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The Breeders' Cup Challenge Prep Races
Win and You're In!
The Breeders’ Cup Challenge was inaugurated in 2007 and launched a series of 24 officially sanctioned races at six tracks that would automatically qualify the winners for Breeders' Cup berths under a "Win and You're In" format.
Each Breeders’ Cup Challenge winner gains an automatic starting position into a corresponding divisional race of the Breeders' Cup. In 2011, Breeders’ Cup began paying the entry fees and subsidizing travel costs to the locale of the races for all Challenge winners who are Breeders' Cup eligible. Breeders' Cup also began paying a $10,000 award to the nominator of any North American foal who won a Challenge race.
In its first year, the Breeders' Cup Challenge had 14 winners who competed in the 2007 Breeders' Cup. Of those 14, four horses won – War Pass in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Ginger Punch in the Breeders' Cup Distaff, English Channel in the Breeders' Cup Turf and Curlin in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1).
The program expanded to 57 races and 17 tracks in 2008. That year, 34 Challenge race winners competed in the Breeders' Cup and five won – Raven’s Pass in the Breeders' Cup Classic, Zenyatta in the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic, Forever Together in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, Stardom Bound in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies and Maram in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.
For 2016, the Challenge consists of 77 automatic qualifying races, with 28 scheduled outside of North America. There were four new races added to the schedule for 2016 -- the Queen of the Turf (Filly & Mare Turf) at Royal Randwick, Australia; Gran Premio Club Hipico Falabella (Mile) at Santiago, Chile; Gran Premio Pamplona at Hipodromo Monterrico (Filly & Mare Turf) in Lima, Peru; and Flying Five Stakes (Turf Sprint) at The Curragh, Ireland.
The Breeders’ Cup Challenge has continued to evolve and change with the core principal remaining the same – providing a list of events for fans to follow and get to know the horses likely to run in each year’s Breeders’ Cup.
The Breeders' Cup Challenge Racing Schedule
| Date | Track | Race | Grade | Distance | Age | Sex | Division | Area | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/06/18 | KEN | Cartier Paddock S. | I | 1 1/8 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | F & M | Filly & Mare Turf | South Africa | Oh Susanna (AUS) |
| 01/06/18 | KEN | L'Ormarins Queen's Plate | I | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | Mile | South Africa | Legal Eagle (SAF) | |
| 02/18/18 | TOK | February S. | I | 1 Mile | 4 YO & UP | Classic | Japan | Nonkono Yume (JPN) | |
| 04/07/18 | RAN | The Star Doncaster Mile | I | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | Mile | Australia | Happy Clapper (AUS) | |
| 04/14/18 | RAN | The Coolmore Legacy Stakes | I | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | F & M | Filly & Mare Turf | Australia | Alizee (AUS) |
| 05/01/18 | Pal | Gran Premio Criadores | I | 1 1/4 Miles | 3 YO & UP | F & M | Distaff | Argentina | Sinfonia Fantastica (ARG) |
| 05/21/18 | CHS | Gran Premio Club Hípico Falabella Breeders’ Cup | I | 1 1/4 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | Mile | Chile | Nuevo Maestro (CHI) | |
| 05/25/18 | SIS | Gran Premio 25 de Mayo | I | 1 1/2 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | Turf | Argentina | La Extrana Dama (ARG) | |
| 05/28/18 | SA | Shoemaker Mile | I | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | Mile | California | Hunt (IRE) | |
| 06/03/18 | TOK | Yasuda Kinen | I | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | Mile | Japan | Mozu Ascot | |
| 06/09/18 | Bel | Jaipur Invitational | II | 6 Furlongs (T) | 4 YO & UP | Turf Sprint | New York | Disco Partner | |
| 06/09/18 | Bel | Ogden Phipps | I | 1 1/16 Miles | 4 YO & UP | F & M | Distaff | New York | Abel Tasman |
| 06/09/18 | Bel | Runhappy Metropolitan H. | I | 1 Mile | 3 YO & UP | Dirt Mile | New York | Bee Jersey | |
