Breeders’ Cup Roundup: Emphatic, Hughes among 23 qualifiers

The 2026 Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland is 25 days away. Catch up on the latest news and developments with our weekly Breeders’ Cup Roundup:

Domestic Agenda, Kathynmarissa among notable qualifiers at Belmont

Half a dozen Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series qualifiers, four of them for two-year-olds, took place at Belmont Park last week.

Domestic Agenda could rank among the favorites for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) after launching an eye-catching rally to trounce the 1 1/16-mile Miss Grillo (G2) by 4 1/2 lengths in 1:41.34.

The one-mile Champagne (G1), a stepping stone to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), went impressively to U. S. S. Valor, who crushed his rivals by 6 1/2 lengths in 1:34.84. However, owner Team Valor International has indicated that U. S. S. Valor will skip the Breeders’ Cup.

Let Em Know grabbed a Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) berth in the 1 1/16-mile Pilgrim (G2) when he charged from fourth place to win by half a length in 1:42.15.

The Futurity (G3), a six-furlong Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1) qualifier, saw Good to Be King launch a late rally from far behind blazing pace fractions to win by one length in 1:09.06.

In the seven-furlong Vosburgh (G3), T Kraft battled to victory by a nose in 1:22.78, earning a berth to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1).

Diana (G1) winner Kathynmarissa cemented her credentials as a Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) threat by rallying to win the 1 1/4-mile Flower Bowl (G2) by three-quarters of a length in 2:00.58.

Emphatic, Rhetorical among big winners at Keeneland

Opening week at Keeneland featured eight Breeders’ Cup qualifiers.

Emphatic secured a Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) berth with a fast win in the 1 1/16-mile Alcibiades (G1). She led all the way to beat Spinaway (G1) winner Summer Starlet by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:43.40.

The Jessamine (G2), a Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf prep, went to 22-1 longshot Serenas Ghost, who rated in fourth place before charging home on top by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:45.57.

Seven-year-old veteran Nakatomi, the third-place finisher from the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Sprint, earned a ticket to compete in his fourth straight Sprint after rallying from last place to win the six-furlong Phoenix (G2) by one length in 1:09.93.

American History secured a 1 1/16-mile Breeders’ Cup Juvenile berth by rallying from behind a speed duel to triumph in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1), hitting the wire one length clear in 1:44.88.

Rhetorical is shaping up as a Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) contender after leading all the way to win the Coolmore Turf Mile (G1) for the second straight year. He completed one mile in 1:36.35.

The 6 1/2-furlong Thoroughbred Club of America (G2), a Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) qualifier, saw Evanescence rally from fifth place to catch a clear leader by a neck in 1:16.57.

Fully Subscribed looms as the probable Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) favorite after posting a comfortable 3 1/4-length victory in the 1 1/8-mile Spinster (G1), hitting the finish line in 1:50.60.

Agate is one of North America’s leading contenders for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf after charging from seventh place to take the 1 1/16-mile Bourbon (G2) by 1 3/4 lengths in 1:42.64.

Hughes cements Juvenile favoritism with American Pharoah romp

A trio of Breeders’ Cup qualifiers on Saturday at Santa Anita produced contenders for three different races.

Hughes is shaping up as a heavy favorite for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile after pouncing from just off the pace to win the 1 1/16-mile American Pharoah (G1) by six lengths in 1:43.22, bringing his career record to 4-for-4.

Domain Expansion couldn’t have been more visually impressive in the Oak Leaf (G2), powering clear in the homestretch to dominate the 1 1/16-mile Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies qualifier by seven lengths in 1:44.44.

The Rodeo Drive (G2), a 1 1/4-mile stepping stone to the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, saw Thought Process lead all the way to a 4 1/4 length win in 1:58.47.

Breeders’ Cup contenders emerge from ParisLongchamp qualifiers

Six Group 1 races on Sunday at ParisLongchamp in France could produce contenders for a variety of Breeders’ Cup races.

The 2,400-meter Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) went to Daryz for the second straight year. The French star triumphed by 1 1/4 lengths in 2:27.11, but is unlikely to utilize his fees-paid ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1). However, third-place finisher Diamond Necklace could target the Breeders’ Cup per At The Races.

In the 2,000-meter Prix de l’Opera (G1), Miss Scott secured a Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf berth when triumphing by 1 1/2 lengths over four-time Group 1 winner Precise. She reached the finish line in 2:02.41.

True Love, a participant in the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, could be bound for the Breeders’ Cup Mile after winning the 1,400-meter Prix de la Foret (G1) by a head in 1:18.75.

Miss Yechance earned a ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) when battling to victory by a neck in the five-furlong Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp (G1). She reached the wire in :55.08.

The 1,400-meter Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (G1) awarded a Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf berth to Amusingly, who rallied to triumph by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:19.40.

Green Empress secured a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf when winning the 1,600-meter Prix Marcel Boussac (G1) by a head in 1:37.02.

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
Daryz
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
Rhetorical
Sixpence
Ten Bob Tony
The Real Prince
True Love

Breeders’ Cup Sprint

Dark Saffron
Dragon Welds
Imagination
Listenupshance
Nakatomi
T Kraft

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
Kathynmarissa
Miss Scott
Se Va Colando
Thought Process
Wish List

Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint

Evanescence
Kerry’s Kiss
Ways and Means

Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint

Bacio
Comanche Brave
Kingdundee
Miss Yechance
Mission Central
Possiblemente
Reef Runner
Sorrento Sky

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf

Agate
Al Hudaiba
Amusingly
Folsom Blues
Haffner
Let Em Know

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile

American History
Hughes
U. S. S. Valor

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies

Domain Expansion
Emphatic
Summer Starlet

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf

Domestic Agenda
Green Empress
Moonrise
Serenas Ghost
Sun Goddess
Voyager

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint

Good to Be King
Orthodox
Pershaada