Breeders' Cup offers 77 Win and You're in races
Seventy-seven stakes races, including 49 held at U.S. racetracks, will offer automatic berths to Breeders’ Cup races this year through the BC Challenge series, which also awards winners with their entry fees and a travel allowance.
The slate of Win and You’re In races, announced Tuesday by Breeders' Cup, includes seven stakes races offering automatic berths to the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic, the headliner of the Breeders’ Cup two-day, 13-race event, scheduled for Nov. 4-5 at Santa Anita Park near Los Angeles.
Four races, all held overseas, were added to the slate this year, while five were dropped from the schedule, including the United Nations Stakes at Monmouth Park. Five of the races have already been held, two in South Africa and three in Australia. The first North American race on the schedule is the June 4 Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita, awarding a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Mile.
This is the ninth year that the Breeders’ Cup has designated stakes races around the world for automatic berths in its event. The series has been heavily modified since its inception.
Races in the series this year will be held in 12 countries – the U.S., Canada, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Peru, and South Africa. Horses that win stakes races held outside of North America will be given a $40,000 travel stipend, while horses based outside of California that win in either the U.S. or Canada will receive a $10,000 travel stipend.
New races in the series this year are the Queen of the Turf (Filly and Mare Turf) at Royal Randwick in Australia, which was won by Askandelia on April 9; the Gran Premio Club Hipico Falabella (Mile) in Santiago, Chile, on May 25; the Gran Premio Pamplona (Filly and Mare Turf) in Lima, Peru, on June 26; and the Flying Five Stakes (Turf Sprint) in Ireland on Sept. 11.
Last year, 39 horses that started in the 13 Breeders’ Cup races earned automatic berths through the Challenge series. Six of those horses won.
The races providing automatic berths for the Classic this year will all be held at U.S. tracks, and all are Grade 1 stakes. The Classic qualifiers are the Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs on June 18; the Gold Cup at Santa Anita Park on June 25; the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth on July 31; the Whitney at Saratoga Race Course on Aug. 8; the Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 20; the Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita on Oct. 1; and The Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park on Oct. 8.
| 2016 BREEDERS' CUP CHALLENGE SCHEDULE | ||||||||
| Race Date | Trk. | Race Name | Winner | Dist. | Age | Sex | Purse | Division |
| 1/9/16 | KEN | Maine Chance Farms Paddock S. | Legal Eagle (SAF) | 1 1/8 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | F & M | 1,000,000 | Filly & Mare Turf |
| 1/9/16 | KEN | L'Ormarins Queen's Plate | Smart Call (SAF) | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | 1,000,000 | Mile | |
| 4/2/16 | RAN | The Star Doncaster Mile | Winx (AUS) | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | 3,000,000.00 | Mile | |
| 4/2/16 | RAN | Darley TJ Smith Stakes | Chautauqua (AUS) | 6 Furlongs (T) | 3 YO & UP | 2,500,000.00 | Turf Sprint | |
| 4/9/16 | RAN |
Coolmore Legacy Queen of the Turf Stakes |
Azkadellia (AUS) | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | F & M | 1,000,000.00 | Filly & Mare Turf |
| 5/1/16 | Pal | Gran Premio Criadores | 1 1/4 Miles | 3 YO & UP | F & M | 48,000 | Distaff | |
| 5/22/16 | CHS | Gran Premio Club Hipico Falabella | 1 1/4 Miles | 3 YO & UP | 100,000 | Mile | ||
| 5/25/16 | SIS | Gran Premio 25 de Mayo | 1 1/2 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | 45,000 | Turf | ||
