Breeders’ Cup Roundup: Survie strikes in Christophe Clement

The 2026 Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland is 74 days away. Catch up on the latest news and developments with our weekly Breeders’ Cup Roundup:

Survie earns Turf ticket in Christophe Clement

Survie, a five-year-old mare who has competed in France, England, and Saudi Arabia, brought her U.S. record to a perfect 2-for-2 when she defeated males in the 1 1/2-mile Christophe Clement (G1) at Saratoga last Saturday.

Running back only 13 days after winning Saratoga’s Glens Falls (G2) against fillies and mares, Survie overcame a challenging pace scenario to prevail in the Christophe Clement. Racing over a yielding turf course, she trailed pedestrian fractions of :26.24, :52.56, 1:18.98, and 1:43.92 and was still in last place with a furlong remaining. However, she gobbled up ground down the homestretch and surged past the pace-tracking Minaret Station to win by three-quarters of a length in 2:31.55.

Program Trading, Ancient Egypt, Tawny Port, and Ole Crazy Bone completed the order of finish.

Winning the Christophe Clement secured Survie a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1). Plans call for Survie to head home to England before returning stateside for the Breeders’ Cup Turf.

“The plan was always to run her twice and then bring her home and prepare her for Keeneland,” trainer George Boughey told the New York Racing Association. “I’d like to get her back home and give her an easy time for a little bit—she doesn’t take a huge amount of training—and then ship her out with the normal horses for the Breeders’ Cup. I think she’ll fly home Wednesday or Thursday this week.”

Knightsbridge faces 10 rivals in Pacific Classic

This Saturday, 11 horses will vie for a Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) berth in the 1 1/4-mile Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar.

The field is led by Knightsbridge, a Godolphin homebred fresh off a 10 1/4-length romp in the Monmouth Cup (G3). That runaway win yielded a 119 Brisnet Speed rating, by far the highest number belonging to any horse entered in the Pacific Classic.

Knightsbridge will square off against four proven Grade/Group 1 winners in the Pacific Classic: 2025 Dubai World Cup (G1) conqueror Hit Show, 2024 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner Full Serrano, 2026 Santa Anita H. (G1) hero British Isles, 2024 California Crown (G1) winner Subsanador.

Finger, winner of the rich Tokyo Derby, is shipping in from Japan. The filly Om N Joy is facing males after running a close second in the Clement L. Hirsch (G1) at Del Mar. Forged Steel, runaway winner of the Hollywood Gold Cup (G2), is returning to California following a subpar showing in the Suburban (G2) at Saratoga.

Hollywood Gold Cup runner-up Malarchuk and recent Cornhusker H. (G3) winner Navajo Warrior complete the field.

Motorious aims for fourth straight Green Flash H. win

Motorious has won the last three editions of the Green Flash H. (G2) at Del Mar, and on Saturday he’ll seek a fourth straight win in the five-furlong turf sprint, which awards a Win and You’re In berth to the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1).

Motorious recently returned from a long layoff to finish a close second in a $100,000 allowance optional claimer at Del Mar. The winner, Sumter, and third-place finisher, Sorrento Sky, are back for the Green Flash.

Last year’s Nearctic (G2) winner No Nay Hudson and six-time stakes winner Man O Rose are other accomplished names in the entries. Monster, Mescalero, Incanto, Virat, and Saratoga Special complete the lineup.

Ombudsman, Constitution River meet in Juddmonte International

A Breeders’ Cup Classic berth is up for grabs on Wednesday in the prestigious Juddmonte International (G1) at York in England.

A deep field has assembled for the 1 5/16-mile race. Reigning Juddmonte International winner Ombudsman is back to defend his title, but to do so, he’ll have to beat accomplished three-year-old Constitution River, who boasts back-to-back wins in the Prix du Jockey Club (G1) and Eclipse (G1).

Tattersalls Gold Cup (G1) winner Almaqam, Futurity Trophy (G1) hero Hawk Mountain, and York (G2) winner Item add further depth to the field. Action, Devil’s Advocate, Pride of Arras, and Zaydann round out the field.

Yorkshire Oaks, Nunthorpe among other York qualifiers

Three other Breeders’ Cup qualifiers are taking place at York this week.

On Wednesday, the seven-furlong Acomb (G3) will award an entry into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1). Vintage (G2) runner-up Haffner is shaping up as the favorite, with flashy maiden winner Trean and Pat Eddery S. winner Alfred Wallace ranking as other logical contenders. Big Cigar, Clash of Hearts, Confucius, Fuel the Jet, Gentle Hurricane, Siouxperb, Stardom Glory, and Vega King complete the field.

The feature event on Thursday is the Yorkshire Oaks (G1), a 1 1/2-mile stepping stone to the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1). Entries haven’t been finalized, but the early betting favors Kalpana, who defeated males in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (G1) last month. Reigning Yorkshire Oaks winner Minnie Hauk and recent Irish Oaks (G1) winner Johanna Walsh are other well-regarded contenders.

The qualifying action concludes on Friday with the five-furlong Nunthorpe (G1), a Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint qualifier. Three-year-old Bacio, a Wesley Ward trainee who dominated the Palace of Holyroodhouse handicap at Royal Ascot, is favored in the early betting. King Charles III (G1) 1-2 finishers Mission Central and Rayevka, recent King George (G2) winner American Affair, and defending Nunthorpe winner Asfoora are among the other possible starters.

Breeders’ Cup Classic future wagers slated for August, September

The Breeders’ Cup and Keeneland announced on Monday that two Breeders’ Cup Classic future wager pools will be offered in the near future.

The first pool will be open for betting from Aug. 28-30. The second will run from Sept. 25-27. Each pool will feature 24 betting interests, including an “All Others” option to cover horses not individually listed.

More information, such as the lists of betting interests, will be revealed before each pool opens.

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:

Breeders’ Cup Classic

Baby Vino
Costa Nova
Forever Young
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 (retired)
Deterministic
Ombudsman
Sixpence
Ten Bob Tony
The Real Prince

Breeders’ Cup Sprint

Dark Saffron
Imagination
Listenupshance

Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile

Herr Kitten
Nysos (retired)

Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf

Diamond Necklace
Embroidery
Se Va Colando
Wish List

Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint

Kingdundee
Mission Central
Reef Runner

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf

Moonrise

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint

Orthodox
Pershaada