Some of the most accomplished jockeys in the world have mounts in the 43rd running of the $7 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) Oct. 31 at Keeneland.
It's a diverse field featuring four riders who have won the Classic before, including winners of the last two editions, and also one who will be making his debut in the race. Let's meet this year's jockeys.
Junior Alvarado
Age: 40
Originally from: Venezuela
Breeders' Cup victories: 4
Best finish in the Breeders' Cup Classic: second in 2022 (Olympiad )
His 2026 Breeders' Cup Classic horse: Sovereignty
Junior Alvarado earned his first career Breeders' Cup win four years ago when the event was last held at Keeneland in one of the most memorable races of 2022. In the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1), Alvarado guided Cody's Wish to victory in front of the horse's namesake, Cody Dorman, the Dorman family, and thousands of well-wishers on-site, plus many more watching on TV. Then, in 2025, Alvarado was aboard Sovereignty (campaigned by the same connections as Cody's Wish) during a campaign that resulted in a Horse of the Year award. Sovereignty missed last year's Classic due to injury, but is all set for this year's race with his regular rider in the saddle.
Javier Castellano
Age: 49
Originally from: Venezuela
Breeders' Cup victories: 12
Best finish in the Breeders' Cup Classic: first in 2004 (Ghostzapper)
His 2026 Breeders' Cup Classic horse: The Puma
Hall of Famer Javier Castellano keeps adding to his legacy of success as he approaches his 50th birthday. He earned his first Kentucky Derby (G1) win three years ago aboard Mage and his first Belmont Stakes win also in 2023 with Arcangelo . Three-year-old The Puma races for several of the same owners and the same trainer (Gustavo Delgado) as Mage, and Castellano will team up with the colt again after riding him to a breakout win recently in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1). Castellano's first Classic winner, Ghostzapper, is still regarded as one of the fastest racehorses of the 21st century.
Kazushi Kimura
Age: 27
Originally from: Japan
Breeders' Cup victories: 0
Best finish in the Breeders' Cup Classic: n/a
His 2026 Breeders' Cup Classic horse: T O Password
Japan native Kazushi Kimura will be making his Breeders' Cup Classic debut this year, but he's not coming in from overseas. Kimura is an established and successful rider in North America, having won multiple meet titles at Woodbine in Canada and, more recently, emerging as a prominent jockey among the competitive Southern California colony. Kimura has had five previous Breeders' Cup mounts, including a runner-up finish on Stark Contrast in last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T), and he'll ride longshot T O Password in the Classic. That horse made his first United States appearance two years ago in the Kentucky Derby, where he finished a solid fifth behind 2024 Breeders' Cup Classic winner Sierra Leone (second in the Derby) and countrymate and 2025 Classic winner Forever Young (third in the Derby).
Jose Ortiz
Age: 33
Originally from: Puerto Rico
Breeders' Cup victories: 6
Best finish in the Breeders' Cup Classic: fourth five times (most recently Journalism in 2025)
His 2026 Breeders' Cup Classic horse: Golden Tempo
In the midst of a banner season highlighted by his first career Kentucky Derby win, Jose Ortiz is primed for even more success in the Breeders' Cup as he's named on several highly regarded horses in the two-day event, including Golden Tempo. Ortiz guided the Curlin colt to off-the-pace wins in both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes (G1) and should have him coming from back of the pack again in the Classic, competing at a mile-and-a-quarter distance he relishes. Ortiz won his first Eclipse Award as outstanding jockey in 2017 and has a very good chance to win his second this year.
Flavien Prat
Age: 34
Originally from: France
Breeders' Cup victories: 9
Best finish in the Breeders' Cup Classic: first in 2022 (Flightline ) and 2024 (Sierra Leone)
His 2026 Breeders' Cup Classic horse: Magnitude
Flavien Prat has won the Eclipse Award as outstanding jockey two years in a row, and based on another incredible season, is in the running for a third as he duels with Jose Ortiz for the overall North American earnings lead. Prat has also amassed an enviable record in the Breeders' Cup Classic to date, winning twice and also finishing second (last year), third, and fourth twice from eight starts. He's got another good shot for a top-three finish in 2026 as he takes the reins on speedy Magnitude for the first time. Prat will ride the Dubai World Cup (G1) winner after Magnitude's regular jockey chose to remain aboard Golden Tempo. Look for Prat to send Magnitude to the front early in an attempt to win the Classic in gate-to-wire fashion.
Luis Saez
Age: 34
Originally from: Panama
Breeders' Cup victories: 1
Best finish in the Breeders' Cup Classic: second in 2013 (Will Take Charge)
His 2026 Breeders' Cup Classic horse: Knightsbridge
Surprisingly, Luis Saez has only one Breeders' Cup victory to his credit so far in a career that puts him on course for induction into the Racing Hall of Fame. Saez came oh-so-close to winning the Breeders' Cup Classic in his first appearance back in 2013, but his champion 3-year-old Will Take Charge came up a nose short to Mucho Macho Man. He was assigned to a live upset candidate earlier this week when the connections of Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) winner Knightsbridge named him to ride after that horse's prior jockey, Junior Alvarado, decided to stay aboard stablemate Sovereignty. Saez, who finished a close second in the jockey standings during Keeneland's fall meet, is known for his ability to use a horse's tactical speed by either setting or pressing the pace, and he should have Knightsbridge forwardly placed in the Classic.
Ryusei Sakai
Age: 29
Originally from: Japan
Breeders' Cup victories: 1
Best finish in the Breeders' Cup Classic: first in 2025 (Forever Young)
His 2026 Breeders' Cup Classic horse: Forever Young
One of the leading riders in his home country, Ryusei Sakai has also become well-known to U.S. racing fans over the past two years as the regular jockey for superstar Forever Young. Sakai nearly piloted the then 3-year-old Forever Young to victory in the 2024 Kentucky Derby (finishing third by a head) and that fall rode him to a solid third-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Classic. Last year, Forever Young broke through with an impressive win in the Classic under a superb, stalk-and-pounce ride from Sakai, and now has a chance to become the second horse to win the Classic twice after Tiznow in 2000-01. Horse and jockey come into this year's race off an easy win in the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1) in September.
John Velazquez
Age: 54
Originally from: Puerto Rico
Breeders' Cup victories: 22
Best finish in the Breeders' Cup Classic: first in 2020 (Authentic )
His 2026 Breeders' Cup Classic horse: Napoleon Solo
The epitome of a big-race rider, Hall of Famer John Velazquez gets a return assignment on 3-year-old Napoleon Solo in the Breeders' Cup Classic after he nearly guided the colt to an upset win in the Travers Stakes (G1) in August. "Johnny V" took the reins on the Preakness Stakes (G1) winner for the first time in the Travers, and set the pace for nearly the entire 1 1/4 miles before yielding by a half-length at the finish. After nearly four decades riding in the U.S., Velazquez is the all-time earnings leader in the Breeders' Cup and he's ranked third in wins with 22. He's only one win behind second-place Irad Ortiz Jr., who will miss this year's event because of injury. Velazquez has finished second in the Classic five times, and his prior win in this race came on Keeneland's main track back in 2020, which he accomplished in gate-to-wire fashion aboard eventual Horse of the Year Authentic.
