Cover image courtesy of Breeders' Cup
Sovereignty reigns supreme in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic
By Steve Sherack
Sovereignty (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}), ruler of the 2026 Breeders' Cup World Championships at Keeneland.
Last year's Horse of the Year closed out his brilliant career with one last gem, defeating The Puma (USA) (Essential Quality {USA}) by 1.75 lengths in Saturday's G1 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic in 2:00.36. It was another half-length back to fellow Godolphin homebred and Bill Mott-trained stablemate 'TDN Rising Star' Knightsbridge (USA) (Nyquist {USA}), who completed the trifecta after setting the pace. Defending Breeders' Cup Classic winner and 8-5 race favourite Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) tired to fifth.
This is the Hall of Famer Mott's third win in the Classic - Cigar (USA) in 1995 and Drosselmeyer (USA) in 2011 - and his 17th winner overall at the Championships. Sovereignty was a heart-breaking scratching from last year's renewal after developing a shipping fever at Del Mar.
“He's a magnificent horse,” Mott said. “I've had a couple good ones, but you could almost say he's a once-in-a-lifetime horse.
“He really is very special. We might not see another one like that. You saw what he did. It was a tremendous run. He had a good year last year, and we ended up this year great. He is a phenomenal horse. You beat a world-class field – Forever Young, great horses, the best they could bring over here. He deserved this, and he got them today.”
This is the fifth Breeders' Cup winner for Junior Alvarado, who was also the pilot of Godolphin's two-time G1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner and Horse of the Year Cody's Wish (USA) (Curlin {USA}).
“We're thrilled to pieces,” Godolphin's Michael Banahan said. “It's a great honour for Sheikh Mohammed, the founder of Godolphin, to have the Kentucky Derby winner and the Classic winner with the same horse. He's a horse of a lifetime for us.”
Forced to miss a showdown with Forever Young in last month's G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup on opening day at the new Belmont Park due to a foot abscess, it was an absolute masterful training job by Mott, who conditioned Sovereignty up to the Classic wearing a bar shoe. It was taken off for raceday.
“We had some hiccups,” Mott said. “We had the foot abscess, and that took some time. Fortunately, that happened far enough out away from the Breeders' Cup that we had time to deal with it and get it right. It wasn't like it happened the week before, two weeks before. We had time to get over it and get a bunch of – you know, a nice group of works in him. His last work here was very good at Keeneland. I think it gave us all some confidence that he was doing well. I knew if he showed up that he'd be hard to beat.”
Pedigree: Sovereignty becomes the 11th Breeders' Cup winner and second Breeders' Cup Classic winner (Authentic in 2020) for the seven-time reigning champion general sire Into Mischief (USA).
Sovereignty was produced by the unraced Bernardini (USA) mare Crowned (USA), a daughter of Grade 1 winner Mushka (USA) (Empire Maker {USA}) and a US$1.2 million (AU$1.7 million) Keeneland September yearling purchase by Sheikh Mohammed's operation. Crowned is also responsible for the unraced 2-year-old colt Royal Conquest (USA) (Nyquist {USA}). She passed away in 2024.
Coolmore’s Benvenuto Cellini wins the G1 Turf
By Alan Carasso
Just one day shy of what would be the 526th birthday of his namesake, an Italian goldsmith, sculptor and author of some repute, Westerberg, Peter Brant, Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor's 3-year-old colt Benvenuto Cellini (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), an impressive winner of the G1 Irish Derby earlier this season, put a couple of disappointing performances in his two most recent starts behind him comprehensively with a convincing success in Saturday's G1 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland.
Wathnan Racing's Map of Stars (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), off the also-eligible list, was second ahead of the Coolmore partners' Diamond Necklace (Ire) (St Mark's Basilica {Fr}) in third. European raiders took down the top seven placings, though American-based gallopers won the afternoon's three other grass races.
He is the third Breeders' Cup winner for the mighty Frankel, the 24th for trainer Aidan O'Brien and a 19th for Ryan Moore. The victory was also the 28th at the highest level for O'Brien this year, equalling the record he set in 2025, with major Group 1 events like the Japan Cup and the Hong Kong International Races affording an opportunity to surpass that mark.
