Some of the best long-distance turf horses in North America, and probably a few from Europe, will be on the grounds at Keeneland late this month to compete in the $5 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf Oct. 31. This Friday, a solid group not targeting the Breeders’ Cup will run in the Sycamore Stakes, held at the same 1 ½-mile distance.

Defending Sycamore winner Desvio leads a full field that includes four also-eligible entrants. It’s a great betting race that’ll be held on a firm turf course at Keeneland as the week-long forecast in Central Kentucky calls for continued sunny skies. The Sycamore will be shown live on both FS2 and FanDuel TV.

1. Goldeneye (30-1 morning-line odds): Has raced all over North America, often at marathon distances, and has a win at this course and distance back in 2024. He also started in last year’s Sycamore and was eased to finish last of 10. Should be among the front-runners and probably backing up in the homestretch, but could hang around for a minor share.

JOCKEY: Edwin Maldonado; TRAINER: Peter Eurton

2. Just a Touch (5-2): Ran well in several dirt stakes races without winning one but has taken the next step after being transferred to turf, winning three out of four races including two 1 ½-mile stakes. He was eased in his only turf defeat in July, so toss that one out. A leading win threat at his best.    

JOCKEY: Irad Ortiz Jr.; TRAINER: Brad Cox

3. Mercante (20-1): He ran in last Saturday’s Coolmore Turf Mile here and finished last of eight after a poor start. Probably will be scratched from this spot; even if he runs, his past form suggests he’s suited to shorter-distance races.

JOCKEY: Joseph Ramos; TRAINER: Brian Knippenberg

4. Navy Seal (6-1): Comes in off of a slightly disappointing comeback race at Kentucky Downs, a stakes held at 2 1/16 miles. Did not muster a closing rally after settling off the pace; overall, he’s flashed talent on occasion and has run well at Keeneland before, but others appeal more.

JOCKEY: Jose Ortiz; TRAINER: Wesley Ward

5. Echo Lane (12-1): Stepped up back to stakes level to kick off 2026 and has collected minor awards in six starts. That’s his ceiling in this race as he returns from a nearly three-month break and gets a new jockey.

JOCKEY: Brian Hernandez Jr.; TRAINER: Rohan Crichton

6. English Actor (20-1): Longshot ships in from Woodbine, where he’s made all 14 of his career starts. He reached peak form with a front-running August stakes win traveling 1 3/8 miles at the Toronto track but then finished last of eight in his next start, another stakes try at the same distance. Look for him in the mix early.

JOCKEY: Junior Alvarado; TRAINER: Rachel Halden

Limited Liability (Eclipse Sportswire)

7. Limited Liability (8-1): Is 2-for-4 lifetime on Keeneland’s turf course and nearly won the Elkhorn Stakes here in spring 2025 at this distance (he finished third in the 2023 Sycamore). He tailed off after that and didn’t show much in his season debut last month in a 2 1/16-mile stakes at Kentucky Downs, but his overall résumé makes him a win threat in this spot and he could be somewhat overlooked on the tote board.

JOCKEY: Luis Saez; TRAINER: Shug McGaughey

8. Tiz Dashing (9-2): Form-wise, he fits with this field easily – the question will be distance as he’s done his best running in the 1 1/16-mile range. He comes in off of a sharp win in a Saratoga allowance held at 1 3/16 miles against three opponents. Can he stretch out to 1 ½ miles?

JOCKEY: Javier Castellano; TRAINER: Barclay Tagg

9. Layabout (12-1): Moved from one-mile and 1 1/16-mile races in 2025 to longer distances this year and started off strong with a Grade 3 score at a mile and a half on Gulfstream Park’s turf course. More recently, he nearly won Colonial Downs’ Arlington Million Stakes held at 1 ¼ miles at odds of 67-1, leading in the stretch before finishing fourth by three-quarters of a length. Another entrant who does his best running on the early lead.

JOCKEY: Keith Asmussen; TRAINER: Patrick Biancone

10. Vote No (6-1): His form tailed off during mid-summer 2025 and he’s gone winless in 10 consecutive starts. He did show signs of life, however, in his most recent outing at Kentucky Downs, where he rallied to finish second by a half-length in a 1 1/16-mile stakes. Seems a cut below the best here.

JOCKEY: Umberto Rispoli; TRAINER: Kelsey Danner

11. Desvio (8-1): Lit up the tote board in this race a year ago, rallying to win by a half-length at 34-1 odds. He hasn’t shown much in four starts this year, all at marathon distances, but did finish a distant second behind top-class Burnham Square on this course and distance in April’s Elkhorn Stakes. Worth considering for exotic wagers as he gets a new jockey in this spot.

JOCKEY: Luan Machado; TRAINER: Madison Meyers

12. Rothschild (30-1): Faced stakes company routinely back in 2024 but over the past two seasons he’s raced at the allowance level with one win in seven starts, a pace-setting score in August going 1 3/8 miles at Saratoga. He’s far from the lone speed in this spot and faces a tall task from an outside post.

JOCKEY: Axel Concepcion; TRAINER: Norm Casse

13. Lambeth (also-eligible, 4-1): Will need a defection to get in the field, and that should happen if Mercante is scratched. Comes in off of a runner-up finish in a marathon 2 1/16-mile stakes at Kentucky Downs, where he finished three-quarters of a length behind veteran Tawny Port. Definitely worth considering, especially if he keeps his assigned jockey.

JOCKEY: Jose Ortiz; TRAINER: Joe Sharp

14. Sumood (also-eligible, 20-1): Has competed mainly at the allowance level since earning his first win back in February on the all-weather track at Turfway Park. Solid at that level, but a big longshot here if he draws in.

JOCKEY: Tyler Gaffalione; TRAINER: Brendan Walsh

15. Carcano (also-eligible, 9-2): Ran on dirt early in his career but since 2024 has competed on turf/all-weather surfaces with sporadic success. He made his turf stakes debut last out in the 1 ½-mile Colonial Turf Cup and nearly upset odds-on Just a Touch, losing by a head. This is tough spot to improve upon that effort, should he enter the field.

JOCKEY: John Velazquez; TRAINER: Victoria Oliver

16. Ur Benja (also-eligible, 50-1): Will need four defections from the main body of the field to get a chance at a gargantuan upset. Has posted his first two career wins through nine starts in his most recent starts, both at Belterra Park and one on turf. Showed little prior at Kentucky and Indiana tracks, including a seventh last spring on this course.

JOCKEY: James Graham; TRAINER: Jose Aranha

THE PICK: Limited Liability

LIVE LONGSHOT: Layabout

SUPERFECTA: 7-2-10-9