2019 Breeders' Cup Challenge series

The 2019 Breeders' Cup Challenge series consisted of 86 horse races that provided the respective winners with an automatic "Win and You're In" Berth in the 2019 Breeders' Cup, held on November 1 and 2. Races were chosen by the Breeders' Cup organization and included key races in the various Breeders' Cup divisions from around the world. The Breeders' Cup organization paid the Breeders' Cup entry fee for the challenge race winners, provided they had been nominated as foals.

Summary

The 2019 Breeders' Cup Challenge series consisted of 86 races, 64 of which were Grade/Group One, from across 11 countries. There were 7 new races from the 2018 Series: the Gran Premio International Carlos Pellegrini (Turf), Prix Morny (Juvenile Turf Sprint), Fourstardave (Mile), Jockey Club Derby (Turf), the Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint (Turf Sprint), Cotillion (Distaff), Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp (Turf Sprint) and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Turf). The following races were removed from the series: Doncaster Mile, Legacy Stakes, Gran Premio 25 de Mayo, Highlander, Forego, Spinaway, and Joe Hirsch Turf Classic. The International Stakes, formerly a qualifier for the Turf, became the first ever European qualifier for the Classic.[1]

On October 21, fifty of the Challenge race winners were pre-entered in one or more of the Breeders' Cup races.[2] Shortly before entries were taken, Magical – a leading contender in the Turf – was retired after spiking a fever.[3]

Entries were taken on October 28. Several challenge race winners opted to enter a different division of the Breeders' Cup. For example, Omaha Beach, who qualified for the Sprint by winning the Santa Anita Sprint Championship, was instead entered in the Dirt Mile.[4] Conversely, Catalina Cruiser and Mitole qualified for the Dirt Mile but instead were entered in the Sprint.[5] Uni ran in the Mile instead of the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf. Elate was entered in the Classic after qualifying in the Distaff.[6]

On Friday, two automatic qualifiers won their respective division of the Breeders' Cup. On Saturday, there were another three:[7][8]

  • Four Wheel Drive, who qualified by winning the Belmont Futurity, won the Juvenile Turf Sprint
  • British Idiom, winner of the Alcibiades, also won the Juvenile Fillies
  • Iridessa, who qualified by winning the Matron Stakes, won the Filly and Mare Turf
  • Blue Prize won the Distaff after qualifying in the Spinster
  • Bricks and Mortar qualified by winning the Arlington Million and then won the Turf

Mitole, who qualified for the Dirt Mile by winning the Metropolitan Handicap, won the Sprint. Uni won the Mile after qualifying in the First Lady Stakes for the Filly and Mare Turf.

Challenge Series races

The following table shows the Breeders' Cup Challenge races for 2019 and the respective winners.[9] The status column shows whether the horse was subsequently entered in the corresponding Breeders' Cup race,[10] and whether they finished in the money.[8][7]

