The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies is a Grade 1 championship for the best 2-year-old dirt fillies in North America. It’s run over 1 1/16 miles, around two turns, on the Keeneland dirt in Lexington. The race tests early speed, young mental maturity, and stamina.
The fillies arrive from the toughest qualifying roads in the sport. These ten are the class leaders, the top speed figure earners, and the key prep winners, and several are still unbeaten. So who has the speed, the heart, and the class to take the crown? Here’s the full breakdown, filly by filly, followed by the pace scenario.
Quick look: the 2026 Juvenile Fillies field
| # | Filly | Sire | Dam (broodmare sire) | Trainer | Record | Best Equibase |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miss Monica | Early Voting | Lipstikliesnlovers (American Pharoah) | Bob Baffert | 2-for-2 | n/a |
| 2 | Emphatic | Nyquist | Convinced (Tiznow) | Brendan Walsh | 3-for-3 | 92 |
| 3 | Domain Expansion | Speaker’s Corner | Special You (Medaglia d’Oro) | Leonard Powell | 1 win, 1 second in 2 | 88 |
| 4 | Rum Twist | Mandaloun | Rumandice (Congrats) | Mark Hennig | 1 win, 2 seconds in 4 | 77 |
| 5 | Crazy Hot Mess | Pinehurst | Pure Moon (Malibu Moon) | Raymond Bryner | 1 win, 1 second, 1 third in 3 | 80 |
| 6 | Dotsy | Tacitus | Coqui (Fusaichi Pegasus) | John Grabowski | 2-for-2 | 90 |
| 7 | Manuka Honey | Upstart | Drop Dead Red (Hold Me Back) | Brian Lynch | 3-for-3 | 87 |
| 8 | Revenge of the Sis | Girvin | Hardcore Candy (Yonaguska) | George Weaver | 0 wins, 2 stakes placings in 2 | 74 |
| 9 | Scarlett Begonia | Life Is Good | Asiya (Daaher) | Brad Cox | 1 win, 1 second, 1 third in 3 | 83 |
| 10 | Foxiest | Gun Runner | Covfefe (Into Mischief) | Brad Cox | 1 win, 1 third in 2 | 83 |
Odds and post positions will be set at the draw.
1. Miss Monica
Breeding and connections. Miss Monica is a dark bay or brown filly by Preakness Stakes winner Early Voting, out of Lipstikliesnlovers, an unraced American Pharoah mare. She’s trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert. She comes in undefeated in two starts, with $240,000 in career earnings.
Debut: Del Mar, August 9. She started in a 6½-furlong maiden special weight at Del Mar. Bet down to 1-2 favoritism, she dominated on the front end and won wire to wire by 5¾ lengths.
Del Mar Debutante (G1), September 5. She stepped into Grade 1 company over seven furlongs, ridden by her regular jockey, Juan J. Hernandez. This time she showed tactical growth: instead of needing the lead, she rated comfortably just off the front-runners, took command in the stretch, and pulled clear by 6¼ lengths as the 2-5 favorite.
Running style. She combines raw early foot with the ability to rate, which makes her a primary pace presser. If she draws a wide post, that tactical speed should help her overcome it, and she can shape the race heading into Keeneland’s short stretch.
2. Emphatic
Breeding and connections. Emphatic is a Pennsylvania-bred bay filly by Nyquist, a champion 2-year-old and Kentucky Derby winner, out of Convinced, a Tiznow mare. Brendan P. Walsh trains her. She’s undefeated in three starts, which makes her the richest earner in the division.
Debut: Colonial Downs, July 25. She won her first start.
Sorority Stakes, Monmouth Park, August 29. In the one-mile, black-type Sorority, Edwin Gonzalez rode her. She launched a three-wide bid on the turn and won handily by 5¼ lengths.
Darley Alcibiades (G1), Keeneland, October 2. Walsh targeted Keeneland’s premier prep, run over 1 1/16 miles, the same distance as the Breeders’ Cup race. With Tyler Gaffalione aboard, she broke swiftly from the rail and fought through the final furlong to win by a neck.
Figures and berth. The Alcibiades earned a 92 Equibase Speed Figure and a 110 Class Rating, plus an automatic starting berth through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series.
Why she matters. She’s the dependable anchor of the field: undefeated, with the division’s highest earnings and a Grade 1 win over this exact track and distance.
3. Domain Expansion
Breeding and connections. Domain Expansion is a dark bay or brown filly from the first crop of Grade 1 Carter Handicap winner Speaker’s Corner, out of Special You, an unraced Medaglia d’Oro mare. Leonard Powell trains her. She has one win and one second from two starts.
