Arc Day 2026: Selections for undercard Breeders’ Cup Challenge races

The first Sunday in October is more than just Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Day at Longchamp. It’s almost a Breeders’ Cup European turf equivalent, with six Group 1 races in total. All of them earn the winner a Breeders’ Cup spot, so it’s important for the United States as well. Let’s have a look at them.

Longchamp, Race 1, 7:31 a.m. Sunday ET

Prix Marcel Boussac (G1), 1,600m (about one mile), two-year-old fillies

• $10 win/$30 show: #8 Green Empress ($40)
• $1 trifecta: 8, 10 with 8, 10, 11 with 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11 ($24)

If it weren’t for Sun Goddess, Joseph O’Brien’s #8 Green Empress (5-2) would be unbeaten. Instead, her record reads one victory and three second-place finishes, all behind the outstanding Coolmore filly. Fortunately for Green Empress, Sun Goddess was directed to last week’s Chevely Park (G1) rather than this race, leaving the field open for a potential Group 1 victory.

O’Brien’s father Aidan and Coolmore aren’t leaving the field clear for Green Empress, as they start two American-bred fillies, #7 Ibelieveicanfly (12-1), by Frankel, and #2 So Lovely, by Wootton Bassett. Both were beaten at their last starts, and their best hope is if they enjoy the step up to a mile.

French runners #11 Data (6-1), from the stable of Christopher Head, and #5 Queen Of The Day (9-1), prepared by Francis-Henri Graffard, finished first and second in the Prix Six Perfections (G3) in August, though Data has been beaten since then. They have chances, but another French filly to watch for might be the unbeaten #10 Allela (4-1), a late entry after two wins from two starts.

English chances look to lie with Godolphin’s #4 Miss Miniver (8-1), fourth in the Rockfel (G2) last Friday, and #1 Spirit Tango (12-1), a winner of her last two who is tackling black type company for the first time.

Green Empress is a clear standout on form in this qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1), and if she gets the mile, it will take a very good effort to beat her.

Longchamp, Race 2, 8:09 a.m. Sunday ET

Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (G1), 1,400m (about seven furlongs), two-year-olds, no geldings

• $10 win/$30 show: #1 Folsom Blues ($40)
• $1 trifecta: 1, 10 with 1, 9, 10 with 1, 3, 4, 6, 9, 10 ($16)

Fillies have clearly been the standout among Europe’s juvenile brigade this year. This was illustrated most notably when #1 Folsom Blues (5-2), comfortably beaten in the Phoenix (G1) in Ireland by Sun Goddess, came out and beat the colts in the Vincent O’Brien National (G1) at his next start. He’s highly likely to start as the favorite here, especially with Joseph O’Brien having secured top French-based rider Mickael Barzalona.

His opposition in this, which provides entry to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1), is largely unproven at the top level. The French team is headed by the Coolmore-owned #6 Avec Toi (4-1), unbeaten in four for Christopher Head. He struggled to put away #3 Imperial Strike (9-2) in the Prix la Rochette (G3), but previously impressed on less firm footing in the Prix Francois Boutin (G3). This is tougher.

Aidan O’Brien has three runners: #4 Florida Bay (9-1), #8 Aix La Chapelle (30-1), and #9 Man’s Best Friend (7-1). The latter may be the best chance – he was fourth on soft going in the Prix Morny (G1), and should appreciate the extra furlong and better ground.

Interestingly, there is a filly contending: #10 Amusingly (8-1). She hasn’t faced the top fillies, but in a field that isn’t that strong on paper, she may be the toughest threat to Folsom Blues.

Longchamp, Race 3, 8:47 a.m. Sunday ET

Prix de l’Abbaye (G1), 1,000m (about five furlongs), two-year-olds and up

• $10 win/$30 show: #8 Rumstar ($40)
• $1 trifecta: 8, 15 with 8, 13, 15 with 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15 ($16)

Again, this isn’t the strongest edition of France’s premier sprint, in which the winner can take up a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1). This is probably shown by the fact that the three-year-old filly #15 Naana’s Shadow (4-1) may well start as the favorite despite having raced just once in Group stakes company, when winning the Prix du Petit Couvert (G3) here Sept. 13 from #12 Shiri (7-1). Another sophomore filly, #9 Miss Yechance (6-1), will have supporters following her victory in the World Trophy (G3).

