The stars will come out Friday afternoon at Keeneland, opening day of the Fall meet that precedes the Breeders’ Cup at Lexington, Kentucky's historic racecourse.
Three stakes are on the card, all Breeders’ Cup “Win, and You’re In” races. It’s an ideal way for fans and handicappers to get a line on top contenders for the season-ending championships on Oct. 30-31.
The $650,000 Alcibiades Stakes (G1) is the richest of the trio that includes the $400,000 Phoenix Stakes (G2) and $400,000 Jessamine Stakes (G2).
We’re going to delve into the Phoenix, the oldest stakes race in the country. First run in 1831, the Phoenix predates many better-known races like the Travers Stakes (G1, 1864) and the Belmont Stakes (G1, 1867). The Kentucky Derby (G1, 1875) is a relative newcomer, but it does hold the mark as the nation’s longest continuously held sporting event.
The latest renewal of the 6-furlong Phoenix drew a strong field of 11, including Hymn (4-1), winner most recently of the Forego Stakes (G1) at Saratoga, and defending champion Nakatomi (7-2), who was also second in this race in 2023 and 2024. The winner gets an automatic berth in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Verifire, though, is the 5-2 morning-line favorite for trainer Brad Cox.
In addition to the equine stars, many of the sport’s top jockeys will be on hand, including Irad Ortiz, Jr., who will ride for the first time since suffering an ankle injury on Aug. 8 at Saratoga. Ortiz, who has the mount on Nakatomi, has won four of the last six Breeders' Cup Sprints with Whitmore (2020), Elite Power (2022, 2023) and Bentornato (2025).
Trainer Wesley Ward would undoubtedly love another crack at the Breeders' Cup Sprint with Nakatomi. For all of the gelding’s past success in the Phoenix, Nakatomi has been a bust in the Breeders’ Cup, finishing third in 2023, sixth in 2024, and ninth last year.
We suspect time might be catching up to Nakatomi, now 7. In the past, Nakatomi entered the Phoenix off strong efforts at Saratoga. His tune-up this time was an unimpressive fourth in an allowance race at the Spa as the 5-2 favorite.
We think it’s time to look elsewhere for the keys to Phoenix. That leads us to the younger (4-year-old) and sharper Verifire (5-2). Cox has finally secured the $1 million purchase of the 2-year-old.
Verifire dug in gamely to win an allowance race at Churchill Downs in June before cruising to a dominant win in the Reigh Count Stakes at Colonial Downs. His improving speed figures and his pressing, dueling style stamp him the one to beat.
Hymn must be respected following the Forego win, a mild surprise at 9-2. We will confess a bit of bias here. We were underwhelmed by the major sprint stakes at Saratoga this summer. Both the A.G. Vanderbilt (G2) and Forego attracted only six runners, hardly demanding championship events. So, we’ll slot him in the place spot.
For old time's sake, pencil Nakatomi into the show slot.
There you have it for the Phoenix, set for 4:12 p.m. ET.
| # | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mad House | Sonny Leon | David VanWinkle | 10-1 |
| 2 | Booth | Jose Ortiz | Steve Asmussen | 6-1 |
| 3 | Little Thunder | John Velazquez | Timothy Hamm | 15-1 |
| 4 | Verifire | Flavien Prat | Brad Cox | 5-2 |
| 5 | Classic of Course | Luis Saez | Patrick Biancone | 20-1 |
| 6 | Viking | Tyler Gaffalione | David Fawkes | 8-1 |
| 7 | C K Wonder | Juan Machado | Dale Romans | 30-1 |
| 8 | Hymn | Rafael Bejarano | Ron Moquett | 4-1 |
| 9 | Jack's Promise | Brian Hernandez, Jr. | Dale Romans | 30-1 |
| 10 | Nakatomi | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | Wesley Ward | 7-2 |
| 11 | Here Mi Song | Edgar Morales | William Stinson, Jr. | 15-1 |
Last Updated on 09/30/2026
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