| 06/10/18 | GVA | Grande Premio Brasil | I | 1 1/2 Miles (T) | 4 YO & UP | Turf | Brazil | Quarteto de Cordas (BRZ) | |
| 06/16/18 | CD | Fleur de Lis H. | II | 1 1/8 Miles | 3 YO & UP | F & M | Distaff | Kentucky | Blue Prize (ARG) |
| 06/16/18 | CD | Stephen Foster H. | I | 1 1/8 Miles | 3 YO & UP | Classic | Kentucky | Pavel | |
| 06/19/18 | ASC | Queen Anne S. | I | 1 Mile (T) | 4 YO & UP | Mile | United Kingdom | Accidental Agent (GB) | |
| 06/20/18 | ASC | Prince of Wales's S. | I | 1 1/4 Miles (T) | 4 YO & UP | Turf | United Kingdom | Poet's Word (IRE) | |
| 06/21/18 | ASC | Norfolk S. | II | 5 Furlongs (T) | 2 YO | Juvenile Turf Sprint | United Kingdom | Shang Shang Shang | |
| 06/23/18 | ASC | Diamond Jubilee S. | I | 6 Furlongs (T) | 4 YO & UP | Turf Sprint | United Kingdom | Merchant Navy (AUS) | |
| 06/24/18 | HSN | Takarazuka Kinen | I | 1 3/8 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | Turf | Japan | Mikki Rocket (JPN) | |
| 06/24/18 | MON | Gran Premio Pamplona | I | 1 1/4 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | F & M | Filly & Mare Turf | Peru | |
| 06/30/18 | GP | Princess Rooney H. | II | 7 Furlongs | 3 YO & UP | F & M | Filly & Mare Sprint | Florida | |
| 06/30/18 | WO | Highlander Stakes | I | 6 Furlongs (T) | 3 YO & UP | Turf Sprint | Ontario | ||
| 07/07/18 | Bel | Belmont Sprint Championship | II | 7 Furlongs | 3 YO & UP | Sprint | New York | ||
| 07/28/18 | ASC | King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes sponsored by QIPCO | I | 1 1/2 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | Turf | United Kingdom | ||
| 07/28/18 | Dmr | Bing Crosby S. | I | 6 Furlongs | 3 YO & UP | Sprint | California | ||
| 07/29/18 | Dmr | Clement L. Hirsch Stakes | I | 1 1/16 Miles | 3 YO & UP | F & M | Distaff | California | |
| 07/29/18 | Mth | Betfair.com Haskell Invitational | I | 1 1/8 Miles | 3 YO | Classic | New Jersey | ||
| 08/01/18 | GOO | Qatar Sussex Stakes | I | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | Mile | United Kingdom | ||
| 08/04/18 | Sar | Whitney | I | 1 1/8 Miles | 3 YO & UP | Classic | New York | ||
| 08/11/18 | AP | Arlington Million | I | 1 1/4 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | Turf | Illinois | ||
| 08/11/18 | AP | Beverly D. Stakes | I | 1 3/16 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | F & M | Filly & Mare Turf | Illinois | |
| 08/12/18 | Dea | Prix du Haras de Fresnay-Le Buffard - Jacques Le Marois | I | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | Mile | France | ||
| 08/18/18 | Dmr | Del Mar H. Presented By The Japan Racing Association | II | 1 3/8 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | Turf | California | ||
| 08/18/18 | Dmr | TVG Pacific Classic | I | 1 1/4 Miles | 3 YO & UP | Classic | California | ||
| 08/22/18 | YOR | Juddmonte International S. | I | 1 1/4 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | Turf | United Kingdom | ||
| 08/23/18 | YOR | Darley Yorkshire Oaks | I | 1 1/2 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | F & M | Filly & Mare Turf | United Kingdom | |
| 08/24/18 | YOR | Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes | I | 5 Furlongs (T) | 2 YO & UP | Turf Sprint | United Kingdom | ||
| 08/25/18 | Dmr | Pat O'Brien S. | II | 7 Furlongs | 3 YO & UP | Dirt Mile | California | ||
| 08/25/18 | Sar | Forego | I | 7 Furlongs | 3 YO & UP | Dirt Mile | New York | ||
| 08/25/18 | Sar | Ketel One Ballerina | I | 7 Furlongs | 3 YO & UP | F & M | Filly & Mare Sprint | New York | |
| 08/25/18 | Sar | Personal Ensign | I | 1 1/8 Miles | 3 YO & UP | F & M | Distaff | New York | |
| 08/25/18 | Sar | Sword Dancer | I | 1 1/2 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | Turf | New York | ||
| 09/01/18 | Sar | Spinaway | I | 7 Furlongs | 2 YO | F | Juvenile Fillies | New York | |
| 09/15/18 | CD | Iroquois S. | III | 1 1/16 Miles | 2 YO | Juvenile | Kentucky | ||
| 09/15/18 | CD | Pocahontas S. | II | 1 1/16 Miles | 2 YO | F | Juvenile Fillies | Kentucky | |
| 09/15/18 | LEO | Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron S. | I | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | F & M | Filly & Mare Turf | Ireland | |
