The day racing followers and horseplayers look forward to all yr for is sort of right here. The Breeders’ Cup Saturday program will function the worldwide equine and human stars of horse racing squaring off in 9 championship races on Oct. 31 at Keeneland Race Course. The occasion shall be headlined by the richest horse race in North America, the $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Basic.
Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup card shall be televised on USA Community and Peacock from 1-3:30 p.m. ET earlier than shifting to NBC and Peacock from 3:30-6:30 p.m. ET, culminating with the Basic at 6:16 p.m. ET. FanDuel TV will current dwell, steady protection of each Championship and undercard race by the “Breeders’ Cup Gamers’ Present,” out there on FanDuel TV, BreedersCup.com, the official Breeders’ Cup cell app, Breeders’ Cup YouTube, Fb, and X social channels, main advance-deposit wagering platforms, and simulcast shops worldwide. New this yr, the Gamers’ Present may also be out there on Peacock.
Listed below are a number of the particulars you should learn about Saturday’s 9 Breeders’ Cup championship races.
Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Dash
Distance: Seven furlongs on grime
Publish time: 1:10 p.m. ET
Wagering menu: Win/place/present, exacta, trifecta, superfecta, tremendous hi-5, double, decide 3, decide 4
Background: The Filly & Mare Dash debuted in 2007 when the Breeders’ Cup expanded previous eight races. In 19 prior runnings, no horse has ever gained the race wire-to-wire. This seemingly uncommon off-the-pace bias was on full show final yr when late runners Splendora and Vahva completed 1-2. Two years in the past, Soul of an Angel used a last-to-first rally to attain the upset.
Favorites: Methods And Means has been on a roll, however her greatest efforts have principally come at Saratoga, and she or he’s been rather less efficient elsewhere. Can she uncork her greatest effort at Keeneland? If not, Explora is an efficient possibility primarily based on her higher efforts like her Grade 1 seven-furlong win within the Check Stakes Introduced by Ticketmaster at Saratoga. Evanescence steps up at this lofty stage however is a Keeneland horse for the course with a 3-for-3 report on the observe together with a prep race win final time within the Thoroughbred Membership of America Stakes. Final yr’s winner Splendora has gained 5 of six begins this yr however is cross-entered with first desire within the Longines Distaff.
Attention-grabbing storylines: Trainers Chad Brown and Bob Baffert have loved latest success on this race with Filly & Mare Dash winners 4 of the final six years (Brown with Goodnight Olive 2022-23, Baffert with Gamine in 2020 and Splendora in 2025). It’s not shocking that Brown and Baffert ship out lots of this yr’s high contenders. Brown trains probably favourite Methods and Means whereas Baffert sends out Explora and Nooni.
Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Dash
Distance: 5 ½ furlongs on turf
Publish time: 1:48 p.m. ET
Wagering menu: Win/place/present, exacta, trifecta, superfecta, tremendous hi-5, double, decide 3, decide 5, all-turf decide 4
Background: This race was first held in 2008, and the primary 9 runnings have been principally contested at 6 ½ furlongs till the race morphed right into a five- or 5 ½-furlong sprint the final 9 years. At Keeneland, it’s run on the distance of 5 ½ furlongs. Southern California-based trainers as soon as dominated this race, however no SoCal steady has gained it since Peter Miller’s Belvoir Bay in 2019. Final yr’s winner was the filly Shisospicy. European invader Starlust gained in 2024. Each are pre-entered this yr.
Favorites: Bacio started his season with a turf dash win at Churchill Downs and has since raced in England with a win at Royal Ascot and a Group 1 win final time at York bringing his profession report to 5 wins in six outings for turf dash grasp coach Wesley Ward. One other turf dash ace coach, George Weaver, has an opportunity with Cy Honest who owns graded stakes wins over females at Churchill Downs and Saratoga this yr. World traveler Comanche Courageous will make his first North American begin coming off two straight Group 1 wins in England and Eire.
Attention-grabbing storylines: Defending Turf Dash champ Shisospicy will return from a six-month layoff and can go for a repeat and not using a prep race underneath her belt. Final yr’s Juvenile Turf Dash champ Cy Honest is one other filly on this race with an opportunity. Extra feminine contenders within the subject embody Euro invader Miss Yechance, and Roja, who is available in on a four-race profitable streak.
Distance: One mile on grime
Publish time: 2:26 p.m. ET
Wagering menu: Win/place/present, exacta, trifecta, superfecta, tremendous hi-5, day by day double, decide 3, decide 4, all-dirt Decide 4
Background: This race was first held on the 2007 Breeders’ Cup, however the Filth Mile didn’t actually begin to acquire in stature till the 2020s. It has grown into one of many headline occasions of the Breeders’ Cup program with the assistance of latest marquee winners like Knicks Go in 2020, Life Is Good in 2021, fan favourite Cody’s Want in 2022 and 2023, and final yr’s winner Nysos. At Keeneland, the Filth Mile is run round two turns.
