Breeders’ Cup Roundup: Knightsbridge crushes Pacific Classic

The 2026 Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland is 67 days away. Catch up on the latest news and developments with our weekly Breeders’ Cup Roundup:

Knightsbridge romps in Pacific Classic

Knightsbridge secured a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) when delivering a decisive victory in the 1 1/4-mile Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar.

Stepping up in class and distance off a runaway win in the 1 1/8-mile Monmouth Cup (G3), Knightsbridge delivered another impressive performance in his longest race to date. He dueled with 2024 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner Full Serrano through quick fractions of :23.17, :45.94, 1:10.02, and 1:35.66 before kicking away in the final quarter-mile to dominate by 6 1/4 lengths in 2:02.28.

Original Sin rallied to finish second, while Full Serrano held on for third place.

Bacio, Item, Kalpana, Haffner qualify via York

Four Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series qualifiers took place at York Racecourse in England last week.

The five-furlong Nunthorpe (G1) awarded a Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) berth to Bacio, a Wesley Ward trainee who led all the way to triumph by 1 1/4 lengths in :59.42. In the process, he beat an accomplished field including 2024 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner Starlust, who finished second.

The 1 5/16-mile Juddmonte International (G1), a Breeders’ Cup Classic qualifier, ended in an upset as Item overcame homestretch traffic trouble to defeat Almaqam by a head in 2:08.44. Constitution River finished third, followed by Ombudsman, a Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) qualifier who ran below expectations as the favorite.

In the 1 1/2-mile Yorkshire Oaks (G1),  a qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (G1) winner Kalpana fought valiantly to turn back a challenge from Sparan Nua and prevail by a short head in 2:36.00. Reigning Yorkshire Oaks winner Minnie Hauk, the beaten favorite in the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Turf, checked in third.

The seven-furlong Acomb (G3) awarded a Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) entry to Haffner, an Aidan O’Brien trainee who outkicked nine rivals to score by two lengths in 1:25.96.

Also of note, though it wasn't a Breeders' Cup qualifier, the seven-furlong City of York (G1) went to 2025 Breeders' Cup Mile winner Notable Speech, who triumphed by 2 3/4 lengths to secure his second Group 1 win of the season.

Sorrento Sky earns Turf Sprint berth in Green Flash

Sorrento Sky stamped his ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint with a 7-1 upset victory in the five-furlong Green Flash H. (G3) at Del Mar.

After trailing the field early, Sorrento Sky gobbled up ground to beat No Nay Hudson by one length in :56.12. Virat ran third, while favored Motorious—seeking a fourth straight win in the race—closed only belatedly to finish fourth.

Golden Tempo, Renegade meet again in Travers

Although it isn’t part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series, Saturday’s Travers (G1) at Saratoga is an important prep for the Breeders’ Cup Classic, and the 1 1/4-mile race for three-year-olds has drawn a terrific field.

Golden Tempo, winner of the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont (G1), leads the lineup. Renegade, the Arkansas Derby (G1) winner who finished second in the Kentucky Derby and third in the Belmont, will seek to turn the tables on Golden Tempo.

The 10-horse field also includes Preakness (G1) winner Napoleon Solo, Kentucky Derby third-place finisher Ocelli, Haskell (G1) hero Baby Vino, Arkansas Derby runner-up Silent Tactic, Curlin S. winner Sea Strike, Florida Derby (G1) runner-up The Puma, Louisiana Derby (G2) conqueror Emerging Market, and Indiana Derby (G3) winner Leading Change.

Three Grade 1 qualifiers slated for Saturday at Saratoga

A trio of Grade 1 races on the Travers undercard will award Win and You’re In berths to the Breeders’ Cup.

The seven-furlong Forego (G1) is a stepping stone to the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1). Reigning champion male sprinter Book’em Danno and Godolphin Mile (G2) winner Banishing lead the eight-horse lineup.

A Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) entry is up for grabs in the seven-furlong Ballerina (G1). A dozen horses have entered, including Madison (G1) winner Eclatant, Derby City Distaff (G1) heroine R Disaster, 2024 and 2025 Test (G1) winners Ways and Means and Kilwin, and 2025 La Brea (G1) victor Usha.

Half a dozen fillies and mares will seek a Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) berth in the 1 1/8-mile Personal Ensign (G1). Multiple Grade 1 winner Scottish Lassie and recent Shuvee (G2) winner Fully Subscribed are two of the most accomplished contenders.

Pat O’Brien, Del Mar Handicap award tickets at Del Mar

The Saturday card at Del Mar features two Breeders’ Cup qualifiers.

The seven-furlong Pat O’Brien (G2) awards an entry into the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. Dr. Venkman and Stronghold, the top two finishers from the 2025 Pat O’Brien, are back for a rematch. Another prominent entrant is 2024 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf runner-up Iron Man Cal.

The 1 3/8-mile Del Mar H. (G2) is a stepping stone to the Breeders’ Cup Turf. Gold Phoenix has won the last four editions of the race and has a strong chance to nab a fifth while entering off wins in the Eddie Read (G2) and San Juan Capistrano (G3). Multiple Grade 1 winner Test Score and multiple graded stakes winners Mondego and Atitlan are key challengers.

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
Kalpana
Meisho Tabaru
Obataye
Ombudsman
Survie

Breeders’ Cup Distaff

Claret Beret
Eunomia
Herd Immunity
Immersive
Nitrogen

Breeders’ Cup Mile

Bow Echo
Deterministic
Ombudsman
Sixpence
Ten Bob Tony
The Real Prince

Breeders’ Cup Sprint

Dark Saffron
Imagination
Listenupshance

Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile

Herr Kitten
Nysos

Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf

Diamond Necklace
Embroidery
Kalpana
Se Va Colando
Wish List

Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint

Bacio
Kingdundee
Mission Central
Reef Runner
Sorrento Sky

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf

Haffner

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf

Moonrise

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint

Orthodox
Pershaada