2016 Breeders' Cup Challenge series

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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.

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]

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:

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]

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

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". Racing Post . Archived from the original on 24 September 2016. 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.