2026 Breeders' Cup: Spotlighting top returnees from 2025

One of the nice things about the Breeders’ Cup is the chance for an annual catch-up with some familiar equine friends.

This year, more than 30 horses that have already contested a Breeders’ Cup race are returning for another shot, with another couple among the also-entered group. A few of them, such as likely Classic favorite Forever Young, have run twice at the Breeders’ Cup, while one, the seven-year-old Nakatomi, is back for his fourth start, all in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

What makes the Breeders’ Cup unique is that returning horses usually face a different track. So though many have run in the end-of-year championships before, most haven’t done so at Keeneland. This could help those behind some of the previously defeated brigade believe their fortunes can change this time.

Most racing fans know about Forever Young and Notable Speech, two horses seeking to defend their titles in the Classic and Mile, respectively. This story instead highlights some of the lesser-known and perhaps more intriguing tales.

Shisospicy: Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint

Shisospicy looked like a sprinter with an enormous future when she became the first three-year-old filly to win the Turf Sprint last year, dominating by 2-1/2 lengths. But 2026 has been a virtual write-off. She finished last of seven on her return in the Unbridled Sidney (G2) on May 1, and has been kept off the track with a series of illnesses since. Therefore, she contests the Turf Sprint with just one race in the last 12 months, and this year she has to beat 2024 winner Starlust, 2025 Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Cy Fair, multiple Group 1 winner Comanche Brave, and the favored Wesley Ward-trained Nunthorpe (G1) winner Bacio. It will be a great training effort from trainer Jose D’Angelo if Shisospicy can do it.

Super Corredora: Breeders' Cup Distaff

Like Shisospicy, Super Corredora has had an interesting time since triumphing at last year’s Breeders’ Cup in the Juvenile Fillies. In two potential Kentucky Oaks preps at the beginning of 2026, she finished down the track, necessitating a break. But she returned in style to win the Zenyatta (G2) on Sept. 27, recording a career-best Brisnet Speed Rating in the process. She didn’t win her first race of 2025 until fall arrived, then followed it up with a Breeders’ Cup victory; can she do the same in 2026? 

Splendora: Breeders' Cup Distaff

The list of horses that have won two different Breeders’ Cup events open to all ages is very short: Zenyatta (2008 Distaff and 2009 Classic) and Knicks Go (2020 Dirt Mile, 2021 Classic). Splendora is attempting to become the third by adding the 2026 Distaff to the Filly & Mare Sprint that she won a year ago. Her three efforts at 1 1/16 miles this year have all been successful, though they have been in Grade 2 rather than Grade 1 company. She faces her toughest test against much stronger company, but she will have supporters believing in her.

Full Serrano: Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile

The Argentine-bred Full Serrano is one of those horses that flies under the radar, only to then come up with a top effort. Two years ago he started at 13-1 in the Dirt Mile and scored by 1-1/2 lengths, and last year he was fifth, a long way behind Nysos. One significant thing to note: in 2024 he used the Pacific Classic (G1) in late August as his final lead-up, finishing second; last year he was second in the Goodwood (G1) in late September prior to his disappointing Dirt Mile run. This year he’s followed the Pacific Classic path again, finishing third to Knightsbridge; it’s possible the extended lead-in to the Dirt Mile can work again for him.

Rhetorical: Breeders' Cup Mile

North American-trained horses are finding it harder to win the Breeders’ Cup Mile, having triumphed just twice in the past eight runnings, with Godolphin’s Charlie Appleby winning four of the last five. Appleby is favored to do it again with Notable Speech, but William Walden hopes last year’s fourth-place finisher Rhetorical can turn the result around. Potentially in his favor this year is the shift from Del Mar to Keeneland, where Rhetorical has excelled from three starts at the Lexington track. He’s won two versions of the Turf Mile (G1) and finished third in the Maker’s Mark Mile (G1).