“We thought he ran a brilliant race and Ryan gave him a brilliant ride,” O'Brien said. “I'm so delighted for everybody. What can I say? We didn't know what was going to happen with the pace and Ryan was relaxed and cool on him.
“With fast pace and good ground, he's the class. Ryan was super cool on him. He was okay at the three-eighths, but he wasn't that quick, but Ryan is so good. He worked it out. I thought he was brilliant on him. He had that explosion that we thought he could have and he had to have. That was the plan to come here and go to Hong Kong. He's going to be some 4-year-old.”
Pedigree: A 200,000gns (AU$403,000) purchase out of the 2017 Tattersalls October Sale, Newspaperofrecord (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) was, of course, campaigned by Seth Klarman's Klaravich Stables and gave Chad Brown a fifth winner of the Juvenile Fillies Turf in 2018. Winless in three appearances at three, Newspaperofrecord won the 2020 G1 Just A Game Stakes and was third to stablemate Uni (GB) (More Than Ready) in the G1 First Lady Stakes before the latter beat the boys in the Mile.
Newspaperofrecord joins Hollywood Wildcat (War Chant), My Flag (Storm Flag Flying), Personal Ensign (My Flag) and Shared Account (Sharing) as Breeders' Cup winners to produce a winner on championship day.
The mare is off to a successful start at stud as well. Her first foal Giselle (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), was placed at Group 3 level at the back end of her juvenile season and was the winner of the Listed Oaks Trial Fillies Stakes over a mile and seven-sixteenths at Lingfield last season.
A daughter of Group winner and G1 Cheveley Park Stakes runner-up Sunday Times, Newspaperofrecord is a half-sister to Listed winner Classical Times (GB) (Lawman {Fr}). From the family of 2018 Irish Derby hero Latrobe (GB) (Camelot {GB}), Benvenuto Cellini has an unraced Kentucky-bred 2-year-old full sister named Sweetly (USA), a yearling half-sister by Justify (USA) also bred in the Commonwealth, and a Justify colt foaled in the Bluegrass on April 28.
Nitrogen caps big year in G1 Distaff
By Jill Williams
D.J. Stable's homebred superstar 4-year-old mare Nitrogen (USA) (Medaglia d'Oro {USA}), the 3-5 choice to conclude a stellar 4-year-old campaign with a win in the G1 Breeders' Cup Distaff, did exactly that Saturday afternoon at Keeneland. She just seems to get better and better, 'breathing different air,' as her connections have often said, improving on a third in the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in 2024 with a second in the Distaff in 2025 and a win this year. There's even a possibility she could continue to reach new heights, as D.J. Stable's Jon Green and Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse indicated Nitrogen may target the G1 Breeders' Cup Classic next year.
“That was one of the factors in the decision to go to the Distaff versus the Classic (this year),” said Casse. “We wanted to get her a Breeders' Cup win and we'll probably take a different path next year which will include going against some colts.”
Nitrogen has already faced the boys this year, finishing an excellent second to reigning Horse of the Year and Saturday's G1 Breeders' Cup Classic winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief) in the G1 Whitney Stakes at Saratoga on August 8.
“She's just been unbelievable,” continued Casse. “This summer in the Whitney to run so good against colts was amazing.”
Green joked to Casse, “That's right, she's out of conditions now. You've really got to step her up. We want to continue to watch her run. Every time she races, it's just a gift.”
But first, before worrying about next year, Nitrogen's connections have a right to savour this one, which, like any Breeders' Cup race, wasn't handed to Nitrogen on a silver platter.
She won by two lengths over Fully Subscribed (Tiz The Law), while Nitrogen's Casse-trained stablemate Measure (Essential Quality) was third.
Green joked again, “Mark, you got her successful on the turf, on the mud, on the dirt. Could you make it so she doesn't meander down the stretch this year? Could that be the goal for 2027?”
Casse responded, “I'm going to let her meander as much as she wants. Don't worry about that.”