| 6/4/16 | SA | Shoemaker Mile | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | 400,000 | Mile | ||
| 6/11/16 | Bel | Ogden Phipps | 1 1/16 Miles | 4 YO & UP | F & M | 1,000,000 | Distaff | |
| 6/11/16 | Bel | Metropolitan Handicap | 1 Mile | 3 YO & UP | 1,250,000 | Dirt Mile | ||
| 6/12/16 | GVA | Grande Premio Brasil | 1 1/2 Miles (T) | 4 YO & UP | 600,000 | Turf | ||
| 6/18/16 | CD | Stephen Foster H. | 1 1/8 Miles | 3 YO & UP | 500,000 | Classic | ||
| 6/18/16 | CD | Fleur de Lis H. | 1 1/6 Miles | 3 YO & UP | F & M | 200,000 | Distaff | |
| 6/25/16 | SA | The Gold Cup at Santa Anita | 1 1/4 Miles | 3 YO & UP | 500,000 | Classic | ||
| 6/26/16 | MON | Gran Premio Pamplona | 1 1/4 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | F & M | 100,000 | Filly & Mare Turf | |
| 7/2/16 | GP | Princess Rooney H. | 6 Furlongs | 3 YO & UP | F & M | 250,000 | Filly & Mare Sprint | |
| 7/2/16 | GP | Smile Sprint Handicap | 6 Furlongs | 3 YO & UP | 250,000 | Sprint | ||
| 7/9/16 | Bel | Belmont Oaks Invitational | 1 1/4 Miles (T) | 3 YO | F | 1,000,000 | Filly & Mare Turf | |
| 7/23/16 | ASC |
King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes sponsored by QIPCO |
1 1/2 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | 1,150,000 | Turf | ||
| 7/27/16 | GOO | Qatar Sussex Stakes | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | 1,000,000.00 | Mile | ||
| 7/30/16 | Dmr | Clement L. Hirsch Handicap | 1 1/16 Miles | 3 YO & UP | F & M | 300,000 | Distaff | |
| 7/31/16 | Dmr | Bing Crosby Stakes | 6 Furlongs | 3 YO & UP | 300,000 | Sprint | ||
| 7/31/16 | Mth | Haskell Invitational | 1 1/8 Miles | 3 YO | 1,000,000 | Classic | ||
| 8/6/16 | Sar | Whitney Handicap | 1 1/8 Miles | 3 YO & UP | 1,250,000 | Classic | ||
| 8/13/16 | AP | Beverly D. Stakes | 1 3/16 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | F & M | 750,000 | Filly & Mare Turf | |
| 8/13/16 | AP | Arlington Million | 1 1/4 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | 1,000,000 | Turf | ||
| 8/14/16 | DEA |
Prix du Haras de Fresnay -Le Buffard - Jacques Le Marois |
1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | 600,000 | Mile | ||
| 8/17/16 | YOR | Juddmonte International | 1 1/4 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | 900,000 | Turf | ||
| 8/18/16 | YOR | Darley Yorkshire Oaks | 1 1/2 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | F & M | 340,000 | Filly & Mare Turf | |
| 8/19/16 | YOR | Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes | 5 Furlongs (T) | 2 YO & UP | 340,000 | Turf Sprint | ||
| 8/20/16 | Dmr | TVG Pacific Classic | 1 1/4 Miles | 3 YO & UP | 1,000,000 | Classic | ||
| 8/20/16 | Dmr | Del Mar Handicap | 1 3/8 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | 250,000 | Turf | ||
| 8/27/16 | Dmr | Pat O'Brien Stakes | 7 Furlongs | 3 YO & UP | 200,000 | Dirt Mile | ||
| 8/27/16 | Sar | Ballerina Stakes | 7 Furlongs | 3 YO & UP | F & M | 500,000 | Filly & Mare Sprint | |
| 8/27/16 | Sar | Personal Ensign H. | 1 1/8 Miles | 3 YO & UP | F & M | 750,000 | Distaff | |
| 8/27/16 | Sar | Sword Dancer Invitational S. | 1 1/2 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | 1,000,000 | Turf | ||
| 8/27/16 | Sar | Forego | 7 Furlongs | 3 YO & UP | 700,000 | Sprint | ||
| 9/3/16 | BAD | T. Von Zastrow Stutenpreis | 1 3/8 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | F & M | 70,000 | Filly & Mare Turf | |
| 9/3/16 | Sar | Spinaway Stakes | 7 Furlongs | 2 YO | F | 350,000 | Juvenile Fillies | |
| 9/4/16 | BAD | Longines Grosser Preis Von Baden | 1 1/2 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | 250,000 | Turf | ||
| 9/10/16 | LEO | The Coolmore Matron S. | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | F & M | 300,000 | Filly & Mare Turf | |