| 09/15/18 | LEO | QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes | I | 1 1/4 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | Turf | Ireland | ||
| 09/15/18 | LEO | Willis Towers Watson Champions Juvenile Stakes | II | 1 Mile (T) | 2 YO | Juvenile Turf | Ireland | ||
| 09/15/18 | WO | Ricoh Woodbine Mile | I | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | Mile | Ontario | ||
| 09/16/18 | CUR | Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes | I | 5 Furlongs (T) | 3 YO & UP | Turf Sprint | Ireland | ||
| 09/16/18 | CUR | Moyglare Stud Stakes | I | 7 Furlongs (T) | 2 YO | F | Juvenile Fillies Turf | Ireland | |
| 09/16/18 | WO | Natalma Stakes | I | 1 Mile (T) | 2 YO | F | Juvenile Fillies Turf | Ontario | |
| 09/16/18 | WO | Summer Stakes | I | 1 Mile (T) | 2 YO | Juvenile Turf | Ontario | ||
| 09/28/18 | NEW | Shadwell Rockfel | II | 7 Furlongs (T) | 2 YO | F | Juvenile Fillies Turf | United Kingdom | |
| 09/29/18 | Bel | Joe Hirsch Turf Classic | I | 1 1/2 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | Turf | New York | ||
| 09/29/18 | Bel | The Vosburgh | I | 6 Furlongs | 3 YO & UP | Sprint | New York | ||
| 09/29/18 | NEW | Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes | II | 1 Mile (T) | 2 YO | C & G | Juvenile Turf | United Kingdom | |
| 09/29/18 | SA | Awesome Again Stakes | I | 1 1/8 Miles | 3 YO & UP | Classic | California | ||
| 09/29/18 | SA | Chandelier Stakes | I | 1 1/16 Miles | 2 YO | F | Juvenile Fillies | California | |
| 09/29/18 | SA | FrontRunner Stakes | I | 1 1/16 Miles | 2 YO | Juvenile | California | ||
| 09/29/18 | SA | Rodeo Drive Stakes | I | 1 1/4 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | F & M | Filly & Mare Turf | California | |
| 09/29/18 | SA | Zenyatta Stakes | I | 1 1/16 Miles | 3 YO & UP | F & M | Distaff | California | |
| 09/30/18 | NKR | Sprinters S. | I | 6 Furlongs (T) | 3 YO & UP | Turf Sprint | Japan | ||
| 10/05/18 | Kee | Darley Alcibiades Stakes | I | 1 1/16 Miles | 2 YO | F | Juvenile Fillies | Kentucky | |
| 10/05/18 | Kee | Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes | II | 6 Furlongs | 3 YO & UP | Sprint | Kentucky | ||
| 10/06/18 | Bel | Frizette Stakes | I | 1 Mile | 2 YO | F | Juvenile Fillies | New York | |
| 10/06/18 | Bel | Jockey Club Gold Cup | I | 1 1/4 Miles | 3 YO & UP | Classic | New York | ||
| 10/06/18 | Kee | Claiborne Breeders' Futurity | I | 1 1/16 Miles | 2 YO | Juvenile | Kentucky | ||
| 10/06/18 | Kee | First Lady S. | I | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | F & M | Filly & Mare Turf | Kentucky | |
| 10/06/18 | Kee | Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes | I | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | Mile | Kentucky | ||
| 10/06/18 | Kee | Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes | II | 6 Furlongs | 3 YO & UP | F & M | Filly & Mare Sprint | Kentucky | |
| 10/06/18 | SA | Santa Anita Sprint Championship | I | 6 Furlongs | 3 YO & UP | Sprint | California | ||
| 10/07/18 | Bel | Champagne Stakes | I | 1 Mile | 2 YO | Juvenile | New York | ||
| 10/07/18 | Bel | Flower Bowl Stakes | I | 1 1/4 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | F & M | Filly & Mare Turf | New York | |
| 10/07/18 | Kee | Dixiana Bourbon S. | III | 1 1/16 Miles | 2 YO | Juvenile Turf | Kentucky | ||
| 10/07/18 | Kee | Juddmonte Spinster Stakes | I | 1 1/8 Miles | 3 YO & UP | F & M | Distaff | Kentucky | |
| 10/07/18 | Kee | Keeneland Juvenile Turf Sprint | 5 1/2 Furlongs (T) | 2 YO | Juvenile Turf Sprint | Kentucky | |||
| 10/07/18 | Lch | Prix de l'Opera Longines | I | 1 1/4 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | F & M | Filly & Mare Turf | France | |
| 10/07/18 | Lch | Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere | I | 1 Mile (T) | 2 YO | Juvenile Turf | France | ||
| 10/07/18 | Lch | Total Prix Marcel Boussac | I | 1 Mile (T) | 2 YO | F | Juvenile Fillies Turf | France | |
| 10/10/18 | Kee | JPMorgan Chase Jessamine Stakes | II | 1 1/16 Miles (T) | 2 YO | F | Juvenile Fillies Turf | Kentucky |
Please click for a schedule of the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Challenge races.
