2016 Breeders' Cup Challenge series

Last updated

The 2016 Breeders' Cup Challenge series provided winners of the designated races an automatic "Win and You're In" Berth in the 2016 Breeders' Cup. Races were chosen by the Breeders' Cup organization and included key prep races in the various Breeders' Cup divisions from around the world.

2016 Breeders Cup

The 2016 Breeders' Cup World Championships was the 33rd edition of the premier event of the North American thoroughbred horse racing year. A total of 185 pre-entries were announced on October 26 in what was considered a highly competitive year in most divisions. The races, all of which were Grade I, took place on November 4 and 5 at Santa Anita Racetrack in Arcadia, California and were telecast by NBC. The Breeders' Cup is generally regarded as the end of the North America racing season, although a few Grade I events take place in later November and December.

Breeders Cup Grade I Thoroughbred horse racing

The Breeders' Cup World Championships is an annual series of Grade I Thoroughbred horse races, operated by Breeders' Cup Limited, a company formed in 1982. From its inception in 1984 through 2006, it was a single-day event; starting in 2007, it expanded to two days. All sites have been in the United States, except in 1996, when the races were at the Woodbine Racetrack in Canada.

Contents

Summary

A total of seven races were added to the Challenge series in 2016. Four were added in April when the initial announcement was made: the Queen of the Turf (which replaced the Queen Elizabeth Stakes), the Gran Premio Club Hipico Falabella, the Gran Premio Pamplona and the Flying Five Stakes. [1] Three more races from Japan were added in June: the February Stakes, the Yasuda Kinen and the Sprinter Stakes. [2]

The Queen of the Turf Stakes, raced as The Coolmore Legacy Stakes, is an Australian Turf Club Group 1 Weight for age horse race for fillies and mares aged three years old and upwards, over a distance of 1600 metres at Royal Randwick Racecourse, Sydney in the autumn during the ATC Championships series. It is run on the same day as the Sydney Cup. Total prizemoney is A$1,000,000.

Queen Elizabeth Stakes (ATC)

The Queen Elizabeth Stakes is an Australian Turf Club Group 1 Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse run over a distance of 2,000 metres at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia, in the autumn during the ATC Championships series. Prize money in 2013 was A$500,000 and was increased to A$4,000,000 in 2014 to become the richest race of the Sydney Autumn Carnival and as of 2018 the second richest WFA race in Australia.

The Flying Five Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 5 furlongs, and it is scheduled to take place each year in September during Irish Champions Weekend.

Forty-five entrants in the 2016 Breeders' Cup qualified via the Challenge series, which was particularly important in 2016 as seven of the Breeders' Cup races were oversubscribed. A maximum of 14 horses (12 in the Dirt Mile) are allowed to start in each race. Winners of the Challenge races were given automatic entries, while other pre-entries were ranked by a points system and the judgement of a panel of experts. [3]

Two Challenge series winners went on to win their respective division at the Breeders' Cup:

Highland Reel Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Highland Reel is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. In a career running from June 2014 to December 2017 he raced in Ireland, Britain, France, the United States, Australia, Hong Kong and Dubai, and recorded seven victories at Group 1 or Grade 1 level in the Secretariat Stakes, Hong Kong Vase (twice), King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Breeders' Cup Turf, Coronation Cup and Prince of Wales's Stakes. He was also placed in the Prix du Jockey Club, Cox Plate, International Stakes, Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and Champion Stakes. He holds the record for the greatest amount of prize money earned by a racehorse trained in Europe.

Classic Empire American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Classic Empire is a retired American Thoroughbred race horse who was named the American Champion Two-Year-Old Male Horse of 2016 after winning the Breeders' Futurity Stakes and Breeders' Cup Juvenile. After several setbacks at the start of his three-year-old campaign, he won the Arkansas Derby, finished a troubled fourth in the Kentucky Derby, then second by a head in the Preakness Stakes. Classic Empire was retired due to multiple setbacks from an abscess on his right front hoof, as well as slight back problems which plagued him throughout his career. He stands stud at Ashford Stud, in Kentucky.

A few Challenge series winners could not compete at the Breeders' Cup due to illness, injury or retirement. Exaggerator, who qualified for the Classic by winning the Haskell, was retired in October. [4] Cavorting, who qualified for two Breeders' Cup races, developed some bone bruising and was also retired in October. [5] The Gurkha, who qualified for the Mile by winning the Sussex Stakes, suffered a ruptured colon and was retired. [6] In the Sprint, both Joking and Lord Nelson were scratched due to late injuries. [7]

Exaggerator American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Exaggerator is a retired American Thoroughbred racehorse, winner of the 2016 Preakness Stakes. Racing as a two-year-old in 2015, he won three of his six starts including the Saratoga Special Stakes and the Delta Jackpot Stakes as well as finishing second in the Breeders' Futurity and fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. The following spring, he finished second in the San Vicente Stakes and third in the San Felipe Stakes before establishing himself as a contender for the 2016 Kentucky Derby with a six length win in the Santa Anita Derby. After finishing second to Nyquist in the Derby, he turned the tables to win the 2016 Preakness Stakes. He ran poorly in the Belmont Stakes but defeated Nyquist again in the Haskell Invitational. Tactically, Exaggerator was a "closer" – one who prefers to come from behind in his races.

