LEXINGTON, Ky. (September 29, 2026) – Japan’s Forever Young maintained his position at the top of the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings, holding a narrow four-point advantage over reigning Horse of the Year Sovereignty as the countdown to the $7 million championship continued. The latest rankings placed the 2025 Classic winner on 380 votes ahead of the October 31 contest at Keeneland Race Course.
Trained by Yoshito Yahagi and owned by Susumu Fujita, Forever Young received 25 first-place votes to remain the leading contender for the second consecutive week. His position followed a victory in the September 18 Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park, adding another significant result to his record ahead of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.
Sovereignty, trained by Bill Mott, followed closely with 376 votes, including 12 first-place selections. The Godolphin-owned colt, who captured the 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1), maintained second place after his August 8 victory in the Whitney Stakes (G1).
Forever Young Leads Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings by Four Votes
The top five positions remained unchanged from the previous week, with Knightsbridge holding third place on 315 votes. The Godolphin-owned runner, also trained by Mott, entered the rankings following his victory in the Pacific Classic Stakes (G1).
Magnitude retained fourth place with 283 votes for Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC and trainer Steve Asmussen. His season included victories in the Dubai World Cup (G1) and Stephen Foster Stakes (G1).
Golden Tempo completed the top five with 254 votes. Owned by Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable, the Cherie DeVaux-trained runner had already secured victories in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, placing him among the leading names under consideration for the Keeneland feature.
The Puma advanced one position to sixth with 139 votes after winning the Pennsylvania Derby (G1). Trained by Gustavo Delgado, the runner represented OGMA Investments LLC, High Step Racing, TCC Stables LLC, YNG Stables LLC and JR Ranch.
Napoleon Solo followed in seventh place with 134 votes. The Espoir USA Inc.-owned runner, trained by Chad Summers, had won the Preakness Stakes (G1) and finished second in both the Haskell Stakes (G1) and Travers Stakes (G1).
Forged Steel Enters Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings After Goodwood Victory
Forged Steel became the latest addition to the top 10 after producing a front-running victory in the Goodwood Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park on September 26. The four-year-old, trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., secured eighth place with 105 votes in his first appearance in the rankings.
Owned by C2 Racing Stable LLC, Mathis Stables LLC and TCC Stables LLC, Forged Steel joined a competitive group of established Grade 1 performers as preparations continued for the October championship.
Further Ado occupied ninth place with 84 votes. The Spendthrift Farm runner had won the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) and finished second in the Pennsylvania Derby.
Baeza completed the top 10 with 66 votes after finishing third in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. Owned by CRK Stable LLC and Grandview Equine, the runner provided Mott with a third representative among the leading contenders, alongside Sovereignty and Knightsbridge.
Five Contenders Secure Automatic Breeders’ Cup Classic Places
Five horses currently represented in the rankings had already earned automatic starting positions in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In.
Forever Young qualified through victories in the Saudi Cup (G1) and Jockey Club Gold Cup, while Sovereignty secured his position through the Whitney Stakes. Magnitude qualified through the Dubai World Cup and Stephen Foster Stakes, and Knightsbridge earned his place through the Pacific Classic.
Forged Steel completed the group following his Goodwood Stakes victory.
The rankings will continue to track leading contenders ahead of the $7 million championship, although they will have no bearing on qualification or final selection for the race.
The voting panel will comprise leading Thoroughbred racing media members, horseplayers and representatives of the Breeders’ Cup Racing Directors/Secretaries Panel. Each voter will rank horses using a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 points system.
The final 2026 rankings will be published on October 6.
Keeneland to Stage 2026 Breeders’ Cup Classic
The 2026 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic will be run over 1¼ miles on the main track at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky, on October 31. The race will form part of the 43rd Breeders’ Cup World Championships, scheduled across October 30 and 31, with the Classic limited to 14 starters.
The two-day championship programme will feature 14 Grade 1 races with more than $34 million in purses and awards. NBC will broadcast the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic live.
Forever Young Leads Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings by four votes over Sovereignty, while Forged Steel enters the top 10 following his Goodwood Stakes victory ahead of the October 31 championship at Keeneland.
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