Month Race Track Location Division Winner Status
December Gran Premio Internacional Carlos Pellegrini San Isidro Argentina Breeders' Cup Turf Il Mercato (ARG) bypass
January Paddock Stakes Kenilworth South Africa Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Oh Susanna (AUS) bypass
January Queen's Plate Kenilworth South Africa Breeders' Cup Mile Do It Again (SAF) bypass
February February Stakes Tokyo Japan Breeders' Cup Classic Inti (JPN) bypass
May Gran Premio Criadores Palermo Argentina Breeders' Cup Distaff Entropia (ARG) bypass
May Gran Premio Club Hipico Falabella Santiago Chile Breeders' Cup Mile Tamburo Di Oro bypass
May Shoemaker Mile Santa Anita California Breeders' Cup Mile Bolo scratched[7]
June Yasuda Kinen Tokyo Japan Breeders' Cup Mile Indy Champ bypass
June Jaipur Invitational Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint World of Trouble retired[11]
June Ogden Phipps Stakes Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Distaff Midnight Bisou second
June Metropolitan Handicap Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile Mitole won Sprint
June Grande Prêmio Brasil Hipódromo da Gávea Brazil Breeders' Cup Turf George Washington (BRZ) bypass
June Fleur de Lis Handicap Churchill Downs Kentucky Breeders' Cup Distaff Elate fourth in Classic
June Stephen Foster Handicap Churchill Downs Kentucky Breeders' Cup Classic Seeking the Soul ran
June Queen Anne Stakes Royal Ascot England Breeders' Cup Mile Lord Glitters (FR) ran
June Prince of Wales's Stakes Royal Ascot England Breeders' Cup Turf Crystal Ocean (GB) bypass
June Norfolk Stakes Royal Ascot England Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint A'Ali (IRE) ran
June Diamond Jubilee Stakes Royal Ascot England Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Blue Point (IRE) retired[12]
June Takarazuka Kinen Hanshin Japan Breeders' Cup Turf Lys Gracieux bypass
June Gran Premio Pamplona Monterrico Peru Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Gracia Divina bypass
June Princess Rooney Handicap Gulfstream Park Florida Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint Stormy Embrace bypass
July John A. Nerud Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Sprint Promises Fulfilled bypass
July Haskell Invitational Monmouth New Jersey Breeders' Cup Classic Maximum Security bypass[13]
July King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes Ascot England Breeders' Cup Turf Enable bypass
July Bing Crosby Handicap Del Mar California Breeders' Cup Sprint Cistron bypass
July Clement L. Hirsch Stakes Del Mar California Breeders' Cup Distaff Ollie's Candy fourth
July Sussex Stakes Goodwood England Breeders' Cup Mile Too Darn Hot bypass
August Whitney Handicap Saratoga New York Breeders' Cup Classic McKinzie second
August Beverly D. Stakes Arlington Illinois Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Sistercharlie third
August Arlington Million Arlington Illinois Breeders' Cup Turf Bricks and Mortar won
August Fourstardave Handicap Saratoga New York Breeders' Cup Mile Got Stormy second
August Prix Jacques Le Marois Deauville France Breeders' Cup Mile Romanised (IRE) bypass
August Pacific Classic Del Mar California Breeders' Cup Classic Higher Power third
August Del Mar Handicap Del Mar California Breeders' Cup Turf Acclimate ran
August Prix Morny Deauville France Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint Earthlight bypass
August Juddmonte International York England Breeders' Cup Classic Japan bypass
August Yorkshire Oaks York England Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Enable bypass
August Nunthorpe Stakes York England Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Battaash bypass
August Personal Ensign Stakes Saratoga New York Breeders' Cup Distaff Midnight Bisou second
August Ballerina Stakes Saratoga New York Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint Come Dancing ran
August Sword Dancer Saratoga New York Breeders' Cup Turf Annals of Time bypass
August Pat O'Brien Handicap Del Mar California Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile Catalina Cruiser ran in Sprint
September Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint Kentucky Downs Kentucky Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Totally Boss ran
September Jockey Club Derby Belmont New York Breeders' Cup Turf Spanish Mission bypass
September Juvenile Stakes Leopardstown Ireland Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Mogul bypass
September Matron Stakes Leopardstown Ireland Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Iridessa (IRE) won
September Irish Champion Stakes Leopardstown Ireland Breeders' Cup Turf Magical (IRE) retired[3]
September Iroquois Stakes Churchill Downs Kentucky Breeders' Cup Juvenile Dennis' Moment ran
September Pocahontas Stakes Churchill Downs Kentucky Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Lazy Daisy ran
September Woodbine Mile Woodbine Canada Breeders' Cup Mile El Tormenta ran
September Moyglare Stud Stakes Curragh Ireland Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Love bypass
September Flying Five Stakes Curragh Ireland Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Fairyland (IRE) bypass[3]
September Natalma Stakes Woodbine Canada Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Abscond ran
September Summer Stakes Woodbine Canada Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Decorated Invader fourth
September Cotillion Stakes PARX Pennsylvania Breeders' Cup Distaff Street Band ran
September American Pharoah Stakes Santa Anita California Breeders' Cup Juvenile Eight Rings ran
September Chandelier Stakes Santa Anita California Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Bast third
September Rockfel Stakes Newmarket England Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Daahyeh (GB) second
September Royal Lodge Stakes Newmarket England Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Royal Dornoch (IRE) bypass
September Vosburgh Stakes Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Sprint Imperial Hint scratched[14]
September Jockey Club Gold Cup Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Classic Code of Honor ran
September Rodeo Drive Stakes Santa Anita California Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Mirth ran
September Awesome Again Stakes Santa Anita California Breeders' Cup Classic Mongolian Groom entered
September Sprinters Stakes Nakayama Japan Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Tower of London (JPN) bypass
September Zenyatta Stakes Santa Anita California Breeders' Cup Distaff Paradise Woods ran
October Phoenix Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Sprint Engage fourth
October Alcibiades Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies British Idiom won
October First Lady Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Uni (GB) won the Mile
October Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint Spiced Perfection fourth
October Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Mile Bowies Hero ran
October Breeders' Futurity Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Juvenile Maxfield injured[15]
October Champagne Stakes Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Juvenile Tiz the Law bypass
October Santa Anita Sprint Championship Santa Anita California Breeders' Cup Sprint Omaha Beach second in Dirt Mile
October Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp Longchamp France Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Glass Slippers (GB) bypass
October Prix de l'Opéra Longchamp France Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Villa Marina (GB) ran
October Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère Longchamp France Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Victor Ludorum (GB) bypass
October Prix Marcel Boussac Longchamp France Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Albigna (Ire) fourth
October Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Longchamp France Breeders' Cup Turf Waldgeist (GB) bypass
October Indian Summer Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint Kimari fourth
October Bourbon Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Peace Achieved ran
October Spinster Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Distaff Blue Prize (ARG) won
October Belmont Futurity Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint Four Wheel Drive won
October Frizette Stakes Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Wicked Whisper ran
October Flower Bowl Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Sistercharlie (IRE) third
October Speakeasy Stakes Santa Anita California Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint El Tigre Terrible bypass
October Jessamine Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Sweet Melania third