The Gurkha Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

The Gurkha is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. Unraced as a juvenile he made a considerable impact in the spring of 2016 by winning the Poule d'Essai des Poulains on his third appearance. He went on to finish second in the St James's Palace Stakes and the Eclipse Stakes before winning the Sussex Stakes. He underwent surgery for a displaced colon in August 2016 and was retired from racing a month later.

Winners

The winners of the 2016 Breeders' Cup Challenge series races are shown below. [2] [8] The last column shows if the winner was subsequently entered in the corresponding Breeders' Cup race, [9] and if so, whether they achieved a top three placing. [10] [7]

MonthRaceTrackLocationDivisionWinnerBC Status
Paddock Stakes KenilworthSouth Africa Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Smart Callnot entered
Queen's Plate KenilworthSouth Africa Breeders' Cup Mile Legal Eaglenot entered
February Stakes Tokyo Japan Breeders' Cup Classic Moaninnot entered
Doncaster Mile Randwick Australia Breeders' Cup Mile Winx not entered
TJ Smith Stakes Randwick Australia Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Chautauqua not entered
Queen of the Turf Stakes Randwick Australia Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Azkadelianot entered
Gran Premio Criadores PalermoArgentina Breeders' Cup Distaff Corona Del Incaentered
Gran Premio Club Hipico Falabella SantiagoChile Breeders' Cup Mile Kitcatentered Filly & Mare Turf
Gran Premio 25 de Mayo San Isidro Argentina Breeders' Cup Turf Don Incnot entered
Shoemaker Mile Santa Anita California Breeders' Cup Mile Midnight Storm 3rd
Yasuda Kinen TokyoJapan Breeders' Cup Mile Logotypenot entered
Ogden Phipps Stakes Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Distaff Cavorting retired
Metropolitan Handicap Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile Frosted entered Classic
Grande Prêmio Brasil Hipódromo da Gávea Brazil Breeders' Cup Turf My Cherie Amournot entered
Stephen Foster Handicap Churchill Downs Kentucky Breeders' Cup Classic Bradesternot entered
Fleur de Lis Handicap Churchill Downs Kentucky Breeders' Cup Distaff Paid Up Subscribernot entered
The Gold Cup at Santa Anita Santa Anita California Breeders' Cup Classic Melatonin entered
Takarazuka Kinen Hanshin Japan Breeders' Cup Turf Marialitenot entered
Gran Premio Pamplona MonterricoPeru Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Ryans Charmentered
Princess Rooney Handicap Gulfstream Park Florida Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint Spelling Againentered
Smile Sprint Handicap Gulfstream Park Florida Breeders' Cup Sprint Delta Bluesmanentered
Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Catch A Glimpse entered
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes Ascot England Breeders' Cup Turf Highland Reel 1st
Sussex Stakes Goodwood England Breeders' Cup Mile The Gurkha retired
Clement L. Hirsch Stakes Del Mar California Breeders' Cup Distaff Stellar Wind entered
Bing Crosby Handicap Del Mar California Breeders' Cup Sprint Lord Nelsonscratched
Haskell Invitational Monmouth New Jersey Breeders' Cup Classic Exaggerator retired
Whitney Handicap Saratoga New York Breeders' Cup Classic Frosted entered
Beverly D. Stakes Arlington Illinois Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Sea Calisientered
Arlington Million Arlington Illinois Breeders' Cup Turf Mondialiste entered
Prix Jacques Le Marois Deauville France Breeders' Cup Mile Ribchester not entered
Juddmonte International York England Breeders' Cup Turf Postponed not entered
Yorkshire Oaks York England Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Seventh Heaven entered
Nunthorpe Stakes York England Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Mecca's Angel not entered
Pacific Classic Del Mar California Breeders' Cup Classic California Chrome 2nd
Del Mar Handicap Del Mar California Breeders' Cup Turf Ashleyluvssugarentered
Pat O'Brien Handicap Del Mar California Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile Masochisticnot entered
Personal Ensign Stakes Saratoga New York Breeders' Cup Distaff Haveyougoneawaynot entered
Ballerina Stakes Saratoga New York Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint Cavorting retired
Sword Dancer Invitational Saratoga New York Breeders' Cup Turf Flintshire 2nd
Forego Stakes Saratoga New York Breeders' Cup Sprint A.P. Indian entered
T. Von Zastrow Stutenpreis Baden-BadenGermany Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Parvanehnot entered
Spinaway Stakes Saratoga New York Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Pretty City Dancer and
Sweet Loretta (dead heat)		not entered
entered
Grosser Preis von Baden Baden-BadenGermany Breeders' Cup Turf Iquitosnot entered
Matron Stakes Leopardstown Ireland Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Alice Springs entered Mile
Irish Champion Stakes Leopardstown Ireland Breeders' Cup Turf Almanzor not entered
Juvenile Turf Stakes Leopardstown Ireland Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Landfallnot entered
Moyglare Stud Stakes Curragh Ireland Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Intricately entered
Flying Five Stakes Curragh Ireland Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Ardhoomeynot entered
Pocahontas Stakes Churchill Downs Kentucky Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Daddy's Lil Darlingentered
Iroquois Stakes Churchill Downs Kentucky Breeders' Cup Juvenile Not This Time2nd
Canadian Stakes Woodbine Canada Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Rainha Da Baterianot entered
Woodbine Mile Woodbine Canada Breeders' Cup Mile Tepin 2nd
Natalma Stakes Woodbine Canada Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Victory to Victoryscratched
Summer Stakes Woodbine Canada Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Good Samaritan3rd
Rockfel Stakes Newmarket England Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Spain Burgentered
Royal Lodge Stakes Newmarket England Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Best of Daysnot entered
Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Turf Ectot entered
Vosburgh Stakes Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Sprint Jokingscratched
Awesome Again Stakes Santa Anita California Breeders' Cup Classic California Chrome 2nd
FrontRunner Stakes Santa Anita California Breeders' Cup Juvenile Gormleyentered
Chandelier Stakes Santa Anita California Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Noted and Quotedentered
Rodeo Drive Stakes Santa Anita California Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Avenge3rd
Zenyatta Stakes Santa Anita California Breeders' Cup Distaff Stellar Wind entered
Sprinters Stakes Nakayama Japan Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Red Falxnot entered
Prix de l'Opéra Chantilly France Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Speedy Boardingnot entered
Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère Chantilly France Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf National Defense not entered
Prix Marcel Boussac Chantilly France Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Wuheidanot entered
Alcibiades Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Dancing Ragsentered
Phoenix Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Sprint A. P. Indian entered
Flower Bowl Invitational Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Lady Eli 2nd
Champagne Stakes Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Juvenile Practical Joke 3rd
Frizette Stakes Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Yellow Agateentered
Jockey Club Gold Cup Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Classic Hoppertunity entered
Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Mile Miss Temple City entered
Breeders' Futurity Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Juvenile Classic Empire 1st
Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint Irish Jasperentered
Santa Anita Sprint Championship Santa Anita California Breeders' Cup Sprint Lord Nelson scratched
Bourbon Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Keep Quietentered
Spinster Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Distaff I'm a Chatterbox entered
Jessamine Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf La Coronelentered