Debut: Del Mar, September 5. She closed ground in a maiden special weight to finish second.
Oak Leaf Stakes (G2), Santa Anita, October 3. Powell made an ambitious jump in class, entering her as a 14-1 maiden in the Grade 2 Oak Leaf over 1 1/16 miles on the dirt. With Adrian Escobedo up, she tracked comfortably off a pressured tempo, tipped four wide approaching the home lane, and unleashed a powerful burst of acceleration to draw off and win by seven lengths.
Figures and berth. She became the first graded stakes winner for Speaker’s Corner. She earned an 88 Equibase Speed Figure and an automatic berth in the Juvenile Fillies.
4. Rum Twist
Breeding and connections. Rum Twist is a Kentucky-bred bay filly by Haskell Invitational winner Mandaloun, out of Rumandice, a Congrats mare. Mark A. Hennig trains her. She brings experience, with one win and two seconds from four starts.
Summer at Saratoga. She debuted with a runner-up finish on July 11, ran fourth over an off track on August 8, and graduated in a six-furlong maiden special weight on September 5, earning a 77 Equibase Speed Figure.
Frizette Stakes (G1), Belmont Park, October 3. She stepped into Grade 1 company in the one-turn mile Frizette, ridden patiently by Paco Lopez. She angled from the two path out to the five path on the turn, then swung into the six path entering the stretch and chased the winner, Dotsy. She drifted in slightly near the sixteenth pole but kept her momentum and held second by nearly a length over Revenge of the Sis.
Figures. She earned a 76 Equibase Speed Figure and an Equibase Class Rating of 104.
5. Crazy Hot Mess
Breeding and connections. Crazy Hot Mess is a chestnut Kentucky-bred filly from the first crop of Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity winner Pinehurst, out of Pure Moon, an unraced Malibu Moon mare. Raymond C. Bryner trains her. She has one win, one second, and one third from three starts.
Debut: Ellis Park, July 12. She drew clear in a maiden special weight sprint and became the first North American winner for her freshman sire.
Sorrento Stakes (G3), Del Mar, August 9. After moving to California, she finished third with a 69 Equibase Speed Figure.
Del Mar Debutante (G1), September 5. Joel Rosario rode her over seven furlongs. She stalked outside off moderate splits and mounted a steady bid entering the stretch to finish second to Miss Monica, beaten 6¼ lengths. She earned an 80 Equibase Speed Figure.
6. Dotsy
Breeding and connections. Dotsy is a gray or roan filly foaled in Kentucky, by Tacitus out of Coqui, a Fusaichi Pegasus mare. She’s trained by New York veteran John A. Grabowski and is undefeated in two starts.
Debut: Saratoga, August 26. In a 6½-furlong maiden special weight, she overcame a slightly awkward break, circled four wide around the turn, and pulled clear under Kendrick Carmouche to win by four widening lengths.
Frizette Stakes (G1), Belmont Park, October 3. Grabowski went straight to the one-mile Grade 1 Frizette. Dotsy was 11-1 on the tote board. She broke from post five, tracked outside under restraint in the five path, and launched her bid approaching the turn. She took the lead entering the upper stretch and turned back a persistent bid from Rum Twist through the final sixteenth, scoring by nearly half a length.
Figures and significance. She earned a 90 Equibase Speed Figure and gave Tacitus his first Grade 1 winner. That performance stamped her credentials for Keeneland.
7. Manuka Honey
Breeding and connections. Manuka Honey is a dark bay or brown Kentucky-bred filly by Upstart, out of Drop Dead Red, a Hold Me Back mare. Brian A. Lynch trains her. She’s 3-for-3 across Kentucky tracks.
Debut: Churchill Downs, June 20. She showed juvenile speed, clearing a maiden special weight field over five furlongs and winning by 7¼ lengths.
Ellis Park Debutante, August 9. Lynch moved her to stakes company, and she was equally superior, stalking the early pace and surging away to win by seven lengths over seven furlongs.
Pocahontas Stakes (G3), Churchill Downs, September 12. She was tested around one turn at a mile and went off as the favorite under Luis Saez. She stalked four wide through honest fractions, reeled in front-running Scarlett Begonia at the sixteenth pole, and edged clear by two lengths.
Figures and points. The win earned an 87 Equibase Speed Figure and 10 qualifying points toward the 2027 Kentucky Oaks.