Favorites: So lots of the horses on this race are cross-entered with a desire in both the Basic or the Dash, so it is vitally tough to attempt to challenge the precise subject for the 2026 Filth Mile prematurely. The 2024 Filth Mile champ Full Serrano is again within the race, however he has struggled to regain his profitable kind within the two years since then. Chunk of Gold has had an excellent season, however he finishes second greater than twice as usually as he wins. Maybe the 2 Japanese wild playing cards within the subject, Lord Fons and T O Password, will emerge because the horses to beat.
Attention-grabbing storylines: The 2026 Breeders’ Cup Filth Mile is starting to seem like a comfort prize that no one desires this yr as all the high contenders entered within the race are cross-entered with their first preferences elsewhere (Knightsbridge, Additional Ado, and Napoleon Solo have first desire within the Basic whereas Constructed, Hymn, Iron Man Cal, and T Kraft all could run within the Cygames Dash). Any from that group must be the horse to beat in the event that they choose to run on this race.
Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf
Distance: 1 3/16 miles on turf
Publish time: 3:04 p.m. ET
Wagering menu: Win/place/present, exacta, trifecta, superfecta, tremendous hi-5, day by day double, decide 3, decide 4, decide 6, $3 all-turf decide 3
Background: First held in 1999, the Filly & Mare Turf marked the Breeders’ Cup’s first growth from its authentic seven-race program. Since coach Chad Brown’s run of 4 winners of this race within the 2010s, the Filly and Mare Turf has been dominated by foreign-based horses, which have gained eight of the final 10 editions (9 of 10 in case you rely Canadian-based 2024 winner Moira as a foreigner). At Keeneland, the race is run at its absolute minimal distance of 1 3/16 miles.
Favorites: Aidan O’Brien trainee Diamond Necklace might be favored right here however her connections appear to be leaning towards operating her within the Longines Turf as a substitute. That would depart sensational 4-year-old filly Blue Bolt because the potential favourite and horse to beat if she runs on this race as a substitute of the Mile. Blue Bolt has amassed an ideal 6-for-6 report thus far in 2026 together with 4 Group 1 wins in a row at a mile in England, Eire, and France. In any other case, O’Brien’s second-stringer, 3-year-old filly Exact additionally looms as a respectable contender. She gained two Group 1s earlier this season and has been aggressive in a few of Europe’s highest-profile center distance races. One of many high American contenders within the race is Gimme a Nother, a winner of 4 graded stakes in a row relationship again to final yr together with wins within the Grade 2 Beverly D. Stakes and Woodbine’s Grade 1 E. P. Taylor Stakes in her most up-to-date races.
Attention-grabbing storylines: Chad Brown is probably the most outstanding coach within the home feminine turf division and has gained this race a report 4 occasions (however not since 2018 with Sistercharlie). Brown will try to interrupt his dry spell together with his lone entrant on this yr’s subject, Kathynmarissa, who together with Gimme a Nother has been this season’s chief within the North American filly and mare turf division with three wins together with Saratoga’s Grade 1 Dunkin’ Diana Stakes and in Belmont Park’s Grade 2 Flower Bowl Stakes.
Distance: Six furlongs on grime
Publish time: 3:42 p.m. ET
Wagering menu: Win/place/present, exacta, trifecta, superfecta, tremendous hi-5, day by day double, decide 3, decide 5
Background: The Dash is an “authentic seven” Breeders Cup race that all the time has been held at its present six-furlong distance. The three prior editions of the Dash run at Keeneland have been all good ones gained by Runhappy in 2015, Whitmore in 2020, and Elite Energy in 2022.
Favorites: Blazing 3-year-old dash sensation Englishman shall be one of many weekend’s largest favorites primarily based on two spectacular wins in a row at Saratoga within the Grade 1 Woody Stephens Stakes Introduced by Mohegan Solar and the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes the place he earned eye-popping Beyer Pace Figures of 115 and 117. His high competitors could also be Japanese invader T O Elvis, who home racing followers would possibly bear in mind because the horse who dazzled on the Kentucky Derby undercard when profitable the Grade 1 Churchill Downs Stakes Introduced by Ford in a runaway with a 108 Beyer determine. The Grade 2 Santa Anita Dash Championship Introduced by Estrella Jalisco has develop into one thing of a key prep race for the Breeders’ Cup Dash these days, and this yr’s winner, Listenupshance comes into this race off two straight scores additionally together with the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar.
