Magnitude Scratched From 2026 Breeders' Cup Classic

Dubai World Cup winner Magnitude has been scratched from the 2026 Breeders' Cup Classic and retired after a PET scan found an issue in his left foreleg, trainer Steve Asmussen said Thursday.

"A PET scan revealed some disruption in the suspensory fibers of his left foreleg," Asmussen told Daily Racing Form. He said that after talking with Winchell Thoroughbreds' Ron Winchell and David Fiske, the team decided to "err on the side of caution and not take any risk with a tremendous horse." He added, "Nothing short of heartbroken because of how well we expected him to run."

The Breeders' Cup said Magnitude was withdrawn under veterinary advice. Coolmore America confirmed the 4-year-old will stand at Ashford Stud in Versailles, Kentucky, for the 2027 breeding season, which had been the plan for after the Breeders' Cup.

No also-eligible was drawn for the Classic, so the field drops from eight to seven. According to US Racing and Horse Racing Nation, it will be the smallest field in Breeders' Cup Classic history.

Magnitude, a 4-year-old colt by Not This Time, had drawn post 6 at 6-1 on the morning line with Flavien Prat named to ride. He won the Dubai World Cup (G1) in March, leading every step to beat Forever Young, and then beat Sovereignty in the Stephen Foster (G1) in June. He was sixth in the Whitney (G1) on Aug. 8 in his last start. He retires with a record of 8-2-1 from 15 starts and $9,626,365 in earnings.

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Updated 2026 Breeders' Cup Classic Field

Morning-line odds as drawn Monday, Oct. 26. Live odds will move with the pools.

What Magnitude's Scratch Means for the Classic

Magnitude was one of three horses in the field with early speed. With him out, Knightsbridge and Napoleon Solo are the clear pace players, and the early fractions may be less demanding than expected. That could help the speed and make things harder for closers such as Golden Tempo and The Puma.

Forever Young remains the 2-1 morning-line favorite as he tries to join Tiznow (2000-01) as the only two-time Classic winners, and he no longer has to face the only horse in the field that beat him this year. Sovereignty, the reigning Horse of the Year, is expected to make his final career start.

Win, place and show wagers on Magnitude will be refunded. Under Keeneland's rules, a scratched selection in a multi-race wager such as the Pick 4 or Pick 5 is replaced with the post-time favorite.

Magnitude was one of eight Thursday scratches across the two cards, including Splendora in the Distaff, Earth Song in the Juvenile and Man's Best Friend in the Juvenile Turf. Earlier in the week, Gaudreau was scratched from the Juvenile, Zulu Kingdom from the Mile and Scottish Lassie from the Distaff.

The Longines Breeders' Cup Classic is Race 12 on Saturday, Oct. 31, at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky, with an approximate post time of 6:16 p.m. ET.

You can find the updated morning-line odds for the Classic at FanDuel Research.

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