The 43rd running of the $7 million-dollar Breeders’ Cup Classic looks like one of the more competitive editions in recent years, and the field boasts more than $59 million in career purse earnings. Six of the seven Breeders’ Cup Classic starters are Grade 1 winners.
Here is a brief look at the field:
1. T O PASSWORD [ML 30-1] Jockey: Kazushi Kimura. Trainer: Daisuke Takayanagi. Made a bid in the 2024 Kentucky Derby. With the highest morning-line odds on the board at 30-1, he ships in from Japan to compete in his first Grade/Group 1 race since the Run for the Roses a couple of years ago. Kimura, who rode him to a 5th-place finish in the 2024 Derby, will be aboard.
2. SOVEREIGNTY [ML 5-2] Jockey: Junior Alvarado. Trainer: Bill Mott. Last year’s Horse of the Year after winning the Kentucky Derby, Belmont, and Travers Stakes, will be making the final start of his incredible career for his Hall of Fame trainer and regular rider. The 4-year-old dominated the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes by 4 ¾ lengths last time out and is a career 3-for-3 at this 1 ¼-mile distance.
3. GOLDEN TEMPO [ML 5-1] Jockey: Jose Ortiz. Trainer: Cherie DeVaux. This year’s Kentucky Derby winner enters off a 3rd place in the Travers at Saratoga August 29th for trainer DeVaux. Regular rider Jose Ortiz opting to stay aboard is a positive sign,
4. THE PUMA [ML 10-1] Jockey: Javier Castellano. Trainer: Gustavo Delgado. The second of three 3-year-olds in the field, won the the Pennsylvania Derby in his most recent race September 19th. The ESSENTIAL QUALITY colt will be making his 5th consecutive start in a Grade 1 and will have regular rider Castellano in the irons.
5. FOREVER YOUNG [ML 2-1] Jockey: Ryusei Sakai. Trainer: Yoshito Yahagi. The 2-1 morning-line favorite after winning the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park by 3 ¼ lengths September 18th in his first race after a 5 ½-month layoff. The 5-year-old won last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic and is 8-for-8 in the money at this 1 ¼-mile distance. His regular rider is aboard.
6. MAGNITUDE [SCRATCHED] Jockey: Flavien Prat. Trainer: Steve Asmussen.
7. KNIGHTSBRIDGE [ML 9-2] Jockey: Luis Saez. Trainer: Bill Mott. Won his last two starts by a combined margin of 16 ½ lengths, dominating the Monmouth Cup Stakes by 10 ¼ lengths in his first start around two turns in July and the Grade 1 Pacific Classic Stakes by 6 ¼ lengths August 22nd when stretching out to this 1 ¼-mile distance for the first time. Saez picks up the mount for Alvarado, who elected to stay on SOVEREIGNTY.
8. NAPOLEON SOLO [ML 15-1] Jockey: John Velazquez. Trainer: Chad Summers. The third 3-year-old, who is expected to challenge for the lead with KNIGHTSBRIDGE, drew the far outside post. The 2026 Preakness Stakes winner finished 2nd in both the Grade 1 Haskell and Travers Stakes in his last two starts and will have Johnny V. back in the saddle.
The Classic is slated as the last race of the day on a card of 12, with a scheduled Post Time of 6:15.
Best of luck however you play it.
