2026 Breeders' Cup Classic predictions, odds, horses, time, post positions: Surprising picks from top expert
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Michelle Yu reveals her Breeders' Cup Classic 2026 picks for Saturday's race at Keeneland Race Course
• 3 min read
The Breeders' Cup Classic 2026 draw was held on Monday, and fortune favored Forever Young. He will exit from the No. 5 post, and he just happened to win this race last year from that very same post. However, the 2026 Breeders' Cup Classic will be at Keeneland this Saturday, while last year's race took place at Del Mar. The venue could be the equalizer as just one of the seven-horse field has ever competed at Keeneland, and that race saw Knightsbridge place third at the 2024 Perryville Stakes. Bet the Breeders' Cup Classic with the TwinSpires promo code CBSSPORTS and get an exclusive $400 bonus:
Forever Young tops the 2026 Breeders' Cup odds board as he's at 2-1 to go back-to-back. Sovereignty (5-2) and Golden Tempo (5-1) each have a pair of Triple Crown race wins on their resumes and are among the biggest challengers to Forever Young. Meanwhile, having prior track experience has Knightsbridge at 9-2 as he looks to give trainer Bill Mott his third Breeders' Cup Classic triumph. Before making any 2026 Breeders' Cup Classic picks, you'll want to see the 2026 Breeders' Cup Classic predictions from SportsLine's Michelle Yu, who is on site in Lexington to cover this race.
Yu started off 2025 by correctly going all-in on Citizen Bull to win the Robert B. Lewis Stakes, and she also predicted Forever Young's win in the Saudi Cup, Journalism's win in the San Felipe Stakes, Sandman's win in the Arkansas Derby and Mindframe's win in the Churchill Downs Stakes. She also hit the exacta in the Kentucky Derby.
Last year she hit the Fierceness-Journalism exacta in the Pacific Classic, and in March she nailed the Renegade-Silent Tactic-Taptastic trifecta in the Arkansas Derby. On the Kentucky Derby undercard, she smashed two races: Crude Velocity's win in the Pat Day Mile and Stark Contrast's win in the American Turf.
Now, with the 2026 Breeders' Cup Classic post positions set and odds on the board, Yu is sharing her picks and predictions over at SportsLine. You can head here to see them.
Top 2026 Breeders' Cup Classic predictions
One surprise: Yu is not high on Golden Tempo as a win contender at 5-1. Golden Tempo navigated Triple Crown season flawlessly, winning the Kentucky Derby before trainer Cherie DeVaux opted to sit him for the Preakness Stakes. He was fresh for the Belmont Stakes, and pulled off the win there.
He wasn't quite as strong in the prep season, however, finishing third at the Louisiana Derby and the Risen Star Stakes. He also came up short at the Travers Stakes in August. Yu is putting him in exotics, but not among her top-four choices to win.
"The Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner ran well in the Travers Stakes, but couldn't get it done," Yu told SportsLine. "Since Keeneland generally plays pretty forward-friendly, I'm concerned about his come-from-the-clouds style. He has looked very strong in his gallops this week, but he's facing some serious elders." See which 2026 Breeders' Cup Classic horses to back at SportsLine.
How to make 2026 Breeders' Cup Classic picks
Yu's top pick is a horse who "has looked in excellent spirits" this week at Keeneland. She also is high on a longshot who "has high cruising speed." She's sharing which 2026 Breeders' Cup Classic horses to back over at SportsLine.
So who wins the 2026 Breeders' Cup Classic, and which huge longshot should you back? Visit SportsLine to see Yu's picks for the 2026 Breeders' Cup Classic, all from the expert who hit the exacta at the Kentucky Derby this year, and find out.
2026 Breeders' Cup Classic odds, post positions
| Post | Horse | Odds | Projection |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | T O Passwod | 30-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 2 | Sovereignty | 5-2 | SEE PICKS |
| 3 | Golden Tempo | 5-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 4 | The Puma | 10-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 5 | Forever Young | 2-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 6 | Magnitude | 6-1 | SCR |
| 7 | Knightsbridge | 9-2 | SEE PICKS |
| 8 | Napoleon Solo | 15-1 | SEE PICKS |
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