Last year's U.S. champion 3-year-old filly and Canada's champion 2-year-old filly in 2024, Nitrogen has been a dual-surface specialist whose 10 black-type wins and seven black-type placings include 10 at the highest level. She's never been off the board in any of her 19 career starts.
“The Greens are true sportsmen,” said Casse, whose win with Nitrogen was his seventh in a Breeders' Cup race. “They love the horse business and racing as much as I do. They want to give back to the sport, and Nitrogen has a pretty good following.
“We won the Breeders' Cup. Now we've got to get her into the Hall of Fame. That's the next deal.”
Pedigree: Nitrogen joins Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra (USA) and multiple champion Songbird (USA) as yet another career-defining filly for the late Medaglia d'Oro, who enjoyed a long and illustrious reign at Darley's Jonabell Farm before passing away just two weeks ago. Medaglia d'Oro wasn't limited to fillies among his 100 Graded/Group winners and 190 black-type winners worldwide, as three-time Hong Kong Horse of the Year Golden Sixty and Australian champion Vancouver ranked among his top colts.
D.J. Stable bought Tiffany Case (USA) (Uncle Mo {USA}), Nitrogen's dam, in foal to Violence (USA) for US$320,000 (AU$455,000) at the 2019 Keeneland November sale.
“We always knew we wanted to get a Medaglia filly,” said Green. “Since we've been in the business, that's one of the best, if not the best, broodmare sire. And so when we bought Tiffany Case, we thought that she was the kind of mare that deserved to be bred to Medaglia d'Oro. ”
“He said, 'It's the Medaglia filly. She breathes different air,'” continued Green. “At that moment I went ahead and went on The Jockey Club website and looked to see what elements were lighter than oxygen, and Nitrogen was available. So she's been Nitrogen since she was even registered as a foal. But that's how much confidence (Casse) had in not only himself and his team, but also in that filly.”
Following Nitrogen's exploits last year, Tiffany Case topped the 2026 Keeneland January sale when selling to Whisper Hill Farm for US$3.2 million (AU$4.5 million). Tiffany Case's 2026 Not This Time foal died; she was bred back to that same sire for 2027. The mare's most recent living foal is a 2-year-old filly by Gun Runner (USA) named Sniper (USA), who has not gone through a public sale and is unraced.
The G1 Mile goes to Deterministic
By Alan Carasso
In a pre-race interview in the Keeneland paddock, Miguel Clement, who took over training duties of 'TDN Rising Star' Deterministic (USA) (Liam's Map {USA}) with the untimely passing of his legendary father Christophe in May 2025, told Michelle Yu that the 5-year-old entire would be ridden a touch differently in his rematch with fellow 'Rising Star' Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), having been soundly defeated when last they met in the G1 Woodbine Mile.
Notable Speech, looking to become the first repeat winner of the Mile since Wise Dan (USA) (Wiseman's Ferry (USA)) in 2012-2013, let down with a barnstorming finish, it was all too late and Deterministic proved narrowly best. Lake Forest (Ire) (No Nay Never {USA}), runner-up in the Coolmore Turf Mile over course and distance on October 3, was similarly far back turning in, but weaved his way between rivals to secure third. The final time was 1:34.52.
Deterministic is the first Breeders' Cup winner for Liam's Map, who won the Dirt Mile here at Keeneland in 2015. Deterministic is set to join his sire at Lane's End at the conclusion of his racing career.
“Without a doubt, there was pace,” said Clement, winning his first Breeders' Cup race at his second attempt. For all his dad accomplished in this business, he won but one championship race from 49 starters.
Clement continued: “He was in a stalking, pouncing position. Cabo Spirit lugged out a little bit, per usual, and he was able to make the most of it and open up at the top of the stretch and make him pay. He used his high cruising speed.”
Pedigree: The Hinkle Farms-bred Deterministic is easily the best of the four winners from four to race out of Giulio's Jewel (USA) (Speightstown {USA}), who sadly passed away in 2022.
