Emphatic

Emphatic, a bay Nyquist filly, turned heads in her July 25, 2026, debut at Colonial Downs, powering clear from an early stalking spot to win a six-furlong maiden race by 6 ¾ lengths. Her connections stretched her out to two turns for her next start and moved her into stakes company, and the 2-year-old filly was even more impressive in the one-mile Sorority Stakes Aug. 29 at Monmouth Park, once again stalking, pouncing, and pulling clear to a 5 ¼-length score.

She was then sent to Kentucky to train for a start in the Darley Alcibiades Stakes Oct. 2 at Keeneland, a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies held at the end of October at that track. Emphatic faced the challenge of making her third career start at a third different track and with a third different jockey, as Tyler Gaffalione took the reins in the Alcibiades. He aggressively sent Emphatic straight to the lead and kept her in that position with mild pressure in the backstretch from favorite Summer Starlet.

Those two fillies separated from the field in the far turn of the 1 1/16-mile Alcibiades, and under stong urging from Gaffalione, Emphatic kept Summer Starlet at bay, prevailing by 1 ¼ lengths to remain undefeated and punch her Breeders’ Cup ticket.

Emphatic stalked pacesetter Lexi’s Charm in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, surged to the front on the final turn, and spurted away to a commanding lead in early stretch. She held off a late rally from runner-up Miss Monica for a clear win in 1:42.29 for her fourth win in as many starts as a 2-year-old.

Trained by Brendan Walsh, Pennsylvania-bred Emphatic is out of the unraced Tiznow mare Convinced. Her second dam (maternal grandmother) is a full-sister to leading sire Tapit.