Peru's Clasico Cesar Del Rio offers Breeders' Cup berth

Azarenka, a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred filly by Street Hero, is part of a field of 12 in Sunday’s $200,000 Clasico Cesar Del Rio at Hipodromo de Monterrico in Peru, a race that offers an automatic berth for the winner to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Santa Anita this fall through the Breeders’ Cup’s Win and You’re In series.

The Group 3 Clasico Cesar Del Rio is run over 1 1/4 miles on dirt for fillies and mares, and is the first race in Peru to be included in the Win and You’re In series.

The field includes the stakes winner Shakita and Valiant Emilia.

The Breeders’ Cup will waive the $40,000 entry fee to the BC Distaff and provide a $40,000 travel allowance for the winner, provided she is nominated to the Breeders’ Cup program.

Shakita has won twice this year, while Valiant Emilia is a three-time winner in 2014.

Azarenka was third behind Lideris in a Group 1 race against males in Peru on March 15. Lideris, now based in Southern California, is being considered for the $500,000 Gold Cup at Santa Anita on June 28, or the $200,000 San Juan Capistrano for turf marathoners at Santa Anita on June 29.

The Clasico Cesar Del Rio is the third of four South American races this year that are part of the Win and You’re In program. On June 27, the winner of the Group 2 Copa De Oro Vinas De Chile at Club Hipico de Santiago in Chile will receive an automatic berth for the BC Dirt Mile.