The bulk of the black-type in Deterministic's family is underneath his late third dam, Amelia (USA). A half-sister to the excellent European sprinter Bertolini and Alchemilla, Amelia produced seven winners, including Japanese Group 3 scorer Asakusa Genki (Stormy Atlantic); Rabbit Run (Tapit), successful at Group 2-level in Japan and a winner producer; as well as Graded winners Rainha Da Bateria (Broken Vow), Assateague (Stormy Atlantic), and Kindergarden Kid (Dynaformer), the dam of 2012 G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile runner-up He's Had Enough (Tapit).
Japan’s T O Elvis wins the G1 Sprint
By Stefanie Grimm
“The sprinter version of Forever Young!” So said the FanDuel Racing crew as Japan's T O Elvis (USA) (Volatile {USA}) surged past 'TDN Rising Star' Englishman (USA) (Maxfield {USA}) in the final strides to win Saturday's G1 CyGames Breeders' Cup Sprint at Keeneland.
Entered off a five-race win streak, T O Elvis earned four of those victories in his native Japan before showing his ability to North American audiences with a rousing win in the G1 Churchill Downs Stakes on the Kentucky Derby undercard on May 2.
“First of all, I thank all the stable staff for doing their best to bring him in this condition into the race,” said winning owner Tomoya Ozasa. “For the race, I thought the pace was a little bit high, but that was what we had expected. Race close the rear and move toward the outside coming from home, and showed very good acceleration. That's what I was expecting.”
Both Ozasa and trainer Daisuke Takayanagi agreed that it was likely T O Elvis would return to race in the United States at some point in the future, with Takayanagi saying, “We would like to bring him over again.”
Pedigree: Bred in Kentucky by Jeff and Melissa Prunzik, T O Elvis is a son of Listed winner Stopshoppingdebbie (USA), a Curlin (USA) mare who banked nearly US$250,000 (AU$356,000) on the track before being purchased in foal to the late Medaglia d'Oro (USA) for US$410,000 (AU$583,000) by Town & Country along with Pollock Farms in 2015 before being acquired privately by the Prunziks. Now with three winners from seven to race, she has also produced Listed winner and Grade 1-placed Generous Tipper (Street Sense) who ran third in the G1 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity in 2023.
“Our prior farm manager was a big fan of Volatile and thought it would be a nice mix to try to inject some speed into [Stopshoppingdebbie],” Prunzik told the TDN's Alan Carasso after T O Elvis won the Churchill Downs in May. “And that's how [his breeding] developed.”
T O Elvis was purchased privately by Tomoya Ozasa before the 2023 Keeneland September Sale.
Stopshoppingdebbie has a placed 2-year-old by Golden Pal (USA) named My Pal Al (USA), produced a Maxfield (USA) colt this year and was bred back to both Gun Runner (USA) and McKinzie (USA) for 2027.
Kathynmarissa gives Brown a fifth G1 Filly and Mare Turf
By Heather Anderson
Keeneland rolled out the red carpet for Juddmonte's classy multiple Group 1 winner Blue Bolt (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) in the G1 Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, but it was not to be as the even-money favourite didn't crack the top five, with 5-1 chance Kathynmarissa (USA) (American Pharoah {USA}) coming over the top for the win. The final time for the distance was 1:53.75 over the firm turf.
The Michael Dubb and Michael Caruso-owned runner defeated late stretch leader 10-1 Gimme A Nother (SAf) (Gimmethegreenlight) by three-quarters of a length after taking the lead six strides before the wire. It was left to 26-1 longshot Jancis (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) to be the first European home in third for trainer Willie McCreery, with European ex-pat and 40-1 shot Expensive Queen (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) fourth for Brendan Walsh.
“I have a lot of experience in this race, particularly at Keeneland,” said Brown, winning his fifth Filly & Mare Turf and 20th Breeders' Cup race overall. “I've had great success running here all three times it's been here.
