Travers Week is here and we're just over two months until the 2026 Breeders’ Cup World Championships are held at Keeneland Race Course. It’s time to start thinking about what each of the championship races may look like and who the main players might be. Each week, I’ll adjust my personal rankings accordingly based on races and news from the weekend prior. The juvenile divisions will enter the equation once the marquee summer meetings have concluded.
Below you’ll find my rankings for nine of the Breeders' Cup divisions, with the top four contenders listed in chronological order. Any changes made, whether they be additions / subtractions or new comments, are italicized.
CLASSIC
1 - Forever Young (last week: 1)
• To be the man, you’ve got to beat the man; likely to prep in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at BEL before heading to Kentucky…the best in the world on dirt when on his game
2 - Sovereignty (last week: 2)
• The champ was back and arguably better than ever in the Whitney; may indeed be a Saratoga move up but that doesn’t preclude him from winning a race like the Classic at KEE
3 - Magnitude (last week: 3)
• If you forgive his Saratoga form he’s done nothing wrong; ticks all the boxes at what’s likely a reasonable price assuming you can get past the dud in the Whitney
4 - Knightsbridge (last week: 4)
• Devastated the G1 Pacific Classic over the weekend, a field that was a G1 in name only; hard to find anyone to dispute his brilliance, but the question remains - can he reproduce that brilliance against the cream of the crop?
DISTAFF
1 - Nitrogen (last week: 1)
o Ran arguably the best race of her career in defeat in the Whitney; outside chance she takes on boys again but strictly the horse to beat if she tackles the females in the Distaff
2 - Counting Stars (last week: 2)
• Defeated as the heavy chalk in the G1 Alabama this weekend; clearly not her best but not going to be overly reactionary…she’s still one of the favorites in this division when firing on all cylinders
3 - Always a Runner (last week: 3)
• The Kentucky Oaks winner is going to run in the Cotillion at Parx; may be of comparable ability to Counting Stars but down in the head-to-head battles
4 - Splendora (last week: 4)
• Not completely sold that she’s truly a 9F type but hard to argue with her 2026 record to this point; defending BC FM Sprint winner gives Baffert options to either go long or turn her back
SPRINT
1 - Englishman (last week: 1)
• Staggeringly good effort in the Woody Stephens, earning a 115 Beyer; returns in the Allen Jerkens at Saratoga this Saturday, where a repeat of the Stephens would result in another G1 victory
2 - T O Elvis (last week: 2)
• Lost in the late odds hoopla on Derby Day was just how emphatic his win in the Churchill Downs was; may need to find a bit if Englishman holds his form - but may not need to find much
3 - Book’em Danno (last week: 3)
• Would have been the first or second-choice in last year’s BC Sprint; two necks away from being undefeated in his last eight starts. Battles Saturday at the Spa
4 - Listenupshance (last week: 4)
• Narrowly defeated by Danno in the True North but came back to win the G1 Bing Crosby at DMR; seemingly continues to improve as the season progresses…if that trend continues he’s interesting at a price
FM SPRINT
1 - Kilwin (last week: 1)
• Light on figs but undefeated on dirt in three tries, including a G1; division is fairly deep but have a strong inkling we’ve still not seen this one’s best. In action Saturday at Saratoga
2 - Explora (last week: 2)
• Filly had been screaming for a turn back all spring but stayed the Oaks course; since the turn back has looked like a monster…figs still light compared to the older fillies and mares but on the right path
3 - Eclatant (last week: 3)
• The best version of Eclatant is probably the best female sprinter on dirt, but she’s not always fired her best on the clock; good to know her career defining race came over course / distance in spring’s G1 Madison @ KEE
4 - Ways and Means (last week: 4)
• May simply be a Saratoga freak and a shell of herself away from the Spa -- but runs on her home ground Saturday; how good is her good? Arguably the best - but does that version show up in October at KEE?
