challenge Race won: Queen Anne Stakes
Breeders' Cup Distaff Contenders
The BREEDERS' CUP DISTAFF (GI) is a 1 1/8-mile race for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up. The race carries a guaranteed purse of $2 million, including travel awards.
CLARET BERET
Jockey: Micah J. Husbands
Trainer: Saffie A. Joseph Jr.
Owner: Miller Racing LLC
BC Challenge Race won: Apple Blossom Handicap
HERD IMMUNITY (ARG)
Jockey: Francisco Lavigna
Trainer: Angel Perez
Owner: Stud Volver Al Futuro
BC Challenge Race won: Gran Premio Criadores
NITROGEN
Jockey: Jose L. Ortiz
Trainer: Mark E. Casse
Owner: D. J. Stable LLC
BC Challenge Race won: Ogden Phipps Stakes
Breeders' Cup Turf Contenders
The BREEDERS' CUP TURF (GI) is a 1 1/2-mile race for 3-year-olds and up, to be run on the turf. The race carries a guaranteed purse of $4 million, including travel awards.
OBATAYE (BRZ)
Jockey: Joao Moreira
Trainer: Antonio Oldoni
Owner: Hara Rio Iguassu
BC Challenge Race won: Gran Premio International Carlos Pellegrini Stakes
CALANDAGAN (IRE)
Jockey: Mickael Barzalona
Trainer: Francis-Henri Graffard
Owner: H. H. Aga Khan
BC Challenge Race won: Dubai Sheema Classic
ECCENTRIC (CHI)
Jockey: Oscar Ulloa
Trainer: Patricio Baeza
Owner: Don Alberto Stable
BC Challenge Race won: Gran Premio Club Hipico Falabella
MEISHO TABARU (JPN)
Jockey: Yutaka Take
Trainer: Mamoru Ishibashi
Owner: Yoshio Matsumoto
BC Challenge Race won: Takarazuka Kinen
OMBUDSMAN (IRE)
Jockey: William Buick
Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
Owner: Godolphin
BC Challenge Race won: Prince of Wales's Stakes
Breeders' Cup Classic Contenders
The BREEDERS' CUP CLASSIC (GI) is a 1 1/4-mile race for 3-year-olds and up. The race carries a guaranteed purse of $6 million, including travel awards.
SKIPPYLONGSTOCKING
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione
Trainer: Saffie A. Joseph Jr.
Owner: Daniel Alonso
BC Challenge Race won: Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes
FOREVER YOUNG (JPN)
Jockey: Ryusei Sakai
Trainer: Yoshito Yahagi
Owner: Susumu Fujita
BC Challenge Race won: Saudi Cup
COSTA NOVA (JPN)
Jockey: Christpohe Lemaire
Trainer: Tetsuya Kimura
Owner: Katsumi Yoshida
BC Challenge Race won: February Stakes
MAGNITUDE
Jockey: Jose L. Ortiz
Trainer: Steven M. Assmussen
Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC
BC Challenge Race won: Dubai World Cup