“I was quite worried because not only did Graham (Motion)'s horse (Gimme A Nother) get a good split, but my filly was off the bridle on the turn. Often times this filly, she only grabs the bit in the lane and Jose, I can't say enough about how he's learned this filly and knows how to get along with her. We had a plan. That last conversation walking out with me and him to the track was reaffirming where if you get a good ground-saving position on that first turn, you can go wide as you want in that second turn because she's a clear run horse, which we both know about her. I'm just so happy those two found each other because he's been a big part of her success.”
Bred by Don Alberto Corporation, Kentucky-bred Kathynmarissa was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency to the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where she caught the eye of HR Bloodstock for US$200,000 (AU$285,000).
Pedigree: One of 71 stakes winners – 37 at the Group/Graded level – worldwide for the Shizunai Stallion Station's American Pharoah (USA) on lease from Coolmore, Kathynmarissa counts the late Riff Rocket and Café Pharoah (USA) as fellow dual top-level winners by the 2015 American Triple Crown hero. The son of Pioneerof the Nile (USA) has 10 Grade/Group 1 winners internationally and will spend at least 2027 in Japan due to his popularity with local breeders. Kathynmarissa is his second Breeders' Cup winner after fellow Japan-based sire Four Wheel Drive (USA), who won the 2019 Juvenile Turf Sprint.
A half-sister to Chilean Champion 3-Year-Old Filly and G1 Las Oaks heroine La Poetisa (Empire Maker), Kathynmarissa is out of Las Oaks victress La Dalila (Chi) by Dynaformer (USA) horse Milt's Overture (USA).
Further Ado wins tight finish in G1 Dirt Mile
Spendthrift Farm's Further Ado (USA) (Gun Runner {USA}) broke his maiden by 20 lengths at Keeneland last year and returned to the Lexington oval to win the G1 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes by 11 lengths this spring. He made his third start at Keeneland in the G1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile Saturday and the result was a little closer this time as he just got a desperate nose in front of Owen Almighty (USA) (Speightstown {USA}) on the line.
Further Ado got on even terms with Owen Almighty as the wire loomed and the two went toe-to-toe to the line before Further Ado was finally named the official winner after an agonizing wait for the Spendthrift team.
“We thought we had lost it,” admitted Spendthrift's Eric Gustavson. “Everybody had our heads down. The camera is ahead of the finish line, so it looked like he may have lost the bob and everybody was excited with the other horse. The camera on track was going to the jockey on the other horse, so we had resigned ourselves. And then it turned around. That was quite a roller coaster of emotions to think we had lost and then to find out that we had won.”
Equally uncertain about the finish was trainer Brad Cox.
“I had no clue if we had won,” Cox said. “I knew from racing here that the mirror sits in front of the wire here, so it looked like right past the wire, the other horse had his nose down. But we had it down when it counted there at the mile distance and I'm very proud of the effort.”
“It was very important to try and make this horse a dual Grade I winner at the age of three,” Cox said. “And listen, I think there is a little bit of a question mark with the distances with him. I think he wants more than a mile, but I wasn't convinced we wanted to tackle 1 1/4 miles against older horses just yet.”
Further Ado had been expected to take up a spot on Spendthrift's stallion roster next year, but Gustavson left open the option to have the 3-year-old continue to race next year.
“We're going to have a sit-down with the guys,” Gustavson said. “We're in the business of standing stallions, so it's really tempting to go to the shed after this, off of a big win like that. But we're going to let it cool down, enjoy it for the weekend, and then we'll talk with the team on Monday, Tuesday. We'll talk to Brad as well, obviously, and start formulating a plan.”
Pedigree: Further Ado became Gun Runner's fourth Breeders' Cup winner. The Three Chimneys' stallion has been represented by 2021 G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Echo Zulu, 2024 G1 Breeders' Cup Classic winner Sierra Leone, and 2025 Juvenile Fillies winner Super Corredora.
Further Ado was bred by John Oxley and his third dam is Oxley's champion and G1 Breeders' Cup Distaff winner Beautiful Pleasure (Maudlin). His dam, Sky Dreamer, is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Dream Dancing (Tapit).
