Division rankings: Explora has her eye on bigger prizes in 2026

As the 2025 season wound down, I was hoping Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies runner-up Explora would make one final start in a meaningful graded stakes. It briefly looked like that would happen when she was entered in the Grade 2 Golden Rod at Churchill Downs in late November, but she was scratched a few days before the race.

Given the state of the 2-year-old filly division, my thinking was that a Golden Rod victory would have been enough to place Explora atop my Eclipse ballot. Clearly, I wasn’t alone in that assessment, as she emerged as an Eclipse finalist anyway.

Explora returned to the races last week and dominated three overmatched rivals in the Santa Ynez Stakes, a performance that clearly signals bigger things ahead for this daughter of Blame. She opens my 2026 division rankings as the top-ranked 3-year-old filly.

3-year-old fillies

1. Explora. Explora was an Eclipse contender in a wide-open 2-year-old filly division and, at least for now, stands above the rest. She dominated in her 2026 debut last out in the Santa Ynez Stakes, running away by over five lengths.

2. Zany. Dominant winner of the Demoiselle (G2), with her only other start in a win over maidens. Still not sure what to make yet of this daughter of American Pharoah.

3. Super Corredora. Although her Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies victory was impressive, she still needs to show me it wasn't a fluke, given it was her only stakes start at age 2.

4. Percy’s Bar. She finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and appears to be moving in the right direction. She clearly was the best horse in the Alcibiades (G1), crossing the wire first before being disqualified for stretch interference, a performance that followed a runner-up finish in the Spinaway (G1) at Saratoga.

5. Bella Ballerina. 2-for-2 so far in her career that included a win in the Golden Rod at Churchill Downs.

Next five: Tommy Jo, Taken by the Wind, Bottle of Rouge, Rileytole, Consequent.

After a one-week break to recharge the batteries, I’m ready to dive back in for another season of watching, analyzing and debating every equine division along with engaging with you, the reader. Over the next 50 weeks or so, we’ll dissect every division and every contender, ultimately narrowing the field to the most deserving Eclipse Award finalists. Longtime readers know your input matters, and my top choice in the 2-year-old filly division was decided in no small part by the feedback I received from you, the reader, ultimately leading me to Cy Fair as top 2-year-old filly of 2025.

This week’s spotlight belongs to Explora, though not merely because of her latest victory. If I had opened the season with the rankings last week, she was penciled in as my top-ranked 3-year-old filly. The win in the Santa Ynez reinforced what I already believed, that despite not yet having a top-level score, she is the best horse in this division right now.

Explora has three wins from five starts, finishing runner-up in the other two. Bottle of Rouge defeated her by a length in the Del Mar Debutante (G1), only to finish five lengths behind Explora in the Breeders’ Cup. Super Corredora narrowly edged Explora in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, a result I view as more of an aberration than a true reflection of their relative ability. Most importantly, Explora already has cleared a major hurdle in 2026 by carrying her 2-year-old form forward into her 3-year-old season, something that, on both the female and male sides, is far from a given.

Explora should only improve as the distances increase, as her pedigree strongly suggests she will relish longer races. This filly appears to have an exciting future ahead of her. What remains to be seen is the path she’ll take to the Kentucky Oaks, whether she stays in California to face four- or five-horse fields or ventures east in search of deeper competition.

Older dirt males

1.Sovereignty. He dominated an overmatched field in the Travers (G1), cementing a résumé that already places him among the most accomplished Kentucky Derby winners since American Pharoah. Even without a Breeders’ Cup Classic appearance, his body of work will draw serious Horse of the Year consideration. At the time, the Travers felt like a possible curtain call, but that doesn't appear to be the case now. If he does indeed run as a 4-year-old, expect a carefully managed campaign and no more than three or four total starts.

2. Nysos. He ground out a victory in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile as the heavy favorite, though it fell short of the emphatic statement many expected against that field. He then came back a few weeks ago to win the Pincay Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita. Through eight career starts he has only one loss, a neck defeat in last year's Churchill Downs Stakes (G1). The prospect of his return this season is welcome news for an older dirt male division that, when all is said and done, could be thin in 2026. 

3. Journalism. He delivered a career-best performance in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, finishing fourth and beaten by less than four lengths by the winner. Before that, he was runner-up to Fierceness in the Pacific Classic (G1). It was a strong campaign for the 3-year-old, one that clearly hinted at further improvement. Now officially a 4-year-old, he appears poised to return this season, though his connections have opted to bypass the Pegasus World Cup (G1). Where his next chapter begins remains to be seen, but his best may be ahead of him.

4. Baeza. As expected, he went off as an underlay in the Breeders’ Cup. He made a move around the far turn but could not stay with the top-tier runners as the competition proved deeper than he had faced previously. The encouraging takeaway is that a return this season is likely, leaving room for further development.

5. Magnitude. He took another meaningful step forward with one of the most professional performances of his career, capturing the Clark (G2) against older rivals. Although both of his victories this season came at the Grade 2 level, his continued progression has firmly established him as a horse to watch heading into 2026.

Next five: Nevada Beach, Disco Time, Hit Show, White Abarrio, Touchuponastar.

Older dirt females

1. Cavalieri. She missed the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, but Cavalieri’s performance in the Zenyatta (G2) was still an eye-opener, particularly in light of a disastrous break and a six-month layoff. If she can stay healthy, she will be a handful for any member of this division.

