As the picture for the Breeders’ Cup began to come into focus with Wednesday’s release of pre-entries, the stallion rosters for 2026 are also becoming clearer. Coolmore’s Ashford Stud in Kentucky released its roster of stallions and stud fees for 2026 on Wednesday, and it has an argument for the strongest list of newcomers in the country. Taking up residence in the stud barn following their respective Breeders’ Cup races will be Sierra Leone, Fierceness, and Citizen Bull – all already Breeders’ Cup winners and Eclipse Award champions. Fierceness won the 2023 Juvenile in a championship campaign, then was second to Sierra Leone in the 2024 Classic, with Sierra Leone earning divisional honors. The two face off again in the Classic on Nov. 1 at Del Mar. Meanwhile, Citizen Bull, who won the 2024 Juvenile for a divisional title, is expected to run in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile the same day. “With the three new stallion prospects set to retire for 2026, all lining up at the Breeders’ Cup, there is a great sense of anticipation here,” said Charlie O’Connor, Coolmore America’s director of sales. ON SALE NOW: DRF Breeders' Cup Packages! Get everything you need to win and save big. The fees for all three champions will be determined following the Breeders’ Cup. Coolmore owns the rights to another Classic pre-entrant, this year’s Preakness Stakes winner, Journalism. The farm clarified Wednesday that plans for Journalism will be determined after the Classic, following conversations with Aron Wellman of co-owner Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and other partners. “Last year’s one-two Sierra Leone and Fierceness renew [their] rivalry in the Classic, and we, along with all our partners, will also be watching ‘iron horse’ Journalism with great interest,” O’Connor said. “We believe Citizen Bull has been working very well in the lead-up to the Dirt Mile.” Joining Journalism as a classic-winning 3-year-old pointing to the Classic this year is early race favorite Sovereignty. The winner of the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes over his rival, as well as the Travers Stakes later in the summer, Sovereignty races as a homebred for Godolphin. That outfit released the roster for its Darley stallion farm in Kentucky this week, noting that “future plans for multiple Grade 1 winner Sovereignty will be determined after the Breeders’ Cup Classic.” A Classic pre-entrant confirmed to enter stud in 2026 is multiple Grade 1 winner Mindframe, who will retire to Claiborne Farm. Three days prior to his run in the Classic, a share in the colt will be offered at the Keeneland Championship Sale, conducted in the Del Mar paddock on Oct. 29. The curated auction is designed to offer elite offerings, particularly horses or shares with Breeders’ Cup connections, and all offerings are remote, as to not disrupt horses’ schedules. “We are pleased to offer this special opportunity to participate in the stallion career of a truly outstanding prospect,” Claiborne president Walker Hancock said. “With significant early demand from breeders already requesting seasons, this share provides guaranteed access to a top-tier stallion prospect as he retires to stud following the Breeders’ Cup.” :: Get Breeders' Cup Betting Strategies from Brad Free and David Aragona for exclusive wager recommendations and play the races with confidence! Locked is the other Breeders’ Cup Classic pre-entrant who is spoken for with a publicly announced stallion deal, as of Oct. 22. He will eventually stand at Gainesway, but the timing of his retirement has yet to be announced. The other Classic pre-entrants are Antiquarian, Baeza, Contrary Thinking, Forever Young, and Nevada Beach. None has a publicly announced stud deal as of Oct. 22. Antiquarian’s connections have discussed intentions to race in 2026 at age 5. Forever Young is also expected to continue racing, as his connections have mentioned the Saudi Cup and Dubai World Cup as early-season targets. While the Classic is the marquee event of the day, the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile has become a source of successful stallions, such as classic sire Goldencents (2013, 2014), the consistent Liam’s Map (2015), and City of Light (2018), the sire of Fierceness. Along with Citizen Bull retiring to Ashford, two other Dirt Mile pre-entrants have stud deals ready for 2026. Mystik Dan, winner of the 2024 Kentucky Derby, is headed to Airdrie Stud, while Grade 1 winner Chancer McPatrick will retire to Spendthrift Farm. Among other older males racing on Breeders’ Cup Saturday, defending Sprint winner and Eclipse Award champion Straight No Chaser and third-place finisher Mullikin will meet again in the starting gate before then heading to WinStar Farm together. A percentage of Mullkin will also be on offer at the Keeneland Championship Sale. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.