Fresh from his victory in the September 18 Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1) at the revamped Belmont Park, Forever Young, owned by Susumu Fujita and the 2025 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) champion, has claimed the top spot in the newest Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings. These rankings assess the leading 10 contenders for the $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, scheduled for October 31 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky, as part of the 43rd Breeders’ Cup World Championships.
Trained by Yoshito Yahagi, Forever Young received 364 votes, including 24 first-place selections, overtaking Sovereignty—Godolphin LLC’s Whitney Stakes (G1) and 2025 Kentucky Derby winner—who sits second with 355 votes, including 12 first-place votes. Sovereignty is conditioned by Bill Mott. Also spotlighted are Godolphin’s Knightsbridge, winner of the Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) and also trained by Mott, in third with 296 votes; Magnitude, victorious in the Dubai World Cup (G1) and Stephen Foster Stakes (G1) for Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC under trainer Steve Asmussen, in fourth with 270 votes; and Golden Tempo, winner of the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes (G1) from Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable and trained by Cherie DeVaux, holding fifth place with 245 votes.
Four-year-old filly Nitrogen, who placed second in the Whitney, is sixth with 129 votes for owner D.J. Stable LLC and trainer Mark Casse. The Puma, who recently triumphed in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) for OGMA Investments LLC and others, trained by Gustavo Delgado, joins the standings in seventh place with 103 votes. Napoleon Solo, owned by Espoir USA Inc. and trained by Chad Summers, clinched the Preakness Stakes (G1) and was second in the Travers Stakes (G1), ranking eighth with 102 votes. Ninth goes to Renegade, owned by Robert and Lawana Low and Repole Stable, Kentucky Derby runner-up and Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) winner, trained by Todd Pletcher, with 95 votes. Rounding out the top ten, Baeza, owned by CRK Stable LLC and Grandview Equine and finishing third in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, is tenth with 40 votes.
Automatic entries into the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic have been secured through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series “Win and You’re In” races by Sovereignty (Whitney), Forever Young (Saudi Cup and Jockey Club Gold Cup), Magnitude (Dubai World Cup and Stephen Foster), and Knightsbridge (Pacific Classic).
The rankings are compiled by a panel consisting of prominent Thoroughbred racing media, bettors, and members of the Breeders’ Cup Racing Directors/Secretaries Panel, with the next updates set for September 29 and the final one on October 6. Voters assign points based on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 scale to the leading contenders.
Note: The Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings do not affect the actual qualification or selection for the Classic.
The 2026 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic will cover 1 1/4 miles on Keeneland’s main track, with a maximum field of 14 runners, and will be broadcast live on NBC.
This article originally appeared in the Paulick Report’s News section on September 22, 2026. Add Paulick Report as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Fan Take: This update is thrilling for horse racing enthusiasts as it highlights the fierce competition leading into the Breeders’ Cup Classic, showcasing top talents destined for a showdown at Keeneland. It not only fuels fan anticipation but also underlines the sport’s ongoing evolution with fresh champions emerging, promising unforgettable races ahead.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