Attention-grabbing storylines: The outcomes from the host observe’s course and distance prep race for the Dash, the venerable Grade 2 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes, might tackle added significance in a yr when the Breeders’ Cup is held at Keeneland. This time all the high three finishers from the Phoenix, Nakatomi, Little Thunder, and Mad Home, are all pre-entered within the dash, with the latter pair being the primary two on the also-eligible record. Nakatomi shall be operating within the Breeders’ Cup Dash for the fourth consecutive yr. One in all his profession highlights was his third-place end within the 2023 Dash at Santa Anita Park.
FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile Introduced by PDJF
Distance: One mile on turf
Publish time: 4:20 p.m. ET
Wagering menu: Win/place/present, exacta, trifecta, superfecta, tremendous hi-5, day by day double, decide 3,
decide 4
Background: As one of many authentic seven Breeders’ Cup occasions and with a $2 million purse, the Mile is assured to attract a world all-star subject. All through its historical past, North American horses have held their very own and gained the Mile 22 occasions, together with most not too long ago in 2024 with Extra Than Seems educated by Cherie DeVaux. European connections have had the sting not too long ago, nonetheless, with six of the final eight winners since 2018. Specifically, it has been coach Charlie Appleby and Godolphin which have develop into the dominating forces on this race with wins 4 of the final 5 years together with final yr’s winner Notable Speech becoming a member of the barn’s different latest winners Grasp of the Seas in 2023, Trendy Video games in 2022, and Area Blues in 2021.
Favorites Notable Speech is hard and legit and has a terrific shot at a repeat victory coming off his prep race win within the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile for connections that seemingly win this race practically yearly. The primary risk, and it’s a giant one, ought to come from the filly Blue Bolt who could make a race of it if she runs right here as a substitute of the Filly & Mare Turf. She has run up an ideal 6-for-6 report this yr together with 4 straight Group 1 wins. There are some severe American contenders this yr, too. Rhetorical likes Keeneland and exits his second consecutive win within the Grade 1 Coolmore Turf Mile at this course and distance. Deterministic might want to flip the tables on Notable Speech, who beat him within the Woodbine Mile, however actually can’t be dominated out primarily based on his back-to-back Grade 1 wins at Saratoga within the Resorts World On line casino Manhattan Stakes and the Fourstardave Stakes.
Attention-grabbing storylines: The saying goes that few issues are assured apart from loss of life and taxes, and that’s particularly on the subject of horse racing and playing. One factor you possibly can nearly all the time rely on, nonetheless, is that the front-runner or any horse concerned within the early tempo nearly by no means wins the Breeders’ Cup Mile. Excluding Corridor-of-Famer Lure in 1992-93, no different pacesetter has ever gained the Mile down by its lengthy historical past (tempo urgent Tepin got here the closest in 2015 and Kip Deville in 2007 and Goldikova in 2008 raced nearer to the tempo than most winners). Virtually each Mile winner has been a stalker or nearer. Final yr’s 1-2 finishers Notable Speech and Formidable Man closed from behind to finish the exacta and 2024 winner Extra Than Seems rallied from useless final. Within the final 17 runnings of the Mile since 2009, no winner besides Tepin raced inside three lengths of the early lead.
Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff
Distance: 1 1/8 miles on the grime
Publish time: 4:58 p.m. ET
Wagering menu: Win/place/present, exacta, trifecta, superfecta, tremendous hi-5, double, $3 late decide 3, Distaff-Basic day by day double
Background: The Distaff is without doubt one of the authentic Breeders’ Cup races run yearly since 1984, however for a short time it was known as the Girls Basic and was even run on Friday late within the decade of the 2000s. This race has been gained by a number of the best fillies and mares in latest historical past together with champions like Monomoy Lady, Beholder, Zenyatta, Ashado, Paseana, Bayakoa, Private Ensign, Girl’s Secret, and plenty of extra. The 2024 winner, Thorpedo Anna, went on to be named Horse of the Yr.
Favorites: This race shall be headlined by three foremost contenders led by final yr’s champion 3-year-old filly and 2025 Distaff runner-up Nitrogen, who had a powerful second-half of her 4-year-old season this yr with large wins within the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps Stakes Introduced by Ford and the Grade 2 Beldame Stakes in addition to a second-place end in opposition to the boys within the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes. The highest competitors will come from the Chad Brown-trained Absolutely Subscribed and the Bob Baffert-trained Splendora and each deserve severe consideration. Absolutely Subscribed has been on a severe roll this season with three straight wins coming within the Grade 2 Shuvee Stakes, Grade 1 Private Ensign Stakes, and in Keeneland’s Grade 1 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes. Splendora gained final yr’s Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Dash and has stretched out this yr to win the Grade 1 B. Wayne Hughes Beholder Mile Introduced by FanDuel and three extra Grade 2 stakes on her present profitable streak.
Attention-grabbing storylines: For all of their varied illustrious and prolific profession accomplishments, all three of the trainers of this yr’s three high contenders – Mark Casse with Nitrogen, Brown with Absolutely Subscribed, and Baffert with Splendora – have but to ever win the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Will one in all them rating a breakthrough this yr? Or will this race lead to a monumental upset?
