2018 Breeders' Cup Challenge series

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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.

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

On April 18, 2018, the Breeders' Cup announced the 2018 Breeders' Cup Challenge series races. The main change was the addition of four "win and you're in" races from Royal Ascot: the Queen Anne Stakes provides a berth in the Mile division; the Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) in the Turf; the Norfolk Stakes in the new Juvenile Turf Sprint; and the Diamond Jubilee Stakes in the Turf Sprint. [1] The Jaipur Invitational was also added as a qualifier for the Turf Sprint. The following races were removed from the series: the TJ Smith (Turf Sprint), the Smile Sprint (Sprint), the T. Von Zastrow Stutenpreis (Filly & Mare Turf) and the Grosser Preis von Baden (Turf). [2] On June 25, three more races were added to the challenge series as qualifiers for the Juvenile Turf Sprint. These were the Futurity at Belmont Park, the Indian Summer Stakes at Keeneland and a new race at Santa Anita, [3] subsequently named the Speakeasy Stakes.

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 Queen Anne Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile, and is an annual event scheduled to take place each year in June.

The Prince of Wales's Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile 1 furlong and 212 yards, and it is scheduled to take place each year in June.

A record 221 pre-entries were taken on October 24. Twelve races, including the Classic, were over-subscribed, meaning more than 14 horses (12 in the Juvenile Turf Sprint) wished to enter. Forty-eight of the pre-entries were automatic qualifiers through the Challenge series. [4]

The following automatic qualifiers also won their division of the Breeders' Cup:

Accelerate (horse) Thoroughbred racehorse trained in the United States

Accelerate is a retired American Thoroughbred racehorse, best known for winning the 2018 Breeders' Cup Classic. He established his reputation when defeating champion Arrogate in the 2017 GII San Diego Handicap, and prior to his Breeders' Cup success won the GI Santa Anita Handicap, GI Gold Cup at Santa Anita Stakes, GI Pacific Classic Stakes, and the GI Awesome Again Stakes. He is one of three horses from the 2013 foal crop to win the Breeders' Cup Classic, along with Arrogate in 2016, and Gun Runner in 2017.

Automatic Qualifiers

The winners of the 2018 Breeders' Cup Challenge races are shown below. The status column shows whether the horse was subsequently entered in the corresponding Breeders' Cup division and if so, if they won. The status column also shows a few horses that had been sidelined by injury or retired prior to the running of the Breeders' Cup.