| 9/10/16 | LEO | QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes | 1 1/4 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | 1,250,000 | Turf | ||
| 9/10/16 | LEO | Willis Champions Juvenile Stakes | 1 Mile (T) | 2 YO | 100,000 | Juvenile Turf | ||
| 9/11/16 | CUR | Moyglare Stud Stakes | 7 Furlongs (T) | 2 YO | F | 350,000 | Juvenile Fillies Turf | |
| 9/11/16 | CUR | Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes | 5 Furlongs (T) | 3 YO & UP | 250,000 | Turf Sprint | ||
| 9/17/16 | CD | Iroquois S. | 1 Mile | 2 YO | 150,000 | Juvenile | ||
| 9/17/16 | CD | Pocahontas S. | 1 Mile | 2 YO | F | 150,000 | Juvenile Fillies | |
| 9/17/16 | WO | Canadian Stakes | 1 1/8 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | F & M | 300,000 | Filly & Mare Turf | |
| 9/17/16 | WO | Ricoh Woodbine Mile | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | 1,000,000 | Mile | ||
| 9/18/16 | WO | Natalma Stakes | 1 Mile (T) | 2 YO | F | 250,000 | Juvenile Fillies Turf | |
| 9/18/16 | WO | Summer Stakes | 1 Mile (T) | 2 YO | 200,000 | Juvenile Turf | ||
| 9/23/16 | NEW | Shadwell Rockfel Stakes | 7 Furlongs (T) | 2 YO | F | 100,000 | Juvenile Fillies Turf | |
| 9/24/16 | NEW | Juddmonte Royal Lodge | 1 Mile (T) | 2 YO | C & G | 100,000 | Juvenile Turf | |
| 10/1/16 | Bel | Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes | 1 1/4 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | F & M | 600,000 | Filly & Mare Turf | |
| 10/1/16 | Bel | Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational | 1 1/2 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | 600,000 | Turf | ||
| 10/1/16 | Bel | Vosburgh Invitational Stakes | 6 Furlongs | 3 YO & UP | 400,000 | Sprint | ||
| 10/1/16 | SA | Awesome Again Stakes | 1 1/8 Miles | 3 YO & UP | 300,000 | Classic | ||
| 10/1/16 | SA | Chandelier Stakes | 1 1/16 Miles | 2 YO | F | 300,000 | Juvenile Fillies | |
| 10/1/16 | SA | Frontrunner Stakes | 1 1/16 Miles | 2 YO | 300,000 | Juvenile | ||
| 10/1/16 | SA | Rodeo Drive Stakes | 1 1/4 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | F & M | 300,000 | Filly & Mare Turf | |
| 10/1/16 | SA | Zenyatta Stakes | 1 1/16 Miles | 3 YO & UP | F & M | 300,000 | Distaff | |
| 10/2/16 | CHY | Longines Prix de L'Opera | 1 1/4 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | F & M | 400,000 | Filly & Mare Turf | |
| 10/2/16 | CHY | Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere | 1 Mile (T) | 2 YO | 350,000 | Juvenile Turf | ||
| 10/2/16 | CHY | Total Prix Marcel Boussac | 1 Mile (T) | 2 YO | F | 300,000 | Juvenile Fillies Turf | |
| 10/7/16 | Kee | Darley Alcibiades Stakes | 1 1/16 Miles | 2 YO | F | 400,000 | Juvenile Fillies | |
| 10/7/16 | Kee | Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes | 6 Furlongs | 3 YO & UP | 200,000 | Sprint | ||
| 10/8/16 | Bel | Foxwoods Champagne Stakes | 1 Mile | 2 YO | 400,000 | Juvenile | ||
| 10/8/16 | Bel | Frizette Stakes | 1 Mile | 2 YO | F | 400,000 | Juvenile Fillies | |
| 10/8/16 | Bel | Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational | 1 1/4 Miles | 3 YO & UP | 1,000,000 | Classic | ||
| 10/8/16 | Kee | Claiborne Breeders' Futurity | 1 1/16 Miles | 2 YO | 500,000 | Juvenile | ||
| 10/8/16 | Kee | Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | 750,000 | Mile | ||
| 10/8/16 | Kee | Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes | 6 Furlongs | 3 YO & UP | F & M | 200,000 | Filly & Mare Sprint | |
| 10/8/16 | SA | Santa Anita Sprint Championship | 6 Furlongs | 3 YO & UP | 300,000 | Sprint | ||
| 10/9/16 | Kee | Dixiana Bourbon S. | 1 1/16 Miles (T) | 2 YO | 250,000 | Juvenile Turf | ||
| 10/9/16 | Kee | Juddmonte Spinster Stakes | 1 1/8 Miles | 3 YO & UP | F & M | 500,000 | Distaff | |
| 10/12/16 | Kee | JPMorgan Chase Jessamine Stakes | 1 1/16 Miles (T) | 2 YO | F | 150,000 | Juvenile Fillies Turf | |