Bacio wins G1 Turf Sprint
By J.N. Campbell
With a sweet running-style conducive to blowing opponents out of the water, favourite Bacio (USA) (Maclean's Music {USA}) ran to his odds and made off with the G1 Prevagen Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winnings.
A successful campaigner in England, which included a victory in the Palace of Holyroodhouse Handicap during Royal Ascot on June 19 and in the G1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York on August 21, Bacio was well supported as the 2-1 choice here.
Bacio cruised home nicely by two lengths and 'TDN Rising Star' Cy Fair (USA) (Not This Time {USA}) rang a banger for second.
“You know, he's not a big horse,” said trainer Wesley Ward. “He's very quick and agile like a cat. I thought the first jump, he if he came out of there – a lot of times in 14-horse fields and sprints the horses that are going into the gate, they can be a little apprehensive. So you're standing in there a long time, especially when we were in the three position there in the three hole. He was standing there a long time, so you just really don't know.
“But he really stood well and won,” the trainer said. “A lot of different jockeys, they have certain talents, and he's one that can get him out of there and get him going. In California everything is predominantly speed, and that's the reason why Juan is Bob Baffert's number one jockey, is because his talent, and especially coming out of the gate, as Bob's horses are mostly up in front.”
Pedigree: Bacio hands his sire Maclean's Music (by Distorted Humor) his 25th graded stakes win. His other offspring include current sires Jackie's Warrior, Complexity, Drain the Clock and Cloud Computing. This is the first Breeders' Cup trophy for the cabinet of Maclean's Music.
The winner's dam, Katie's Kiss (USA) (Kantharos {USA}), is responsible for a 2-year-old filly named Southern Kiss (USA) (Golden Pal {USA}) and an early March foal by Arabian Knight (USA). Herself a stakes winner, Katie's Kiss was bred to Citizen Bull (USA) for 2027.
Ways and Means dominates G1 Filly and Mare Sprint
By Steve Sherack
Ways and Means (USA) (Practical Joke {USA}) was way the best in Saturday's G1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Keeneland. She stopped the timer for seven furlongs in a sizzling 1:21.76.
It was 6/25 lengths back to 21-1 longshot Foie Gras (Volatile) in second. 'Rising Star' Explora (Blame), a brilliant winner of this summer's G1 Test S., was third in her first start taking on her elders.
Ways and Means has been consigned as Hip 161 in Monday's Fasig-Tipton November sale.
Longtime prominent owner Seth Klarman–CEO and president of Boston-based Baupost Group, a private investment partnership–has also won Breeders' Cup races with Newspaperofrecord (Ire) (G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in 2018) and Bricks and Mortar (G1 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf in 2019).
“It's immensely satisfying,” Klarman said. “She's such an amazing filly. We're so lucky she got to show herself today. You don't like to be trapped on the rail, but there was plenty of speed in front and it was a pretty quick pace, so we were optimistic she was going to find a way. And (Flavien) Prat is just the best at finding the hole and getting through.”
Klarman added, “She's done everything a race mare can do. You hate to lose her off the track, but she's five, and it's time for her second career.”
Pedigree: Ways and Means – already one of 32 Graded/Group winners worldwide for Practical Joke – becomes her sire's first Breeders' Cup winner. Practical Joke carried Klaravich Stables and former longtime partner William Lawrence's colours to a trio of Grade 1 victories before retiring to Ashford Stud.
Ways and Means was produced by Strong Incentive (USA) (Warrior's Reward {USA}), a US$200,000 (AU$285,000) OBS April 2-year-old also campaigned in partnership by Klaravich and Lawrence and trained by Brown. She recorded a career high in the Jammed Lovely S. at Woodbine. Strong Incentive brought US$2.75 million (AU$3.9 million) from M. V. Magnier and White Birch Farm at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton November sale.
She is also responsible for Grade 1 winner Surge Capacity (USA) (Flintshire {USA}); graded winner Highly Motivated (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}); the unraced 2-year-old filly Alpe d'Huez (USA) (Good Magic {USA}); and a yearling colt by Into Mischief (USA). She was bred back to the all-conquering Into Mischief (USA) for 2027.
