Breeders' Cup announces August challenge races

The Whitney Stakes, the Pacific Classic Stakes, and England’s Juddmonte International will again offer each of the winners an all-expenses-paid spot in the field of the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic this year, the Breeders’ Cup announced on Wednesday.

The three Grade 1 races offering berths in the Classic are among the 16 races that are scheduled to be held in August that Breeders’ Cup has designated as part of its “Challenge Series.” Races in the challenge series award the winners with a free spot in the field of one of the 14 Breeders’ Cup races, along with travel stipends.

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The Breeders’ Cup is scheduled for Nov. 6-7 at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Kentucky. U.S.-based horses that win challenge races receive a $10,000 travel stipend if they are based outside of Kentucky, while foreign-based horses will receive a $40,000 travel stipend.

The Whitney Stakes is scheduled for Aug. 1 at Saratoga Race Course in New York, while the Pacific Classic is scheduled for Aug. 22 at Del Mar in California. As of right now, both races will take place in front of empty grandstands, though both will be televised.

This is the second year in the row that the Juddmonte International will offer a berth for the Classic. The race is scheduled for Aug. 19 at York Racecourse, to be held at about 1 ¼ miles on Turf. Two more August races at York have been designated for the Challenge Series, including the Aug. 20 Yorkshire Oaks, with a free spot for the Filly and Mare Turf; and the Aug. 21 Nunthorpe Stakes (Turf Sprint).

As is the case in a normal year, the Saratoga meet will be loaded with Challenge races. The Aug. 1 Personal Ensign will award a spot in the Distaff; the Aug. 8 Ballerina Stakes will give the winner a berth in the Filly and Mare Sprint. On the next weekend, the Aug. 15 Alabama Stakes will award another spot in the Distaff. On Aug. 22, the Fourstardave gets the winner into the Mile, and the Aug. 29 Sword Dancer will award a berth in the Turf.

Del Mar will have its share of Challenge races as well. In addition to the Pacific Classic, the Aug. 1 Bing Crosby will award a berth in the Sprint, while the Aug. 2 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes will give the winner a spot in the Distaff. Other Challenge races at Del Mar include the Aug. 22 Del Mar Handicap (Turf) and the Aug. 29 Pat O’Brien Stakes (Mile).

Deauville in France will host two Challenge races in August: the Aug. 16 Jacques Le Marois (Turf) at Deauville, and the Aug. 23 Prix Morny (Juvenile Turf Sprint).