Related Research Articles

Keeneland United States national historic site

Keeneland Association, Inc. is an equine business based in Lexington, Kentucky. It includes two distinct divisions, the Keeneland Race Course, a Thoroughbred racing facility, and Keeneland Sales, a horse auction complex. It is also known for its reference library.

The Breeders' Cup Challenge is a series of Thoroughbred horse races in the United States, Canada, Europe, Japan, Australia, South Africa and South America, in which the winner earns an automatic spot in a specified Breeders' Cup race. The challenge races change somewhat each year.

The 2012 Breeders' Cup World Championships was the 29th edition of the premier event of the North American thoroughbred horse racing year, which took place November 2 and 3 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The winners were bred in the United States except where indicated. The Breeders' Cup is generally regarded as the end of the North American racing season, although a few Grade I events take place in later November and December. The 2012 Breeders' Cup results were highly influential in the Eclipse Award divisional championship voting.

The 2013 Breeders' Cup World Championships was the 30th edition of the premier event of the North American thoroughbred horse racing year. It took place on November 1 and November 2 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The Breeders' Cup is generally regarded as the end of the North America racing season, although a few Grade I events take place in later November and December. The 2013 Breeders' Cup results were highly influential in the Eclipse Award divisional championship voting.

The 2014 Breeders' Cup World Championships was the 31st edition of the premier event of the North American thoroughbred horse racing year. It took place on October 31 and November 1 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The Breeders' Cup is generally regarded as the end of the North American racing season, although a few Grade I events take place in later November and December. The 2014 Breeders' Cup results were highly influential in the Eclipse Award divisional championship voting.

