Classic runners: Who’s retired and which stars will return? Here's a rundown on which Breeders' Cup runners are retired and which will return.

Here’s a recap of which runners will race next year and which will begin new careers as stallions.

📸: Jetta Vaughns / Eclipse Sportswire

Kentucky Derby 2026 Sweet 16: Ted Noffey on top Initial look at the Kentucky Derby 2026 rankings of the most promising 2-year-olds.

With the Breeders’ Cup now in the rearview mirror, Brian Zipse takes an initial look at the 2026 Kentucky Derby with rankings of the most promising 2-year-olds.

📸: Bill Denver / Eclipse Sportswire

'Fun ride': Churchill's winningest runner Bango is retired Bango, the winningest horse at Churchill Downs, is retired at age 8.

"I'm going to miss him, that's for sure," trainer Greg Foley said.

📸: Churchill Downs / Coady Media

THE LAST WORD
From Forever Young scoring for Japan to Bob Baffert’s wins to all those vet scratches. Hear a final review of Breeders’ Cup 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣5️⃣ from handicapper-analyst Bruno De Julio and co-hosts Keith Nelson and John Cherwa on the Ron Flatter Racing Pod.
www.horseracingnation.com/news/Flatter...

Prospect Watch: Filly out of Kentucky Oaks winner debuts Debuts include an American Pharoah filly out of Kentucky Oaks winner Plum Pretty.

Check out the young horses with elite bloodlines making their debuts and early career starts this week.

📸: Scott Serio / Eclipse Sportswire

See how Forever Young and more Breeders' Cup stars came out of their weekend races at Del Mar.

www.horseracingnation.com/news/Breeder...

📸: Eclipse Sportswire

Breeders' Cup Classic watch: Best horse meets the challenge Forever Young earns his 1st U.S. victory with an outstanding performance.

Even without Sovereignty, the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Classic lived up to the anticipation.

📸: Charles Toler / Eclipse Sportswire

Pennsylvania Derby winner Baeza will return to racing next year Pennsylvania Derby winner Baeza will return to racing next year.

After a short rest, Baeza will prepare for a 4-year-old campaign.

📸: Scott Serio / Eclipse Sportswire

Ted Noffey dam Streak of Luck sells for $6.2 million Ted Noffey dam Streak of Luck, in foal to Not This Time, sells for $6.2 million.

Ted Noffey dam Streak of Luck, in foal to Not This Time, sells for $6.2 million at Fasig-Tipton November Sale.

📸: Fasig-Tipton

Speed figures: Forever Young leads fastest stakes winners Forever Young, Ethical Diamond earn best stakes-winning HRN figures.

Forever Young and Ethical Diamond earn best stakes-winning HRN speed figures.

📸: Kat Turnbull / Eclipse Sportswire

Odds from Caesars Sports in Nevada to win @kentuckyderby.bsky.social 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣.

Forever Young's landmark win Saturday at Del Mar leads HRN daily top 10 Speed Figures.

www.horseracingnation.com/news/Speed_f...

📸 Katie Vordenberg / Eclipse Sportswire

Breeders' Cup Distaff: Scylla seizes the early lead and draws off to 5 1/2-length victory for Bill Mott and Júnior Alvarado.

www.horseracingnation.com/news/Breeder...

📸: Scott Serio / Eclipse Sportswire

Breeders' Cup Turf: Ethical Diamond, a winner both on the flat and over jumps, delivers 25-1 shocker for trainer Willie Mullins.

www.horseracingnation.com/news/Ethical...

📸: Bentley Breland / Eclipse Sportswire

Heir apparent.
Forever Young‘s win in the Breeders’ Cup Classic restores the memory of his great-grandsire Sunday Silence. Brian Zipse has more in his Sunday column.
www.horseracingnation.com/blogs/zatt/G...
📸 Shamela Hanley / Eclipse Sportswire

Breeders' Cup Juvenile: Ted Noffey turns back Brant, holds off Mr. A. P. to remain undefeated.

www.horseracingnation.com/news/Ted_Nof...

📸: Scott Serio / Eclipse Sportswire

Mystik Dan will miss Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile after vet scratch Mystik Dan will miss the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile after vet scratch.

"My team put both these horses on the plane without a single soundness concern. Neither horse has had any history of unsoundness."

📸: Candice Chavez / Eclipse Sportswire

Flatter: Has Sovereignty done enough to be horse of the year? Flatter: Even though he will miss Breeders’ Cup 2025, is Sovereignty horse of the year?

2025 may have Sovereignty as racing's poster colt, but it will be framed in his untimely disappearances from a chance to win a Triple Crown and the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

📸: Carlos J. Calo / Eclipse Sportswire

BREEDERS’ CUP BANTER
FanDuel’s Andie Biancone
Spendthrift Farm’s Ned Toffey
Paddock Prince David Levitch
Hear them on the Ron Flatter Racing Pod.
www.horseracingnation.com/news/Flatter...

Bonus pop-up: The Breeders’ Cup hard-core handicappers episode.
www.horseracingnation.com/news/Flatter...

Breeders’ Cup: Baffert feels for Mott while preparing his string While preparing Breeders’ Cup horses, Baffert empathizes with Mott over Sovereignty's exit.

“I know what it’s like, and I feel for Bill.”

📸: Carlos J. Calo / Eclipse Sportswire

Head to Head: East vs. west in Breeders' Cup Juvenile Ted Noffey and Brant set up an east-vs.-west showdown in Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

Todd Pletcher, Bob Baffert have dominated the Juvenile in recent years.

📸: Lindsay Affleck, Candice Chavez / Eclipse Sportswire

Report: Breeders' Cup Classic favorite Sovereignty is scratched Breeders' Cup Classic favorite Sovereignty will miss the race because of a fever.

Sovereignty's fever shot up again Tuesday.

📸: Scott Serio / Eclipse Sportswire

Breeders' Cup Classic: Fierceness is favorite on new morning line Fierceness is the Breeders' Cup Classic favorite in revised morning-line odds.

The odds were revised after news that Sovereignty would be scratched.

Casey Phillips / Eclipse Sportswire

1️⃣st to 1️⃣0️⃣th.
Predicting the order of finish for Sovereignty and 9 rivals Saturday in Breeders’ Cup Classic 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣5️⃣ at Del Mar.
www.horseracingnation.com/news/Breeder...
📸 Gary Johnson / Eclipse Sportswire

Find out how the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint contenders compare, from the likely winner to the ones who may bring up the rear.

www.horseracingnation.com/news/1st_to_...

📸: Santa Anita / Benoit Photo

Expansion.
Churchill Downs announces a $300 million grandstand addition, avoids prediction markets.
www.horseracingnation.com/news/Churchi...
📸 Churchill Downs Inc. - artist renderings

Breeders' Cup Classic: Who is peaking at the right time to win? Find out what the data says.

www.horseracingnation.com/news/Breeder...

📸: Scott Serio / Jason Moran / Eclipse Sportswire

From 1st to last, see how the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf contenders stack up.

www.horseracingnation.com/news/1st_to_...

📸: Woodbine / Michael Burns Photo

Breeders’ Cup Classic watch.
John Shirreffs has Baeza, his 1st starter in the big race since Zenyatta’s heartbreaking 2010 loss.
www.horseracingnation.com/blogs/zatt/B...
📸 Carlos J. Calo / Eclipse Sportswire

Thorpedo Anna, reigning Horse of the Year, has been retired, trainer Kenny McPeek confirms. www.horseracingnation.com/news/Horse_o...

📸 : Candice Chavez / Eclipse Sportswire