Study Guide: 2026 Breeders’ Futurity

Sep 30, 2026 J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com

Coach Pope wins at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)

A small but strong field has assembled for Saturday’s $650,000 Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland, a 1 1/16-mile Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier awarding 10-5-3-2-1 points to the top five finishers.

Let’s review the entries in horse-by-horse fashion:

Coach Pope

Start(s): 2
Wins: 1
Place: 1
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: $92,088

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

Coach Pope was tons the best in a recent one-mile maiden special weight at Churchill Downs, dominating by 12 1/2 lengths. The powerful 99 Brisnet Speed rating he earned is the highest number in the Breeders’ Futurity field, stamping Coach Pope as the runner to beat for Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Kenny McPeek.

🏀𝗖𝗢𝗔𝗖𝗛 𝗣𝗢𝗣𝗘 travels to Louisville and secures the blowout W!@jose93_ortiz assists with a confident ride for trainer @KennyMcPeek.#TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/wyawVacz9S

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) September 12, 2026

Q B Rocket

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

Owner: Spendthrift Farm and Frank Fletcher
Breeder: GRS and Bob Baffert
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Junior Alvarado

Top Speed Rating: (95) when winning a maiden special weight at Saratoga.
Total Earnings: $63,250

Sire: Gun Runner
Dam: Ginja
Color: Dark bay/brown

Coach Pope’s stiffest competition may come from Q B Rocket. The son of 2017 Horse of the Year Gun Runner debuted in a six-furlong maiden special weight at Saratoga and led all the way to win by 1 3/4 lengths over Card Man, who returned to win his next start. Q B Rocket earned a 95 Brisnet Speed rating and has the pedigree to shine racing 1 1/16 miles, so he’s a formidable threat to Coach Pope.

Phone Booth

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

Owner: Reddam Racing
Breeder: Reddam Racing
Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Jockey: Umberto Rispoli

Top Speed Rating: (93) when finishing second in the Del Mar Futurity (G1) at Del Mar.
Total Earnings: $138,000

Sire: Pavel
Dam: Mandy’s Grace
Color: Chestnut

Phone Booth is shipping in from California, where he finished second in both the Del Mar Futurity and Best Pal (G3). He’s meeting tough competition in the Breeders’ Futurity, but Brisnet Speed ratings suggest a top-three finish is well within reach.

Title Worthy

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

Owner: Commonwealth Stable, Rivers Thoroughbred, On Our Own Stable, and Dallas Stewart
Breeder: Charles Fipke
Trainer: Dallas Stewart
Jockey: Gerardo Corrales

Top Speed Rating: (81) when winning an allowance at Churchill Downs.
Total Earnings: $103,777

Sire: Title Ready
Dam: Maresias
Color: Gray/roan

Title Worthy is unbeaten in two starts, most recently leading all the way to trounce a six-furlong allowance at Churchill Downs by six lengths. However, he’ll need to improve upon his career-best 81 Brisnet Speed rating to defeat this deep Breeders’ Futurity field.

Jaded

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

Owner: D. J. Stable
Breeder: Gainesway Thoroughbreds
Trainer: Mark Casse
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (79) when winning a maiden special weight at Kentucky Downs.
Total Earnings: $102,000

Sire: Olympiad
Dam: Lady Pewitt
Color: Chestnut

Jaded closed from far back to win his debut in a maiden special weight sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs over the grass course at Kentucky Downs. His pedigree suggests switching to dirt won’t be an issue (his half-sister Jaywalk was a champion who won multiple Grade 1 races on dirt), so Jaded is a candidate to outrun expectations in the Breeders’ Futurity.

American History

Start(s): 1
Wins: 1
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: (83) when winning a maiden special weight at Saratoga.
Total Earnings: $63,250

Sire: Constitution
Dam: Bloody Point
Color: Chestnut

American History was much the best when debuting in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Saratoga. He closed from a couple lengths off the pace to dominate by 7 3/4 lengths. The 83 Brisnet Speed rating he earned looks a bit light against the Breeders’ Futurity field, but Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher has won three of the last four editions of this race, so don’t underestimate American History.