Top Jockeys & Trainers to Watch at the 2026 Breeders' Cup

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The stars of racing take center stage later this month when the Breeders’ Cup returns to Keeneland for a weekend of elite thoroughbred action. The top racehorses throughout the land will of course be the headliners on October 30 & 31 in Kentucky, but the best human connections in the game will be on hand as well to take part in some of the sport’s biggest races.

Topping the list of jockeys slated to ride at Keeneland at the end of October is Jose Ortiz (pictured). The 33-year-old from Puerto Rico has had a career year. Not only has Ortiz captured the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1) aboard late running Golden Tempo, but has earned nearly $38M in earnings in 2026. He is set to get the leg up on Breeders’ Cup Sprint favorite Englishman and opted to ride Golden Tempo in the Classic instead of Dubai World Cup (G1) winner Magnitude.

Flavien Prat, who is not far behind Ortiz in yearly earnings, is set to pick up the call on Magnitude. The 2024 and 2025 Eclipse Award winning rider shoots for a third Breeders’ Cup Classic victory after riding Flightline (2022) and Sierra Leone (2024) earlier this decade. Jose’s brother Irad was injured this summer costing him some time, but otherwise has had another outstanding year. The five-time Eclipse Award winner has yet to capture a win in the Kentucky Derby, but is no stranger to the Breeders’ Cup winner’s circle.

Many of the game’s stars from overseas are also set to be a big part of the Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland as usual. In addition, to some of the best riders from across the globe like Ryan Moore, William Buick, and Forever Young’s pilot Ryusei Sakai, some of Europe and Asia’s top conditioners will once be well represented. The list is headed by Aidan O’Brien. The trainer at Ballydoyle since before the start of the century has conditioned more Breeders’ Cup winners than anyone in the history of the event. He hopes to add to his record after Gstaad’s win in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf moved him past D. Wayne Lukas with 21 lifetime victories.

North America’s top trainers will be locked and loaded as well. Steve Asmussen, Bob Baffert, Chad Brown, Brad Cox, Bill Mott, and Todd Pletcher all bring strong hands to Lexington for this year’s Breeders’ Cup in hopes of adding to their already impressive resumes. Japan's Forever Young looks to defend his Classic title and brings with him fellow Far East runners and his renowned trainer Yoshito Yahagi.

For more handicapping and betting the Breeders' Cup insights, be sure to check out the 1/ST Breeders' Cup Wager Guide, updated daily with new stats, trends, replays, workouts, handicapper analyses, Breeders' Cup race picks and more.