2. Nitrogen. She exceeded expectations with a runner-up finish in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, a performance that likely secured her the 3-year-old filly Eclipse in 2025. Before the Breeders' Cup she delivered a solid second-place effort in the Spinster (G1), finishing behind Gin Gin.

3. Clicquot. Her fourth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff was a respectable effort and capped a late-season surge. She was a surprise winner of the Cotillion (G1) before the Breeders’ Cup and had reeled off four consecutive victories, including the Indiana Oaks (G3).

4. Seismic Beauty. She turned in a disappointing effort as the favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, easing through the wire and finishing second to last. Before that she delivered a strong, front-running performance to capture the Clement L. Hirsch (G1), going gate to wire. Another one who struggles to stay sound.

5. Good Cheer. She clearly was not the same filly who captured the Kentucky Oaks (G1), finishing off the board in the Cotillion and beaten by more than six lengths. Looks to get back on track in 2026.

Next five: Regaled, Shred the Gnar, Fully Subscribed, La Cara, Weigh the Risks.

3-year-old males

1. Ted Noffey. He capped a 4-for-4 season with a win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, giving him three Grade 1 victories. Although I’m not convinced he’ll be a serious Kentucky Derby contender once the distances stretch out, there’s no denying he was an above-average 2-year-old by modern standards and the clear leader of this division. 

2. Brant. The division’s hype horse heading into the Breeders’ Cup, he backed it up with a game third-place finish. Added distance will likely blunt his effectiveness, but his body of work so far places him firmly among the division’s best.

3. Obliteration. Crushed a listed-stakes field in his first start as a 3-year-old. He probably has distance limitations like so many who will be listed here early on, but he deserves this spot for now.

4. Strategic Risk. Like Obliteration, he easily won his first start at age 3 last out in the listed Smarty Jones at Oaklawn. The waters will get deeper from here, but he looks to have matured greatly from age 2.

5. Napoleon Solo. Was dominant in both of his New York starts at age 2. His signature performance came in the Champagne Stakes (G1), where he drew away to win by more than six lengths

Next seven: Further Ado, Mr. A. P., Paladin, Litmus Test, Intrepido, Commandment, Desert Gate.

Turf males

1. Deterministic. He has put together three consecutive graded-stakes victories capped by back-to-back Grade 1 wins. Most recently he dominated the Fourstardave (G1) at Saratoga after capturing the shortened 1 1/8-mile Manhattan (G1) the day after the Belmont Stakes. He finished 3-for-4 in 2025.

2. Formidable Man. He turned in a career-best effort in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, finishing second and quieting critics who questioned whether he had been flattered by softer California competition. On the season he captured three graded stakes, including the Kilroe Mile (G1), earning his place among the division’s top contenders in 2026.

3. Rhetorical. Finished 4-for-5 in 2025, with his only loss a fourth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Mile which came one race after his win in the Turf Mile (G1) at Keeneland.

4. Wolfie's Dynaghost. A winner of two graded stakes in a row, he won the Fort Lauderdale (G3) last out in late December to finish off 2025 with four wins from six starts.

5. Gold Phoenix. Before his fifth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, he had rattled off back-to-back graded stakes victories. Now an 8-year-old gelding, he remains a familiar presence in the division.

Next five: Cabo Spirit, Redistricting, Program Trading, Integration, Hiding in Honduras

Turf females

1. She Feels Pretty. She once again showed up in a big way, turning in a gutsy performance in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf over a distance I felt stretched her limitations. She finished second and did more than enough over the course of the season to secure the Eclipse. She won three of her five starts and finished second in the other two. Supposed to return in this season.

2. Shisospicy. The Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner is on a five-race winning streak in the U.S. She was dominant in all three of her graded-stakes victories in 2025.

3. Segesta. Won the Matriarch (G1) last fall for her first top-level score, and before that she was runner-up in the First Lady (G1) at Keeneland

4. Lush Lips. Won her last two starts in 2025, the Queen Elizabeth (G1) and Miss Revere (G2) and was never worse than second in seven starts.

5. Dynamic Pricing. She finished off the board in the First Lady (G1) at Keeneland, but her overall résumé still justifies a top-five ranking. She ran third in the Diana (G1), well behind the division’s top two, and she broke through with her first Grade 1 victory in the Just a Game before backing it up with a win in the Perfect Sting at Saratoga.

Next five: Simply in Front, Laurelin, Fionn, Ag Bullet, Queen Maxima.

Male sprinters

1. Book’em Danno. Winner of four his five starts in 2025, he starts the season on top here and appears headed for a showdown with Bentornato in Saudi Arabia. 

2. Bentornato. The Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner scored that win in only his second start of the season. Although it wasn’t enough to earn my Eclipse vote last season, a more active campaign in 2026 could change that. He is expected to face 'Danno in Saudi Arabia.

3. Imagination. He backed up his previous sprint win with a strong runner-up effort in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. The Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G2) winner made only three starts in 2025, but each was competitive, earning him a spot among the division’s top five. He returns in 2026.

4. Dr. Venkman. The hard-knocking gelding showed up once again, missing the runner-up spot in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint by a nose when finishing third. Earlier in 2025 he captured the Pat O’Brien (G2) and consistently hit the board in three additional graded stakes, rounding out another dependable and productive campaign. Supposed to be back in 2026.

5. Bishops Bay. Winner of the Cigar Mile (G2) last out, this guy is more of miler and stuck between divisions. Still, he has a better chance in 2026 to be a player in this division rather than the older dirt male division.

Next five: Lovesick Blues, Nakatomi, Crazy Mason, Roll on Big Joe, Midland Money.