TURF
1 - Burnham Square (last week: 1)
• His figs may be tapering off some but his win over course / distance this spring makes him a legit threat against all comers; a 107 Beyer in this race historically puts you right there at the wire
2 - Calandagan (last week: 2)
• Bit of a leap with any of the Euros regarding who is / isn’t coming over; maybe not visiting the winner’s circle as much as he was in 2025 but still capable of firing elite-level shots at 12F
3 - Benvenuto Cellini (last week: 3)
• Has long been discussed as being the cream of the 3YO crop in Europe; first try against elders at Ascot was fine…nothing more, nothing less
4 - Ethical Diamond (last week: 4)
• The surprise winner of last year’s BC Turf (with a 107 Beyer) hasn’t had much of a campaign in 2026; stating the obvious - if he can get back to the Del Mar form he showcased last fall, he’s dangerous
MILE
1 - Gstaad (last week: 1)
• If not for the since retired Bow Echo, we may be looking at an unbeaten 3YO campaign comprised of four G1s to this point; already shown that American style of racing is no issue with last year’s BC Juvenile Turf win @ DMR
2 - Blue Bolt (last week: 2)
• She’s done little wrong in her career in Europe and has established herself as the clear leader of the filly and mare milers; Juddmonte filly would be extremely dangerous if she came over
3 - Notable Speech (last week: 3)
• Has been known to lay an egg from time to time but his North American record is quite strong; miserably unlucky at Keeneland in April, likely wins that G1 with any sort of racing luck
4 - Deterministic (last week: 4)
• Hasn’t lost a turf race since October 2024; five consecutive 100+ Beyers at distances ranging from 8F to 9.5F is no small feat…the best of the American bunch at the moment
FM TURF
1 - Thundering On (last week: 1)
• Time hasn’t been kind to the form of the Epsom Oaks, however her turn of foot was electric that day; assuming she comes over, would have to think she’s in with a big chance for Joseph O’Brien
2 - Diamond Necklace (last week: 2)
• Unbeaten filly of Aidan O’Brien’s has acted on a variety of ground over a variety of distances…nothing really to knock other than her price come BC Saturday; could see her go longer in BC Turf if connections want 12F
3 - Precise (last week: 3)
• Another of AOB’s who is at the elite level; she’s not as good as Blue Bolt (and likely others) at the mile, so wonder if a stretch to FM Turf’s 9.5F @ KEE is in the cards
4 - Kathynmarissa (last week: 4)
• As solid as they come in the U.S., winning the G1 Diana at Saratoga in most recent start; race being run at 9.5F works to her advantage and she’s trained by Chad Brown, who has multiple FM Turf victories on his resume
TURF SPRINT
1 - Cy Fair (last week: 1)
• Has done nothing wrong in her career and exits a win at Saratoga that has already produced two next-out winners; a 3YO filly won this race last year
2 - Bacio (last week: unranked)
• Devastating winning the G1 Nunthorpe at York over the weekend for Wesley Ward over a highly-accomplished group; no fault with anyone saying he’s clearly tops, just still believe in the filly at #1’s ability
3 - Ag Bullet (last week: 2)
• One of the main beneficiaries of the 5.5F trip this year; rock solid mare who fires her best more often than not - back in action Saturday at Kentucky Downs
4 - Shisospicy (last week: 3)
• Difficult to say what to expect from her with the nonexistent campaign but know her best is as good as anyone’s
DIRT MILE
1 - Knightsbridge (last week: 1)
• Hard to imagine the connections not heading to the Classic despite having both he and Sovereignty but will remain a part of this group for the time being
2 - Napoleon Solo (last week: 2)
• The Preakness winner would probably be a likelier Classic starter - but would have a better chance of winning the Dirt Mile; tactical speed and already a G1 winner at the mile distance in his career; see him in Saturday's Travers vs. best 3YOs
3 - Bishops Bay (last week: 3)
• Solid older veteran who probably isn’t a true G1 caliber runner, but depending on who shows up here…this may not be a race of true G1 caliber
4 - Chunk of Gold (last week: 4)
• Gave Bishops Bay all he could handle in the Iselin - perhaps a rising 4YO who could steal this at a decent number; owns a win over the course last fall by more than 8L
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