Television coverage

For the 2019 Breeders' Cup Challenge, NBCSN will produce 11 live broadcasts, covering more than 20 of the races in North America. The races will also be live streamed.[16] This is in addition to NBC's coverage of the American Triple Crown series and Royal Ascot, the latter of which has four Breeders' Cup Challenge races.[17]

See also

References
  1. "Breeders' Cup Announces Challenge Series Schedule". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
  2. "188 Horses Pre-Entered for 2019 Breeders' Cup". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
  3. "Magical Retired After Missing Breeders' Cup". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  4. "Omaha Beach Heads Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  5. "Mitole Looks for One More Big Victory in BC Sprint". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  6. "McKinzie Faces Code of Honor in Breeders' Cup Classic". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  7. "Charts for November 2 at Santa Anita". Equibase. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  8. "Charts for November 1 at Santa Anita". Equibase. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
  9. "The Breeders' Cup Challenge Schedule". www.breederscup.com. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
  10. "Breeders' Cup Pre-Entries" (PDF). BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
  11. "World of Trouble Retired to Hill 'n' Dale Farms". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
  12. "Blue Point to stand alongside Shamardal in Ireland | Horse Racing News | Racing Post". Racing Post. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
  13. "Maximum Security Hits Comeback Trail in Bold Ruler". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
  14. "Imperial Hint Scratched from Breeders' Cup Sprint". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  15. "Maxfield Out of Breeders' Cup Juvenile". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  16. "Breeders' Cup and NBC Sports Announce 2019 Breeders' Cup Challenge Television Schedule". www.breederscup.com. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
  17. Pedulla, Tom (18 June 2019). "Americans Storm the Gates of Royal Ascot". The New York Times. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
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