Distance: 1 ½ miles on turf
Publish time: 5:36 p.m. ET
Wagering menu: Win/place/present, exacta, trifecta, superfecta, tremendous hi-5, day by day double
Background: The $5 million grass function of the Breeders’ Cup card all the time attracts a world subject of turf distance execs. As has develop into the norm, greater than half of the sphere in 2026 hails from abroad. Solely three American-based horses have gained the Turf since 2007: Little Mike in 2012, Principal Sequence in 2014, and Bricks and Mortar in 2019. Coach Aidan O’Brien ended a six-year drought on this race when he gained with Auguste Rodin in 2023, giving him seven profession wins within the Breeders’ Cup Turf. He additionally has positioned six occasions and confirmed 5 occasions. Different European trainers to win this race over the previous decade have been Andre Fabre, John Gosden, Charlie Appleby (3 times), and final yr’s winner Willie Mullins with Moral Diamond.
Favorites: Might we see an “all-Diamond” exacta within the 2026 Breeders’ Cup Turf with Moral Diamond in search of a repeat in opposition to O’Brien’s probably favourite Diamond Necklace? Diamond Necklace gained three straight Group 1 stakes this season and proved herself worthy in opposition to each males and older horses when ending third by 1 ½ lengths within the Group 1 Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in a 16-horse subject that includes of lots of Europe’s greatest. The highest American hopefuls shall be Burnham Sq., a four-time stakes winner in 2026, and Minaret Station, who lastly appeared to dwell as much as his large potential final time with a win in Belmont Park’s Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Basic Stakes.
Attention-grabbing storylines: O’Brien shall be making an attempt to develop into the primary coach ever to win a single Breeders’ Cup race eight occasions, and he shall be favored to take action with the 3-year-old filly Diamond Necklace. O’Brien, nonetheless, might want to buck some historical past this yr because the Turf has solely been gained by a 3-year-old filly as soon as in its lengthy historical past and that was greater than a decade in the past in 2015 with Discovered – additionally educated by O’Brien. Even when Diamond Necklace can’t get the job carried out, O’Brien will nonetheless have one other likelihood this yr with one of many different favorites within the subject, Dubai Obligation Free Irish Derby winner Benvenuto Cellini.
Distance: 1 1/4 miles on the grime
Publish time: 6:16 p.m. ET
Wagering menu: Win/place/present, exacta, trifecta, superfecta, tremendous hi-5
Background: The Basic is the showcase race of Breeders’ Cup Day and serves because the season-ending championship race in North American racing. With a handbag of $7 million, the Basic has the best purse of any American race and ranks one of many world’s richest and most vital horse races. The world’s greatest grime horses compete on the traditional distance of 1 ¼ miles in a race that impacts the Eclipse Awards within the older male, 3-year-old, and Horse of the Yr divisions. A who’s who of equine greats from the previous 40 years have gained this race together with Flightline (2022), Gun Runner (2017), American Pharoah (2015), Zenyatta (2009), Curlin (2007), Tiznow (2000-01), Cigar (1995), and Sunday Silence (1989) simply to call a number of.
Favorites: Defending champion Eternally Younger shall be again for a repeat bid, and the Japanese star has carried out nothing to tarnish his status since profitable this race final fall throughout a three-race 2026 marketing campaign thus far that has included a win within the $20 million Saudi Cup, a second within the $12 million Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline, and a prep race win in a four-horse subject in Belmont Park’s Grade 1 Jockey Membership Gold Cup. His path to a repeat gained’t be a straightforward one, nonetheless, as he’ll face Magnitude, the horse that beat him in Dubai who then went on to win Churchill Downs’ Grade 1 Stephen Foster Stakes over reigning Horse of the Yr Sovereignty. Talking of Sovereignty, he additionally enters this race off a three-race 2026 marketing campaign the place he saved his greatest for his final with a blowout win in Saratoga’s Grade 1 Whitney Stakes the place he earned a 112 Beyer determine. Add in 2026 Kentucky Derby Introduced by Woodford Reserve and Belmont Stakes Introduced by NYRA Bets winner Golden Tempo, Pacific Basic winner Knightsbridge, and Keeneland horse-for-the-course Additional Ado, and you’ve got a Basic subject the place the record of respectable contenders is lengthy and deep.
Attention-grabbing storylines: Eternally Younger will try and develop into solely the second repeat winner within the historical past of the Basic, becoming a member of Tiznow as the one horse to take action. The 2025 Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty missed the 2025 Basic, however racing followers are hoping to lastly see the Eternally Younger vs. Sovereignty match-up that everybody has been ready for. Plus, racing followers additionally shall be handled to an more and more uncommon head-to-head match-up between the final two Derby winners, Sovereignty and Golden Tempo.
