Breeders’ Cup Roundup: Forever Young wins Classic prep

The 2026 Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland is 39 days away. Catch up on the latest news and developments with our weekly Breeders’ Cup Roundup:

Forever Young rebounds in Jockey Club Gold Cup

Since the inaugural Breeders’ Cup in 1984, only Tiznow has won the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) twice, in 2000-01.

Will Forever Young join this exclusive club? Last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic winner took a big step toward defending his title when scoring a decisive victory in Friday’s Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at newly reopened Belmont Park.

Racing for the first time since finishing second in the March 28 Dubai World Cup (G1), Forever Young bounced back to winning form in his first U.S. start since last year’s Classic. Favored at 2-5 against three rivals, Forever Young stalked fractions of :25.04, :48.34, and 1:11.96 in second place before taking over to triumph by 3 1/4 lengths in 2:01.23.

The Jockey Club Gold Cup awarded a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Breeders’ Cup Classic, though for Forever Young it was a redundant prize, since he’d already qualified via a win in the Saudi Cup (G1).

Breeders’ Cup Classic Future Wager on the agenda

The second and final Breeders’ Cup Classic Future Wager pool of 2027 opens on Friday at noon ET and closes on Sunday at 6:00 p.m. ET.

Betting interests for pool two haven’t been announced yet, but Forever Young is bound to be a popular choice. 2025 Horse of the Year Sovereignty, the 3-1 favorite in pool one, could also vie for favoritism, even after missing the Jockey Club Gold Cup with a foot abscess.

Goodwood offers path to Classic

The Santa Anita autumn meet kicks off this week with a bevy of stakes on the agenda. One of the most prestigious is Saturday’s Goodwood (G1), a 1 1/8-mile prize awarding a Win and You’re In berth to the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Entries for the Goodwood haven’t been finalized yet, but nominees include Santa Anita H. (G1) winner British Isles, Hollywood Gold Cup (G2) conqueror Forged Steel, last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) runner-up Mr. A. P., and defending Goodwood winner Nevada Beach.

Mile, Distaff entries on the line at Santa Anita

The Saturday card at Santa Anita also includes the City of Hope Mile (G2), a qualifier to the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1).

Horses nominated for the one-mile grass contest include 2025 Shoemaker Mile (G1) winner King of Gosford, two-time Thunder Road (G3) hero El Potente, and Chilean-bred Teao, who has won several Group 1 prizes in Chile and Peru.

On Sunday, Santa Anita will host the 1 1/16-mile Zenyatta (G2), a stepping stone to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1). Among the nominees are 2025 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) winner Super Corredora, unbeaten Torrey Pines (G3) winner Rabeeba, and Clement L. Hirsch (G1) runner-up Om N Joy.

Sprint berths up for grabs from coast to coast

A pair of graded sprint stakes at opposite ends of the country will award Win and You’re Earn berths to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1).

Up first is Saturday’s Vosburgh (G3) at Belmont Park. The seven-furlong dash has drawn 10 entries, including Senior Officer and T Kraft, who finished in a dead heat for second place in last month’s Forego (G1).

Crazy Mason, winner of the 2025 Carter (G2), Moonlight, runner-up in last month’s Pat O’Brien (G2), and Contrary Thinking, a participant in the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Classic, are other notable entrants.

Then on Sunday, Santa Anita hosts the six-furlong Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G2). Nominees include Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G2) winner and 2025 Breeders’ Cup Sprint runner-up Imagination, Bing Crosby (G1) hero Listenupshance, and six-time stakes winner Big City Lights.

Gezora, Kathynmarissa lead Flower Bowl field

Reigning Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) winner Gezora will seek a return ticket to the Filly & Mare Turf when facing 10 rivals in Saturday’s Flower Bowl (G2) racing 1 1/4 miles at Belmont Park.

Gezora aims to rebound from a trio of defeats this season. To do so, she’ll have to beat accomplished rivals such as Diana (G1) winner Kathynmarissa, Waya (G3) heroine Evershed, and last year’s Belmont Oaks (G1) winner Fionn.

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
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

Breeders’ Cup Mile

Bow Echo
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