Breeders' Cup

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Rookie Rankings: Five 2-Year-Old Prospects to Watch From 2026 Saratoga Meet

During two-plus months of exciting summer racing at Saratoga Race Course, we witnessed many talented 2-year-old Thoroughbreds deliver eye-catching victories suggesting they’re serious prospects for the 2026 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, 2027 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, and 2027 Kentucky Oaks.

Which of these rising stars impressed the most? In reverse order, here’s how we rank the top five 2-year-olds who raced during the 2026 summer at Saratoga:

Woodbine, Churchill Downs, Breeders’ Cup, Kentucky Derby, Notable Speech, Appleby, Buick, Deterministic, Mile, Iroquois Stakes, Baffert, Jose Ortiz, Geroux, Coach Pope, E. P. Taylor, Gimme a Nother, Motion, Velazquez, ABR

Key Takeaways from the Woodbine Mile and Other Weekend Races

America’s Best Racing editor Patrick Reed presents takeaways from big Sept.

2026 Woodbine Mile, Woodbine Race Course, Notable Speech, Deterministic, Charlie Appleby, Godolphin

Notable Speech Wins Woodbine Mile, Gimme a Nother, Al Hudaiba, Voyager also Earn BC Berths

In a display of sheer determination, a trait that earned him the 2025 Eclipse Award for champion turf male, Notable Speech returned to Woodbine Sept. 12 and won the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile Stakes for a second consecutive year.

Lure: The Horse That Switched Career Fields and Came Out on Top

A common phrase in horse racing is “horses aren’t machines,” and the truth behind this phrase is rarely more apparent than when a talented horse isn’t quite running to expectations. Such was the case with a talented colt named Lure, who began his career in 1991 by breaking a track record for five furlongs at Belmont Park only to lose four of his next six races.

Breeders’ Cup Fantastic Finishes: A Legendary Streak Halted

Sixteen years ago, horse racing was at one of its periodic upticks in national exposure as fans were drawn to the exploits of an unbeaten star racemare based in Southern California, and by the time the 27th Breeders’ Cup World Championships arrived at Churchill Downs, excitement was at a fever pitch.

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