8. Revenge of the Sis
Breeding and connections. Revenge of the Sis is a Kentucky-bred dark bay or brown filly, foaled in 2024, by Grade 1 winner Girvin out of Hardcore Candy, a Yonaguska mare. George Weaver trains her. She has a unique profile: still a maiden after two starts, but with two stakes placings.
Sorority Stakes, Monmouth Park, August 29. After her Saratoga turf maiden races were taken off the grass and she scratched out, Weaver placed her directly into stakes company in the one-mile Sorority. She broke slowly and met traffic interference, then rallied from last to finish third behind Emphatic, beaten seven lengths.
Frizette Stakes (G1), Belmont Park, October 3. Weaver then entered her in the Grade 1 Frizette. She was guided into the three-to-four path on the far turn and kept up an honest, grinding rally in the stretch to finish third behind Dotsy and Rum Twist, beaten just 1¼ lengths.
Figures and works. She earned a 74 Equibase Speed Figure in the Frizette. Before that, on September 12, she had a four-furlong morning breeze at Saratoga in :49.88.
9. Scarlett Begonia
Breeding and connections. Scarlett Begonia is a dark bay or brown filly by Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and Whitney Stakes winner Life Is Good, out of Asiya, a Daaher mare. Brad H. Cox trains her. She has one win, one second, and one third from three starts.
Debut: Ellis Park, July 6. She broke sharply and cruised to a maiden special weight win, which earned her Thoroughbred Daily News Rising Star status.
Adirondack Stakes (G3), Saratoga, August 2. Cox moved her into graded company over 6½ furlongs. She set rapid early fractions but weakened late to finish third under Irad Ortiz Jr., with a 70 Equibase Speed Figure.
Pocahontas Stakes (G3), Churchill Downs, September 12. Stretched to a mile, she set the tempo under Flavien Prat and yielded grudgingly to Manuka Honey, finishing second by two lengths. That effort earned an improved 83 Equibase Speed Figure and a 103 Class Rating.
10. Foxiest
Breeding and connections. Foxiest is a well-bred bay filly foaled in Kentucky, by Horse of the Year and leading sire Gun Runner, out of Covfefe, an Into Mischief mare and champion female sprinter. Brad H. Cox trains her, and Luis Saez rides her primarily. She’s lightly raced, with one win and one third from two starts.
Debut: Saratoga, August 29. She raced greenly between horses in a six-furlong maiden special weight but stayed on with interest to finish third behind Virabhadrasana and Psalm Beauty.
Churchill Downs, September 27. Cox stretched her to 7½ furlongs around one turn, and she went off as the 3-5 favorite. She stalked just behind the front-runners along the rail, shifted into the two path on the turn, and accelerated through the stretch to draw off handily by 3¾ lengths.
Figures and recognition. The win earned an 83 Equibase Speed Figure and a BloodHorse Maiden Watch Hot Prospect designation.
The pace scenario: who wins the race to the front?
When the gates open at Keeneland, expect a contested break, with Scarlett Begonia and Emphatic battling for the early lead. Scarlett Begonia set the pace in both the Adirondack and the Pocahontas, and Emphatic broke swiftly from the rail in the Alcibiades. That battle should set up a great trip for the tactical pressers, Miss Monica and Dotsy, who have both shown they can sit just off the pace and make a winning move.
The key figures to remember: Emphatic has the undefeated record, the division’s highest earnings, and a Grade 1 win over this exact track and distance. Miss Monica brings what your script calls a co-highest Equibase Speed Figure of 92, along with Bob Baffert’s West Coast firepower. Dotsy (90) and Manuka Honey (87) have the other top figures among the unbeaten fillies, and Domain Expansion’s seven-length Oak Leaf win (88) shows she’s a late-developing threat.
FAQ
When is the 2026 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies?
During Breeders’ Cup weekend at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky. (Add the exact date.)
How far is the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies?
1 1/16 miles on dirt, around two turns.
Who are the top contenders?
Miss Monica, Emphatic, Dotsy, Manuka Honey, Domain Expansion, and Scarlett Begonia.
Which fillies are undefeated?
Miss Monica (2-for-2), Emphatic (3-for-3), Dotsy (2-for-2), and Manuka Honey (3-for-3).
Who won the Alcibiades?
Emphatic, by a neck on October 2 at Keeneland, over the same track and distance as the Breeders’ Cup race.
Who won the Frizette?
Dotsy, at 11-1, by nearly half a length over Rum Twist. Revenge of the Sis was third.
Which fillies earned automatic Breeders’ Cup berths?
Emphatic (Alcibiades) and Domain Expansion (Oak Leaf) both earned berths through the Challenge Series.
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