Forever Young Tops 2026 Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings After Jockey Club Gold Cup Win

Forever Young is back on top.

Fresh off his victory in the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1) at the new Belmont Park, defending Breeders’ Cup Classic champion Forever Young (JPN) has taken over the No. 1 spot in the latest 2026 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings.

The Japanese superstar received 364 total votes and 24 first-place votes, moving ahead of previous leader Sovereignty, who dropped to second with 355 votes and 12 first-place votes.

The rankings track the leading contenders for the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), scheduled for October 31 at Keeneland.

Forever Young Takes Over No. 1

Forever Young entered the latest rankings in second place, but his Sept. 18 victory in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) was enough to push him past Sovereignty and into the top spot.

Trained by Yoshito Yahagi for owner Susumu Fujita, Forever Young is attempting to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic for the second consecutive year after capturing the race in 2025.

His 2026 campaign has already included victories in the Saudi Cup (G1) and Jockey Club Gold Cup, giving him two major wins ahead of his title defense at Keeneland.

Forever Young has also secured an automatic starting position in the Classic through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series.

Sovereignty Slips to Second

Sovereignty, who had led the rankings since the first poll was released in August, falls one spot to second with 355 votes.

The Bill Mott trainee won the Whitney Stakes (G1) earlier this summer and remains one of the leading contenders for the Classic.

Sovereignty also owns an automatic berth in the race thanks to his Whitney victory.

The gap between the top two is just nine points, though Forever Young doubled Sovereignty’s total of first-place votes, 24 to 12.

Knightsbridge Moves Into Third

Godolphin’s Knightsbridge holds the third spot with 296 votes following his victory in the Pacific Classic Stakes (G1).

Like Sovereignty, Knightsbridge is trained by Bill Mott, giving the Hall of Fame trainer two of the top three horses in the latest rankings.

Knightsbridge has also punched his ticket to the Classic through the Win and You’re In series.

Magnitude remains fourth with 270 votes. The Steve Asmussen trainee has put together a strong season highlighted by victories in the Dubai World Cup (G1) and Stephen Foster Stakes (G1).

Golden Tempo Leads the 3-Year-Olds

Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Golden Tempo checks in fifth with 245 votes, making him the highest-ranked 3-year-old in the poll.

The Cherie DeVaux trainee has remained firmly among the leading Classic contenders throughout the rankings.

Nitrogen, the 4-year-old filly who finished second in the Whitney, ranks sixth with 129 votes.

The Puma Jumps Into the Top 10

One of the biggest changes comes from The Puma, who enters the rankings at No. 7 following his victory in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) at Parx.

Trained by Gustavo Delgado, The Puma earned 103 votes, putting him just ahead of Preakness winner Napoleon Solo, who ranks eighth with 102.

Napoleon Solo also finished second in the Travers Stakes (G1) earlier this season.

Renegade sits ninth with 95 votes, while Baeza rounds out the top 10 with 40 votes after finishing third behind Forever Young in the Jockey Club Gold Cup.

The rankings are determined by a panel of Thoroughbred racing media members, horseplayers, and members of the Breeders’ Cup Racing Directors/Secretaries Panel. Voters rank horses using a 10-through-1 points system.

The next rankings will be released Sept. 29, with the final rankings scheduled for Oct. 6.

The rankings themselves do not determine qualification or selection into the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

The 2026 Breeders’ Cup Classic will be contested at 1 1/4 miles on the Keeneland main track and is limited to 14 starters.

With Forever Young coming off another Grade 1 victory, Sovereignty still right on his heels, and horses like Knightsbridge, Magnitude and Golden Tempo firmly in the mix, the picture for the $7 million Classic is beginning to take shape with just over a month remaining until the Breeders’ Cup.