Breeders’ Cup Roundup: 23 qualifiers to watch this week

Forged Steel wins the Goodwood at Santa Antia. (Photo by Benoit Photo)

The 2026 Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland is 32 days away. Catch up on the latest news and developments with our weekly Breeders’ Cup Roundup:

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Forged Steel among four qualifiers at Santa Anita

A quartet of Breeders’ Cup qualifiers took place at Santa Anita last weekend.

Forged Steel claimed victory in the Goodwood (G1), a 1 1/8-mile stepping stone to the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). Winner of the Hollywood Gold Cup (G2) during the spring, Forged Steel bounced back from a couple of defeats to score a pace-pressing victory in the Goodwood, holding on by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:48.48.

Cabo Spirit stamped his ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) by winning the City of Hope Mile (G2). After carving out the pace in a five-horse field, he dug deep to prevail by a head in 1:33.06.

In the six-furlong Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G2), a prep for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1), Bing Crosby (G1) winner Listenupshance led all the way through intense splits of :21.98 and :43.86 to defeat two rivals by three-quarters of a length. He reached the wire in 1:08.70.

Lastly, 2025 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) winner Super Corredora returned from a long layoff to wire the 1 1/16-mile Zenyatta (G2), a stepping stone to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1). She bounced back from defeats in the Santa Ysabel (G3) and Las Virgenes S. last winter to triumph by 2 3/4 lengths in 1:42.93.

Forever Young favored in Breeders’ Cup Classic Future Wager Pool 2

The second and final future wager pool in advance of the Breeders’ Cup Classic closed on Sunday with reigning Classic winner Forever Young favored at odds of 5-2 following a recent triumph in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1).

Sovereignty, the 2025 Horse of the Year who missed the Jockey Club Gold Cup due to a foot abscess, closed as the 9-2 second choice over Pacific Classic (G1) winner Knightsbridge and Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Golden Tempo, both settled at 6-1.

Two Breeders’ Cup qualifiers postponed to Thursday

Bad weather in New York prevented Belmont Park from hosting racing last weekend. As a result, a pair of Breeders’ Cup qualifiers have been postponed to Thursday:

The Vosburgh (G3), a prep for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1), features a nine-horse field led by Forego (G1) runners-up T Kraft and Senior Officer.
The Flower Bowl (G2), a Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) qualifier, boasts 11 entries, including reigning Filly & Mare Turf winner Gezora and Diana (G1) heroine Kathynmarissa.

Keeneland fall meet offers eight Breeders’ Cup qualifiers

The Keeneland Fall Meet opens on Friday, and the first three days of the meet include eight Win and You’re In qualifiers for the Breeders’ Cup:

Friday’s Alcibiades (G1) is an important prep for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.
Friday’s Phoenix (G2) serves as a stop on the way to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.
Friday’s Jessamine (G2) awards the winner a berth to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1).
Saturday’s Breeders’ Futurity (G1) is a high-profile Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) qualifier.
Saturday’s Turf Mile (G1) is a stepping stone to the Breeders’ Cup Mile.
Saturday’s Thoroughbred Club of America (G2) is a Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) prep.
Sunday’s Spinster (G1) points toward the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.
Sunday’s Bourbon (G2) is a Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) qualifier.

Belmont’s Saturday card includes four Breeders’ Cup preps

A quartet of graded stakes taking place on Saturday at Belmont Park award entries into the Breeders’ Cup:

The Champagne (G1) is a stepping stone to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. U. S. S. Valor and Gaudreau, a pair of highly promising maiden winners, lead the six-horse lineup.

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A Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1) berth is up for grabs in the Futurity (G3). A bevy of stakes-experienced runners have entered, including Luminous Beauty, runner-up by a neck in the Untapable S. at Kentucky Downs.
The Miss Grillo (G2) awards the winner a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. The field includes Bounce Back and Runaway Bride, who are running back three weeks after finishing fourth and fifth in the Natalma (G1).
The Pilgrim (G2) serves as a prep for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. Dover Street, a European raider shipping in off a runner-up finish in the Solario (G3), is an intriguing contender in the 12-horse field.

American Pharoah leads final three Santa Anita qualifiers

The final three Breeders’ Cup qualifiers taking place at Santa Anita are scheduled for Saturday:

The American Pharoah (G1) is an important stop on the way to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
The Oak Leaf (G2) is a prep for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.
The Rodeo Drive (G2) awards an entry into the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

Six qualifiers on the agenda in France

On Sunday at ParisLongchamp in France, half a dozen Breeders’ Cup qualifiers are taking place:

The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) awards a berth to the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1). Defending winner Daryz is favored over the accomplished mare Kalpana in the early betting.
The Prix Marcel Boussac (G1) serves as a steppingstone to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.
The Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp (G1) is a stop on the road to the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1).
The Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (G1) awards the winner an entry into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.
The Prix de l’Opera (G1) is a prominent steppingstone to the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.
The Prix de la Foret (G1) is a qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Mile.

Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series qualifiers

The following horses have secured Win and You’re In berths to the 2026 Breeders’ Cup via the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series. Not all qualifiers are currently active or targeting the Breeders’ Cup.

Breeders’ Cup Classic

Baby Vino
Costa Nova
Forever Young
Forged Steel
Item
Knightsbridge
Magnitude
Skippylongstocking
Sovereignty

Breeders’ Cup Turf

Calandagan
Eccentric
Hotazhell
Kalpana
Meisho Tabaru
Obataye
Ombudsman
Survie
Test Score
Tiffany

Breeders’ Cup Distaff

Claret Beret
Eunomia
Fully Subscribed
Herd Immunity
Immersive
Nitrogen
Super Corredora

Breeders’ Cup Mile

Bow Echo
Cabo Spirit
Deterministic
Notable Speech
Ombudsman
Sixpence
Ten Bob Tony
The Real Prince

Breeders’ Cup Sprint

Dark Saffron
Dragon Welds
Imagination
Listenupshance

Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile

Diktaean
Herr Kitten
Hymn
Iron Man Cal
Nysos

Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf

Blue Bolt
Diamond Necklace
Embroidery
Gimme a Nother
Kalpana
Se Va Colando
Wish List

Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint

Kerry’s Kiss
Ways and Means

Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint

Bacio
Comanche Brave
Kingdundee
Mission Central
Possiblemente
Reef Runner
Sorrento Sky

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf

Al Hudaiba
Folsom Blues
Haffner

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies

Summer Starlet

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf

Moonrise
Sun Goddess
Voyager

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint

Orthodox
Pershaada

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