Magnitude Scratch Rocks Breeders' Cup Classic
The 2026 Breeders' Cup Classic lost a major contender Thursday when Winchell Thoroughbreds' Magnitude was scratched on veterinary advice, just two days before the $7 million Grade 1 race at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky. The Steve Asmussen-trained 4-year-old son of Not This Time was 6-1 on the morning line from post 6 with Flavien Prat aboard. According to Asmussen, a PET scan revealed disruption in the suspensory fibers of Magnitude's left fore. Coolmore subsequently announced the horse's retirement from racing.
Magnitude had been one of the standout performers of 2026, winning three of four starts including the Grade 1 Stephen Foster and the Group 1 Dubai World Cup. His absence leaves defending champion Forever Young, installed as the 2-1 morning-line favorite, as the clear headliner in a Classic that will still feature a rare matchup between two Kentucky Derby winners: Sovereignty (2025) and Golden Tempo (2026). It marks the third time the Classic has pitted Derby winners against each other, and the first since Unbridled faced Strike the Gold in 1991.
The scratch was among four announced by Breeders' Cup officials on Thursday. Zedan Racing Stable's Nooni was withdrawn from the Filly & Mare Sprint (30-1), Don Alberto Stable's Chilean-bred Eccentric came out of the Filly & Mare Turf (30-1), and Aidan O'Brien-trained Man's Best Friend was scratched from the Juvenile Turf (15-1). Earlier Thursday, Distaff contender Splendora and three others were also announced as scratches.
Juvenile Field Shrinks to Six After Late Defections
The Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) has been reduced to six starters following a series of withdrawals. Earth Song was scratched Thursday, one day after trainer Chad Brown pulled Gaudreau (8-1) with a fever of 102.5. Net Par had already been withdrawn after pre-entries closed. No also-eligibles were entered, so no replacements draw in.
The $2 million Juvenile, run as Race 9 on Friday at 4:55 p.m. ET, will now be headlined by Bob Baffert's unbeaten Hughes, the 1-1 morning-line favorite from post 5 with Flavien Prat. Hughes is perfect in four starts, including the Del Mar Futurity (G1) and the American Pharoah (G1). The remainder of the field includes Salahudin (6-1), American History (9-2), Coach Pope (4-1), Damavand (20-1), and He Is No Lie (15-1).
What the Scratches Mean for Bettors
The defections have significantly altered the pari-mutuel landscape. Magnitude's exit removes a horse that had beaten older males at the highest level and was expected to take significant money in the Classic. Gaudreau's fever leaves Brown, who won the 2017 Juvenile with Good Magic, without a starter. For bettors, the Juvenile now shapes as a confidence game around Hughes, while the Classic becomes a two-horse story at the top: Forever Young versus the Derby winners.
A Historic Weekend at Keeneland
The Breeders' Cup returns to Keeneland for the first time since 2022, with 14 races spanning Friday, Oct. 30, and Saturday, Oct. 31. The event carries added significance this year: the Classic features two Kentucky Derby winners for the first time in 35 years, and Forever Young attempts to become the first back-to-back Classic winner since Tiznow (2000-01). The Japanese-bred star opened as the 2-1 favorite in a stacked field.
Coverage begins Friday on FanDuel TV and USA Network, with Saturday's card airing on FanDuel TV, USA, and NBC. The Classic is scheduled for 6:15 p.m. ET on Saturday. Post times for Friday's undercard begin at 11:55 a.m. ET.
Broader Implications: Veterinary Scrutiny and Field Stability
The spate of scratches highlights the increasing use of advanced diagnostic imaging in pre-race veterinary checks. Magnitude's PET scan finding — a subtle suspensory issue that might have gone undetected in an earlier era — underscores how thoroughly modern contenders are monitored. While the withdrawals dampen star power, they also reflect a sport-wide emphasis on horse welfare that has gained traction in recent years.
For the Breeders' Cup, the late defections test the event's depth. The Classic still boasts a compelling narrative in Forever Young's bid for history and the Derby-winner showdown, but the loss of Magnitude removes a horse that had captured international attention with his Dubai World Cup victory. As Keeneland prepares for its signature weekend, the focus shifts to the horses who remain — and to a Classic that, despite the attrition, still has the ingredients for a memorable renewal.
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