Study Guide: 2026 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile

Oct 28, 2026 J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com

Salahudin captured the Iroquois (G3) to kick off the Road to the Kentucky Derby (Photo by Coady Media)

This year’s most lucrative qualifier for the 2027 Kentucky Derby (G1) is Friday’s $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Keeneland.

The 1 1/16-mile race carries a rich purse and awards Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifying points with a 30-15-9-6-3 split to the top five finishers. No other Kentucky Derby prep for two-year-olds offers more points or purse money.

Let’s meet the small but talented field of horses entered in the 2026 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile:

Damavand

Start(s): 2
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Amo Racing USA
Breeder: Mark Stanley
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Luis Saez

Top Speed Rating: (87) when winning a maiden special weight at Keeneland.
Total Earnings: $69,985

Sire: Not This Time
Dam: Tempers Rising
Color: Dark bay/brown

Damavand fought gamely to win an Oct. 4 maiden special weight over the same track and distance as the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. He finished strongly down the homestretch to prevail by a neck. However, he’ll need to improve upon the 87 Brisnet Speed rating he received to beat much tougher competition in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

Gaudreau

Start(s): 2
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Tanglewood Thoroughbreds, Thirty Year Racing, Bradley Thoroughbreds, Rodeo Creek Racing, Laura Leigh Stable, and Swift Thoroughbreds
Breeder: Coteau Grove Farms
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Manny Franco

Top Speed Rating: (98) when finishing second in the Champagne (G1) at Belmont Park.
Total Earnings: $163,250

Sire: Nyquist
Dam: Free Cover
Color: Bay

Per the Daily Racing Form, Gaudreau will scratch from the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile due to an illness.

Salahudin

Start(s): 3
Wins: 3
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Zedan Racing Stables
Breeder: Newstead Corp.
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione

Top Speed Rating: (96) when winning the Iroquois (G3) at Churchill Downs.
Total Earnings: $392,172

Sire: Uncle Mo
Dam: Weekend Strike
Color: Dark bay/brown

Salahudin is unbeaten in three starts and exits a rallying victory in the one-mile Iroquois. He enters the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile off a sharp series of workouts for six-time Juvenile-winning trainer Bob Baffert and has every chance to vie for a top-three finish.

Earth Song

Start(s): 2
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Amo Racing USA
Breeder: John C. Oxley
Trainer: Jorge Delgado
Jockey: Junior Alvarado

Top Speed Rating: (94) when finishing fourth in the Champagne (G1) at Belmont Park.
Total Earnings: $54,600

Sire: Justify
Dam: Sky Dreamer
Color: Bay

Earth Song dominated his debut sprinting six furlongs at Monmouth Park by 11 1/4 lengths, but when he stepped up in class and distance for the Champagne, he finished a distant fourth. He’ll need a step forward to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, though Brisnet Speed ratings suggest another top-four finish is within reach.

Hughes

Start(s): 4
Wins: 4
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Front Row Club, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Bashor Racing, Albaugh Family Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan
Breeder: Breffni Farm
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Flavien Prat

Top Speed Rating: (108) when winning the American Pharoah (G1) at Santa Anita.
Total Earnings: $480,000

Sire: Into Mischief
Dam: K P Dreamin
Color: Bay

Hughes is unbeaten in four starts and enters the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile off blowout wins in the Best Pal (G3), Del Mar Futurity (G1), and American Pharoah. In the American Pharoah, he raced over the same 1 1/16-mile distance as the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and won by six lengths with a powerful 108 Brisnet Speed rating. A similar performance at Keeneland will make Hughes difficult to defeat.

American History

Start(s): 2
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: WinStar Farm, First Go Racing, and CHC
Breeder: Alpha Delta Stables
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: John Velazquez

Top Speed Rating: (93) when winning the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland.
Total Earnings: $461,213

Sire: Constitution
Dam: Bloody Point
Color: Chestnut

American History opened his career with a 7 3/4-length maiden win sprinting at Saratoga, then stretched out over 1 1/16 miles to score a one-length win in Keeneland’s Breeders’ Futurity (G1). The fact that American History has won over the track and distance of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile is appealing, but he benefited from closing into a fast pace in the Breeders’ Futurity, and he may not receive as favorable a setup this time around.

𝗔𝗠𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗡 𝗛𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗬 makes history of his own, winning the G1 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity! 🏆@PletcherRacing trains the 2y/o colt with jockey @ljlmvel aboard for the ride.#TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/TOhRGP3s6A

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) October 3, 2026

Coach Pope

Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 2
Show: 0

Owner: Gainesway Stable, Shamrock Stables, and Michael J. Mackin
Breeder: Tail Oaks Farm and Tapit Syndicate
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Jockey: Jose Ortiz

Top Speed Rating: (99) when winning a maiden special weight at Churchill Downs.
Total Earnings: $220,463

Sire: Tapit
Dam: Gamble’s Ghost
Color: Bay

After smashing a one-mile maiden special weight at Churchill Downs by 12 1/2 lengths, Coach Pope started as a heavy favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, but a race-long duel for the lead left him tired in the homestretch, and he could only finish second behind American History. If the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile pace is more relaxed, Coach Pope may rebound with a big performance.

He Is No Lie

Start(s): 4
Wins: 1
Place: 2
Show: 0

Owner: Purple Rein Racing and Mark D. Davis
Breeder: Pope McLean, Marc McLean, and Pope McLean Jr.
Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Jockey: Joel Rosario

Top Speed Rating: (95) when finishing second in the Iroquois at Churchill Downs.
Total Earnings: $151,050

Sire: Early Voting
Dam: Truth in the Lies
Color: Dark bay/brown

He Is No Lie has shown flashes of talent against quality competition, running second in the Iroquois and Bashford Manor S. But he’s finished behind Breeders’ Cup rivals Salahudin and Hughes in his last two starts, so he’ll need improvement to turn the tables.