MonthRaceTrackLocation [5] DivisionWinnerBC Status
Paddock Stakes KenilworthSouth Africa Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Oh Susanna (AUS)not entered
Queen's Plate KenilworthSouth Africa Breeders' Cup Mile Legal Eagle (SAF)not entered
February Stakes Tokyo Japan Breeders' Cup Classic Nonkono Yume (JPN)not entered
Doncaster Mile Randwick Australia Breeders' Cup Mile Happy Clapper not entered
Legacy Stakes Randwick Australia Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Alizee (AUS)not entered
Gran Premio Criadores PalermoArgentina Breeders' Cup Distaff Sinfonia Fantastica (ARG)not entered
Gran Premio Club Hipico Falabella SantiagoChile Breeders' Cup Mile Nuevo Maestro (CHI)not entered
Gran Premio 25 de Mayo San Isidro Argentina Breeders' Cup Turf La Extrana Dama (ARG)not entered
Shoemaker Mile Santa Anita California Breeders' Cup Mile Hunt (IRE)ill [6]
Yasuda Kinen TokyoJapan Breeders' Cup Mile Mozu Ascotnot entered
Ogden Phipps Stakes Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Distaff Abel Tasman pre-entered
Jaipur Invitational Stakes Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Disco Partner pre-entered
Metropolitan Handicap Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile Bee Jerseyretired due to injury [7]
Grande Prêmio Brasil Hipódromo da Gávea Brazil Breeders' Cup Turf Quarteto De Cordas (BRZ)pre-entered
Stephen Foster Handicap Churchill Downs Kentucky Breeders' Cup Classic Pavelpre-entered
Fleur de Lis Handicap Churchill Downs Kentucky Breeders' Cup Distaff Blue Prize (ARG)pre-entered
Queen Anne Stakes Ascot England Breeders' Cup Mile Accidental Agent (GB)not entered
Prince of Wales's Stakes Ascot England Breeders' Cup Turf Poet's Word (IRE)injured [8]
Norfolk Stakes Ascot England Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint Shang Shang Shangpre-entered
Diamond Jubilee Stakes Ascot England Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Merchant Navy (AUS)not entered
Gran Premio Pamplona MonterricoPeru Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Smart Choice (ARG)pre-entered
Takarazuka Kinen Hanshin Japan Breeders' Cup Turf Mikki Rocket (JPN)not entered
Highlander Stakes WoodbineCanada Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Long On Valuenot entered
Princess Rooney Handicap Gulfstream Park Florida Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint Stormy Embracepre-entered
Belmont Sprint Championship Stakes Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Sprint Limousine Liberalpre-entered
King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes Ascot England Breeders' Cup Turf Poet's Word (IRE)injured [9]
Bing Crosby Handicap Del Mar California Breeders' Cup Sprint Ransom the Moonnot entered
Haskell Invitational Monmouth New Jersey Breeders' Cup Classic Good Magicretired [10]
Clement L. Hirsch Stakes Del Mar California Breeders' Cup Distaff Unique Bella retired due to injury [11]
Sussex Stakes Goodwood England Breeders' Cup Mile Lightning Spear (GB)pre-entered
Whitney Handicap Saratoga New York Breeders' Cup Classic Diversifybypassed [12]
Arlington Million Arlington Illinois Breeders' Cup Turf Robert Bruce (CHI)pre-entered
Beverly D. Stakes Arlington Illinois Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Sistercharlie (IRE)won
Prix Jacques le Marois Deauville France Breeders' Cup Mile Alpha Centauri (IRE)retired due to injury [13]
Pacific Classic Del Mar California Breeders' Cup Classic Acceleratewon
Del Mar Handicap Del Mar California Breeders' Cup Turf Fashion Business (GB)not entered
Juddmonte International York England Breeders' Cup Turf Roaring Lion pre-entered in Classi
Yorkshire Oaks York England Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Sea of Class (IRE)not entered
Nunthorpe Stakes York England Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Alpha Delphini (GB)not entered
Personal Ensign Stakes Saratoga New York Breeders' Cup Distaff Abel Tasman pre-entered
Ballerina Stakes Saratoga New York Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint Marley's Freedompre-entered
Forego Stakes Saratoga New York Breeders' Cup Sprint Whitmore pre-entered
Sword Dancer Saratoga New York Breeders' Cup Turf Glorious Empire (IRE)pre-entered
Pat O'Brien Handicap Del Mar California Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile Catalina Cruiserpre-entered
Spinaway Stakes Saratoga New York Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Sippican Harborpre-entered
Juvenile Stakes Leopardstown Ireland Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Madhmoon (IRE)not entered
Matron Stakes Leopardstown Ireland Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Laurens (FR)bypassed [14]
Irish Champion Stakes Leopardstown Ireland Breeders' Cup Turf Roaring Lion pre-entered in Classic [15]
Iroquois Stakes Churchill Downs Kentucky Breeders' Cup Juvenile Cairo Catnot entered
Pocahontas Stakes Churchill Downs Kentucky Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Serengeti Empresspre-entered
Woodbine Mile Woodbine Canada Breeders' Cup Mile Oscar Performance pre-entered
Moyglare Stud Stakes Curragh Ireland Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Skitter Scatternot entered
Flying Five Stakes Curragh Ireland Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Havana Grey (GB)pre-entered
Natalma Stakes Woodbine Canada Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf La Pelosa (IRE)pre-entered
Summer Stakes Woodbine Canada Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Fog of Warnot entered
Rockfel Stakes Newmarket England Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Just Wonderfulpre-entered
Royal Lodge Stakes Newmarket England Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Mohawk (IRE)not entered
Vosburgh Stakes Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Sprint Imperial Hintpre-entered
Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Turf Channel Makerpre-entered
Jockey Club Gold Cup Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Classic Discreet Loverpre-entered
FrontRunner Stakes Santa Anita California Breeders' Cup Juvenile Game Winnerwon
Chandelier Stakes Santa Anita California Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Bellafinapre-entered
Rodeo Drive Stakes Santa Anita California Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Vasilikanot entered
Awesome Again Stakes Santa Anita California Breeders' Cup Classic Accelerate won
Sprinters Stakes Nakayama Japan Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Fine Needle (JPN)not entered
Zenyatta Stakes Santa Anita California Breeders' Cup Distaff Vale Dori (ARG)pre-entered
Phoenix Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Sprint Promises Fulfilledpre-entered
Alcibiades Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Restless Riderpre-entered
First Lady Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf A Raving Beauty (GER)pre-entered
Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint Golden Mischiefpre-entered
Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Mile Next Sharespre-entered
Breeders' Futurity Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Juvenile Knicks Gopre-entered
Champagne Stakes Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Juvenile Complexitypre-entered
Speakeasy Stakes Santa Anita California Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint It's Gonna Hurtpre-entered
Santa Anita Sprint Championship Santa Anita California Breeders' Cup Sprint Roy H won
Prix de l'Opéra Longchamp France Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Wild Illusion pre-entered
Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère Longchamp France Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Royal Marine not entered
Prix Marcel Boussac Longchamp France Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Lily's Candle (FR)pre-entered
Indian Summer Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint Strike Silverpre-entered
Bourbon Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Currentpre-entered
Spinster Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Distaff Blue Prizepre-entered
Belmont Futurity Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint Uncle Bennypre-entered
Frizette Stakes Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Jaywalkwon
Flower Bowl Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Fourstar Crookpre-entered
Jessamine Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Concrete Rosepre-entered

