Breeders' Cup believe it or not: Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert will not have a horse running in the $7 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1).
For the first time since 2010, horse-racing's all-time leader in Breeders' Cup earnings with $44.7 million is on the outside looking in at the richest race in North America.
From 2011 through 2025, Baffert has saddled at least one starter in the Classic, winning four times – in 2014 with Bayern, 2015 with American Pharoah, 2016 with Arrogate and 2020 with Authentic.
He also had five second-place finishers over the same period – Game on Dude (2011), Collected (2017), McKinzie (2019), Improbable (2020), and Medina Spirit (2021).
However, Baffert has plenty of ammunition for the 43rd Breeders' Cup at Keeneland next weekend. A winner of 21 Breeders' Cup races (tied with Irishman Aidan O'Brien for most by a trainer), Baffert's lineup looks like this:
The unbeaten filly comes into the race off a dominating 6 ¼-length win in the Del Mar Debutante Stakes (G1) on Sept. 5 after a 5 ¾-length in her career debut on Aug. 9. She should be among the top contenders.
Baffert is seeking his record-extending seventh win in this race with a pair of unbeaten colts – Hughes (4-0) and Salahudin (3-0). Hughes is the likely favorite coming into the race with a pair of Grade 1 victories, in the Del Mar Futurity (G1) and the American Pharoah Stakes (G1). His four wins have been by a combined margin of 24 ½ lengths. Salahudin won the Iroquois Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs in his most recent start.
Baffert has three pre-entered in Explora, Nooni and Splendora. First off, Splendora is likely to run in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) as that was a first preference at pre-entries. Explora, a 3-year-old filly, has won four of seven races this year with two-runner-up finishes, including the Dogwood Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs on Sept. 19, beaten a neck by Conceit. In her previous race, she won the Test Stakes (G1) at Saratoga and has earned more than $1.5 million. Nooni has a pair of optional claiming victories in her last two starts and is 2-for-3 in 2026 after missing her 3-year-old season in 2025.
Splendora won the BC Filly & Mare Sprint last year and will likely be entered in this race on Monday to face off against the likely favorite Nitrogen and 2025 BC Juvenile Fillies winner Super Corredora.
Yes, it's rare that Baffert is not in the picture for one of the world's most important races, but don't bet against him adding a few Breeders' Cup victories to his resume.
Since the start of the Breeders' Cup in 1984, Bob Baffert has sent out 26 Breeders' Cup Classic starters across 19 different years:
• 1997 -- Anet (8th)
• 1998 -- Silver Charm (2nd)
• 1999 -- River Keen (11th)
• 2001 -- Captain Steve (4th)
• 2002 -- War Emblem (8th)
• 2003 -- Congaree (4th)
• 2008 -- Colonel John (6th)
• 2009 -- Richard's Kid (6th)
• 2011 -- Game On Dude (2nd)
• 2012 -- Game On Dude (7th)
• 2013 --Game On Dude (9th)
• 2014 -- Bayern (1st)
• 2015 -- American Pharoah (1st)
• 2016 -- Arrogate (1st), Hoppertunity (4th)
• 2017 -- Collected (2nd), West Coast (3rd), Gunnevera (5th), Arrogate (5th-tie)
• 2018 -- West Coast (7th), McKinzie (12th)
• 2019 -- McKinzie (2nd)
• 2020 -- Authentic (1st), Improbable (2nd), Maximum Security (5th)
• 2021 -- Medina Spirit (2nd)
• 2022 -- Taiba (3rd)
• 2023 -- Arabian Knight (4th)
• 2024 -- Newgate (9th)
• 2025 – Nevada Beach (7th)
Richard Rosenblatt is an award-winning journalist and former Associated Press Horse Racing Editor. Currently, he serves as the news editor at US Racing, overseeing exclusive content from contributors worldwide.
