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Led by the undefeated Flightline, Whitney Stakes (Gr.1) winner Life Is Good and Kentucky Derby (Gr.1) winner Rich Strike in the $6 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (Gr.1); Malathaat, Clairiere, and Nest in the $2 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (Gr.1); War Like Goddess in the $4 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (Gr.1), and two-time Breeders’ Cup Champion Golden Pal in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, 205 horses, which includes 73 Grade/Group 1 winners, seven former or returning Breeders’ Cup Champions, and 45 runners from overseas, have been pre-entered for the 2022 Breeders’ Cup World Championships.
The 39th Breeders' Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred racing's most prestigious two-day worldwide event, will be contested at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky, on November 4 and 5. "Future Stars Friday" will feature five 2YO World Championships races. Saturday features nine Breeders' Cup Championship races. NBC, Peacock, USA Network, and FanDuel TV will broadcast the Breeders' Cup live nationally. USA and FanDuel TV cover from 2-6 p.m. ET on Nov. 4. FanDuel TV will air the first eight Breeders' Cup races on Nov. 5 at 11:50 a.m. ET. 1-3:30 p.m. ET on USA Network. NBC airs the World Championships from 3:30-6 p.m. Seven Breeders' Cup Champions Aloha West, Ce Ce, Echo Zulu, Golden Pal, Life Is Good, Modern Games (IRE), and Order of Australia—pre-entered (IRE). The Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In gave 46 pre-entered horses World Championships starting spots.
“Once again we could not be more proud with the outstanding quality of horses from around the world that have been pre-entered for this year’s World Championships for a spectacular two days of racing with our host track partner Keeneland,” said Drew Fleming, Breeders’ Cup President and CEO. “We applaud the men and women across the globe who are preparing these magnificent Thoroughbreds for their ultimate tests of competition on Nov. 4-5. It is also important to recognize our breeders and nominators and their support and commitment in funding the purses and awards for the World Championships.”
The $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (Gr.1) will be held on the main track. Horse of the Year has been awarded to 15 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic winners. Hronis Racing, Siena Farm, Summer Wind Equine, West Point Thoroughbreds, and Woodford Racing's 4YO Flightline has been the 2022 racing story. Flightline, trained by John Sadler, has won both his Breeders' Cup Challenge Series races this year. He won the Hill 'N' Dale Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park by 6 lengths in June and the TVG Pacific Classic (Gr.1) by a stunning 19 14 lengths in August. Flightline leads the IFHA World's Best Race Horse Rankings and Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings. CHC Inc and WinStar Farm's 4YO Life Is Good, who won the 2021 Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (Gr.1), is one of Flightline's rivals. Life Is Good, trained by Todd Pletcher, won the Pegasus World Cup (Gr.1) at Gulfstream Park and the Whitney Stakes and Woodward (Gr.1) at Saratoga and Aqueduct, respectively, to qualify for the Classic.