See also

Related Research Articles

The Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies is a ​1 1⁄16-mile thoroughbred horse race on dirt for two-year-old fillies run annually since 1984 at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships in early November.

The Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf is a Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse race on turf for fillies and mares, three years old and up. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships.

The Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf is an American Thoroughbred horse race for two-year-old horses, run on a grass course at a distance of one mile. It is part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, the de facto year-end championship for North American thoroughbred racing. All Breeders' Cups to date have been conducted in the United States, with the exception of the 1996 event in Canada.

The Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf is a one-mile turf stakes race for thoroughbred fillies two years old. As its name implies, it is part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, the de facto year-end championship for North American thoroughbred racing.

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 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.

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.

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.

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 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint is an American Thoroughbred horse race for two-year-old horses, run on a grass course at a distance of 5½ furlongs. It is part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, the de facto year-end championship for North American thoroughbred racing. All Breeders' Cups to date have been conducted in the United States, with the exception of the 1996 event in Canada.

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. ↑ "18 Breeders' Cup Challenge Series Features 82 Races in 12 Countries Awarding Automatic Berths, Travel and Paid Entry Fees Into World Championships". www.breederscup.com. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  2. ↑ "The Breeders' Cup Challenge". www.breederscup.com. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  3. ↑ "Breeders' Cup Adds Three Challenge Races for New Race". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  4. ↑ Angst, Frank. "Record 221 Pre-Entries for 2018 Breeders' Cup". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  5. ↑ "2018 BC Pre-entries" (PDF). bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  6. ↑ "Hunt Declared from BC Mile as Divisidero Draws In". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
  7. ↑ "Grade 1 Winner Bee Jersey Retired With Tendon Injury". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  8. ↑ "Poet's Word Out for Remainder of Year Due to Injury". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  9. ↑ "Poet's Word Out for Remainder of Year Due to Injury". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  10. ↑ "Champion Good Magic Retired to Hill 'n' Dale Farms". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  11. ↑ "Grade 1 Winner Unique Bella Retired From Racing". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  12. ↑ "Diversify to skip Breeders' Cup Classic, per owner Ralph Evans". live.drf.com. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  13. ↑ "Alpha Centauri and Saxon Warrior Retired With Injuries". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  14. ↑ "Laurens to Bypass Breeders' Cup". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  15. ↑ "Breeders' Cup Classic Bid an Option for Roaring Lion". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
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