2026 Breeders’ Cup Classic: Brisnet Speed Rating Report

The $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) is the defining event of the 14-race, two-day Breeders’ Cup program, and Keeneland has featured two of the best winners: American Pharoah and Flightline. The Lexington, Ky. track will host the Classic for the fourth time this weekend and has attracted a sensational matchup between international superstar Forever Young and reigning Horse of the Year Sovereignty.

The eight-horse field features additional depth. Two notable elders, Stephen Foster (G1) and Dubai World Cup (G1) winner Magnitude and Pacific Classic (G1) romper Knightsbridge, are signed on. And presumptive three-year-old male champion, Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont (G1) winner Golden Tempo, brings a serious late kick to the 1 1/4-mile race.

Let’s review the Brisnet Speed ratings for 2026 Classic contenders, listing the field in order of top last-out number.

Analysis

Forever Young (112) will make his third consecutive Classic appearance, winning last year’s edition at Del Mar by a half-length. The five-year-old’s credentials are imposing, registering 112, 115, and 111 Brisnet Speed ratings in the last three American starts, and Forever Young has bankrolled more than $32 million while winning 12 of 16 career starts, never finishing out of the money. The Classic will be his second start back from a layoff, prepping with a convincing win in the Sept. 18 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Belmont Park, and the stalker has the tractability to make his own trip.

Knightsbridge (111) owns the top Speed rating in the Classic, netting a 119, winning the Monmouth Cup (G3) by 10 lengths two starts back, and the dark bay impressively dominated the 1 1/4-mile Pacific Classic by 6 1/2 lengths last time out. A middle-distance specialist until stretching out for the Monmouth Cup, Knightsbridge has evolved as a five-year-old and is fast enough to win based on numbers, but he will be tested for class after defeating less-than-distinguished rivals in the last two starts.

Sovereignty (110) was forced to miss the 2025 Classic due to a reported fever. The four-year-old will stretch back to his favorite distance, earning 103-111-112 figures, winning the Kentucky Derby, Belmont, and Travers (G1) at 10 furlongs last year, following a sharp score in the Whitney (G1) at Saratoga, but Sovereignty did miss a scheduled prep in the Jockey Club Gold Cup and trained in a bar shoe before being confirmed for the Classic. He’s healthy now for two-time Classic winner Bill Mott, working well at Keeneland in preparation, and Sovereignty looms as a formidable presence.

Napoleon Solo (106) earned his biggest win in the Preakness (G1) three starts back but netted only a 95 Speed rating. The three-year-old gray speedster has run faster in his last two outings, registering encouraging 104 and 106 Speed ratings, finishing second respectively in the Haskell (G1) and Travers (G1), but his threshold for the 1 1/4-mile trip was called into question when he coughed up a clear lead in the deep stretch of the latter. Under consideration for the Dirt Mile (G1), Napoleon Solo earned a shot at the Classic by training forwardly in preparation and promises to add early speed to the equation.

The Puma (105) made his career debut in mid-January, breaking his maiden in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) the third time out, and stamped his Kentucky Derby ticket finishing a nose second in the Florida Derby (G1). But he was forced to miss the Triple Crown due to a minor physical issue, returning with a troubled fourth in the Haskell (G1) and didn’t experience a good trip filling the same position in the Travers. Trainer Gustavo Delgado added blinkers for the Sept. 19 Pennsylvania Derby (G1), and The Puma responded with a career-best performance, recording a half-length victory over the fast-closing Further Ado. The improving three-year-old brings Brisnet Late Pace ratings of 114 and 117 to the equation, along with rising Speed ratings, and blinkers appear to have moved him up. The Puma must keep showing more in his first start against elders, but rates as intriguing based on numbers.

Golden Tempo (104) projects to receive the proper setup for his strong late kick, with a trio of possible early speed types entered, and he’s based at Keeneland, training forwardly in preparation for his Kentucky Derby upset and in recent drills for the Classic. The Cherie DeVaux-trained colt failed to register a triple-digit Speed rating while winning two legs of the Triple Crown, but Golden Tempo received encouraging triple-digit Speed and Late Pace numbers in his last outing and may be primed for a career-best from off the pace in the Classic.

Magnitude (92) has been freshened since early August and will seek to rebound after failing to fire in the Whitney (G1), weakening to sixth as the favorite. I am willing to draw a line through that effort – the four-year-old did not run well at Saratoga last year – and while there’s no guarantee the Steve Asmussen-trained colt will return to top form, Magnitude’s stellar win in the Stephen Foster (G1) two back, receiving a 110 Speed rating, leaving Sovereignty and other notable rivals in his wake, makes him a worthy win candidate. Magnitude defeated Forever Young in the Dubai World Cup three-back, notching his first win at the Classic distance, and has the tactical ability to lead or rate just off the early action. He needed a new jockey after Jose Ortiz opted to stick with Golden Tempo, adding the services of Flavien Prat, who has captured two of the last four Classics, including the 2022 edition aboard Flightline at Keeneland.

T O Password (n/a) has competed exclusively in Japan since shipping in to finish fifth in the 2024 Kentucky Derby, recording three wins over nine starts in 2025-26. Considered likely for the Dirt Mile, he was a surprise addition to the Classic, and his form and affinity for shorter distances offer little appeal in a deep field Saturday.