Forever Young Leads 2026 Breeders’ Cup Rankings

Forever Young moved to the top of the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic rankings after winning the Sept. 18 Jockey Club Gold Cup, positioning the defending champion as the leading contender for the $7 million race at Keeneland on Oct. 31. Sovereignty, the 2025 Kentucky Derby winner and Whitney Stakes champion, ranked second, followed by Pacific Classic winner Knightsbridge, Magnitude and Golden Tempo. In the separate NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll, Sovereignty remained No. 1 by total points, while Forever Young ranked second despite receiving the most first-place votes. Knightsbridge, Nitrogen and Magnitude rounded out the leading positions in that poll, with Nitrogen set to return in the Beldame Stakes and The Puma rising after winning the Pennsylvania Derby.