The 2026 Breeders' Cup Classic draw was held on Monday, with defending champion Forever Young landing in the No. 5 post — the same position from which he won last year's race at Del Mar. This year's $6 million Classic moves to Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky, for Saturday's running.
Only one of the seven entrants has previous experience at Keeneland: Knightsbridge, who finished third in the 2024 Perryville Stakes at the track. The morning line makes Forever Young the 2-1 favorite, followed by Sovereignty at 5-2, Golden Tempo at 5-1, and Knightsbridge at 9-2. The remaining horses are T O Passwod (30-1), The Puma (10-1), Magnitude (6-1, scratched), and Napoleon Solo (15-1).
SportsLine handicapper Michelle Yu, reporting from Lexington, offered her analysis ahead of the race. Yu, who correctly predicted the Kentucky Derby exacta this year and has hit multiple major-race winners in 2025, expressed reservations about Golden Tempo despite his Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes victories. "The Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner ran well in the Travers Stakes, but couldn't get it done," Yu said. "Since Keeneland generally plays pretty forward-friendly, I'm concerned about his come-from-the-clouds style. He has looked very strong in his gallops this week, but he's facing some serious elders." Yu places Golden Tempo in exotic wagers but not among her top four win contenders.
Yu's top selection is a horse she says "has looked in excellent spirits" during training at Keeneland this week. She also highlighted a longshot with "high cruising speed" as a value play. Her complete picks and wagering strategy are available through SportsLine.
2026 Breeders' Cup Classic Post Positions and Odds
1. T O Passwod — 30-1
2. Sovereignty — 5-2
3. Golden Tempo — 5-1
4. The Puma — 10-1
5. Forever Young — 2-1
6. Magnitude — 6-1 (scratched)
7. Knightsbridge — 9-2
8. Napoleon Solo — 15-1