2015 Breeders Cup

The 2015 Breeders' Cup World Championships was the 32nd edition of the thoroughbred horse racing season-ending premier event held on October 30 and 31 at Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky. The race series, held for the first time at Keeneland, required a significant amount of preparation to transform the small, historic track into a venue capable of handling large crowds, comprising 13 championship races held over a two-day period.

The 2015 Breeders' Cup Challenge series provided winners of the designated races an automatic "Win and You're In" Berth in the 2015 Breeders' Cup. Races were chosen by the Breeders' Cup organization and included key prep races in the various Breeders' Cup divisions from around the world.

The 2014 Breeders' Cup Challenge series provided winners of the designated races an automatic "Win and You're In" Berth in the 2014 Breeders' Cup. Races were chosen by the Breeders' Cup organization and included key prep races in the various Breeders' Cup divisions from around the world.

The 2013 Breeders' Cup Challenge series provided winners of the designated races with an automatic "Win and You're In" Berth in the 2013 Breeders' Cup. Races were chosen by the Breeders' Cup organization and included key prep races in the various Breeders' Cup divisions from around the world.

The 2012 Breeders' Cup Challenge series provided winners of the designated races with an automatic "Win and You're In" Berth in the 2012 Breeders' Cup. Races were chosen by the Breeders' Cup organization and included key prep races in the various Breeders' Cup divisions from around the world.

Grand Slam of Thoroughbred racing

The Grand Slam of Thoroughbred racing is an informal name for the Triple Crown and the Breeders' Cup Classic, the four most prominent races in American horse racing. The only horse to date to have won all four is American Pharoah, in 2015.

2017 Breeders Cup

The 2017 Breeders' Cup World Championships was the 34th edition of the premier event of the North American thoroughbred horse racing year. The 13 races, all of which were Grade I, took place on November 3 and 4 at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California and were telecast by NBC and NBC Sports. The Breeders' Cup is generally regarded as the end of the North America racing season, although a few Grade I events take place in later November and December.

The 2017 Breeders' Cup Challenge series provided winners of the designated races an automatic "Win and You're In" Berth in the 2017 Breeders' Cup. Races were chosen by the Breeders' Cup organization and included key prep races in the various Breeders' Cup divisions from around the world.

The 2018 Breeders' Cup Challenge series provided winners of the designated races an automatic "Win and You're In" Berth in the 2018 Breeders' Cup, held on November 2 and 3. The Breeders' Cup also pays the entry fee and provides a travel allowance for the connections of the challenge race winners. Races were chosen by the Breeders' Cup organization and included key races in the various Breeders' Cup divisions from around the world.

2018 Breeders Cup

The 2018 Breeders' Cup World Championships was the 35th edition of the premier event of the North American thoroughbred horse racing year. The 14 races, all but one of which were Grade I, took place on November 2 and 3 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The races were telecast by NBCSN on Friday and early Saturday, and by NBC later on Saturday. The Breeders' Cup is generally regarded as the end of the North American racing season, although a few Grade I events take place in later November and December. The event typically determines champions in many of the Eclipse Award divisions, although it was missing the likely Horse of the Year, Triple Crown champion Justify, who was retired in July.

2018 Breeders Cup Classic

The 2018 Breeders' Cup Classic was the 35th running of the Breeders' Cup Classic, part of the 2018 Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships program. It was run on November 3, 2018 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky with a purse of $6,000,000. It was won by Accelerate, who earned his fifth Grade I win of the year.

The 2019 Breeders' Cup Challenge series consists of 86 horse races that provide the respective winners with an automatic "Win and You're In" Berth in the 2019 Breeders' Cup, to be held on November 1 and 2. Races were chosen by the Breeders' Cup organization and include key races in the various Breeders' Cup divisions from around the world.

References

  1. ↑ "2016 Breeders' Cup Challenge Features 59 Grade/Group 1 Races in 12 Countries". breederscup.com. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  2. 1 2 "Japan Races Added to BC Challenge Series". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  3. ↑ "California Chrome, Arrogate, Beholder, Songbird, Found (IRE), and Nyquist Lead 185 Pre-Entered Horses for 2016 Breeders' Cup World Championships at Santa Anita Park". breederscup.com. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  4. ↑ "Exaggerator Retired". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  5. ↑ "Cavorting Retired From Racing; Joins Broodmare Band At Stonestreet". www.paulickreport.com. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  6. ↑ Porteous, Lewis. "Classic and Sussex Stakes winner The Gurkha retired | Horse Racing News | Racing Post". www.racingpost.com. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  7. 1 2 "Charts for 2016 Breeders' Cup - Saturday". Equibase.com. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
  8. ↑ "Breeders' Cup Challenge". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  9. ↑ "Complete Breeders' Cup Entries". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  10. ↑ "Charts for the 2016 Breeders' Cup - Friday". Equibase.com. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.