Several of the runners have proved themselves at Group 1 level in England and Ireland this season. #7 Mission Central (8-1) won the King Charles III (G1), but his form has dropped off alarmingly since then. #8 Rumstar (5-1) and #13 Time For Sandals (10-1) were third and fourth in the Nunthorpe (G1); next out, Rumstar was third in the Flying Five (G1), in which #11 Argentine Tango (20-1) was sixth and Time For Sandals surprisingly failed.

This race could easily be primed for an upset, but I’m going to go with proven form and support Rumstar to break through.

Race 5 at 10:05 a.m. ET is the Arc – find selections here!

Longchamp, Race 6, 10:50 a.m. Sunday ET

Prix de l’Opera (G1), 2,000m (about 1 1/4 miles), fillies and mares, three-year-olds and up

• $10 win/$30 show: #8 Precise ($40)
• $ trifecta: 2, 3, 8 with 2, 3, 8 with 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9 ($24)

After three unsuccessful attempts to topple Blue Bolt at a mile, Aidan O’Brien is finally stepping #8 Precise (6-1) up to 1 1/4 miles in this Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) qualifier. She is by the sprinting-oriented Starspangledbanner, but being out of a Galileo mare, there’s a lot to suggest she’ll enjoy this journey.

What she does have to deal with is two very good French distaffers. #3 Pink Panthera (7-2) narrowly missed at Group 1 level twice this season, to Diamond Necklace in the Prix de Diane (French Oaks) (G1) and to Friendly Soul in the Prix Vermeille (G1). Both of those horses are in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, making her task easier here.

Also taking on this rather than the Arc is the well-proven #2 Aventure (7-5). She was second in the big race two years ago and 11th on heavy ground last year, but this year Christophe Ferland is taking the easier route. She beat Diamond Necklace in the Prix Jean et Louis Romanet (G1) at her last start, and will be very hard to roll here.

The improving #9 Miss Scott (9-1) will have supporters after winning the Snow Fairy (G3) at The Curragh, while #4 Timeforshowcasing (12-1) has run boldly in good company this year and can’t be left out, and #1 Cankoura (8-1), second at Saratoga in the New York (G1), also has claims. But the top three look like the ones to beat here.

Longchamp, Race 7, 11:25 a.m. Sunday ET

Prix de la Foret (G1), 1,400m (about seven furlongs), three-year-olds and up

• $10 win/$30 show: #4 Thesecretadversary ($40)
• $2 trifecta: 2, 4 with 1, 2, 4 with 1, 2, 4, 5, 8 ($24)

This seven-furlong contest provides entry to the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1), and the double was completed successfully by Space Blues in 2021. This year the race is dominated by three-year-olds, with all but one of the eight runners of that age.

Earlier this season, #4 Thesecretadversary (4-1) earned Irish trainer Fozzy Stack his first European Group 1 in the Prix Jean Prat at this trip, beating English 1,000 Guineas winner #8 True Love (8-1), with #5 Nighttime (5-1) third, #2 Samangan (3-2) fourth, and Rayif fifth.

Since then, the four principals have had varying fortunes. Rayif turned the tables on Thesecretadversary in the Prix Jacques le Marois (G1), Thesecretadversary perhaps not staying the extra furlong. Nighttime perhaps suffered the same fate when finishing fifth in the Prix du Moulin (G1).

True Love and Samangan met again in the 6-1/2 furlong Prix Maurice de Gheest (G1), and this time it was Samangan who came out on top, with True Love a fraction disappointing in fifth.

Of the others, the lone four-year-old #1 Marvelman (12-1) may be worth considering after running third to the globetrotting Notable Speech in the City of York (G1); his subsequent failure in the Haydock Sprint Cup (G1) can be put down to both a shorter trip and wet ground.

Samangan may have improved enough to win this, but I’m going for Thesecretadversary to enjoy the return to seven furlongs.