 |
|
| Staff Writer |
 |
The Breeders' Cup has announced its most ambitious Challenge Series yet, featuring a record 93 'Win and You're In' races across 15 countries for the 2025 World Championships.
This year's expanded schedule, revealed on Thursday, includes an unprecedented 49 international qualifying events - the highest number in the series' 19-year history - alongside 44 domestic races in the United States.
Winners of these prestigious qualifiers will secure automatic entry, with fees paid, into corresponding races at the two-day festival at Del Mar on October 31-November 1, where more than US$34 million in purses and awards awaits.
The global series spans premier tracks in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Dubai, England, France, Ireland, Japan, Peru, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, the United States, and Uruguay - with all qualifying events holding group or graded status.
Dora Delgado, chief racing officer at Breeders' Cup, said: "It is immensely gratifying to see trainers and owners leverage the many opportunities offered by the Challenge Series, the leading pathway to a coveted spot in the World Championships. We thank the racing authorities close to home and abroad for their crucial partnerships, and look forward to watching the world's best competitors prioritize the Challenge Series as their path to the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar."
The domestic portion kicks off during Belmont Stakes weekend at Saratoga Racecourse on June 6-7, featuring three major qualifiers: the Gr.1 Ogden Phipps Stakes for the US$2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff, the Gr.1 Metropolitan Handicap for the US$2 million Dirt Mile, and the Gr.1 Jaipur Stakes for the US$1 million Turf Sprint.
Horsemen stand to benefit from a record US$6.51 million in free entry fees alongside US$480,000 in domestic foal nominator awards. Additionally, the Breeders' Cup will provide US$10,000 travel allowances for North American starters from outside California and US$40,000 for international participants.
The showpiece US$7 million Breeders' Cup Classic has ten qualifying routes, including the already-run Gr.1 Saudi Cup won by Forever Young, the Gr.1 February Stakes claimed by Costa Nova, and the Gr.1 Dubai World Cup taken by Hit Show.
Other Classic qualifiers include the Stephen Foster Stakes at Churchill Downs, the Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park, the Whitney Stakes at Saratoga, the Juddmonte International at York, the Pacific Classic at Del Mar, the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga, and the Goodwood Stakes at Santa Anita.
Last year's Challenge Series produced five Breeders' Cup winners at Del Mar, with Moira (Filly & Mare Turf), Citizen Bull (Juvenile), Immersive (Juvenile Fillies), Lake Victoria (Juvenile Fillies Turf), and Soul of an Angel (Filly & Mare Sprint) all converting their qualifying victories into championship glory.
"International competition is fundamental to the Breeders' Cup, and the Challenge Series continues to offer the best avenue for horsemen around the world to earn automatic entry into the World Championships," Delgado emphasised.
The 2025 Challenge Series began last December when Intense for Me secured a Turf berth by winning Argentina's Gran Premio International Carlos Pellegrini. January saw South African qualifiers Double Grand Slam (Paddock Stakes) and One Stripe (King's Plate) earn spots in the Filly & Mare Turf and Mile respectively.
Reigning Eclipse champion sprinter Straight No Chaser secured his Sprint ticket through the Riyadh Dirt Sprint in Saudi Arabia, whilst Dubai World Cup night yielded qualifiers in Danon Decile (Dubai Sheema Classic, Turf), Soul Rush (Dubai Turf, Mile) and Dark Saffron (Dubai Golden Shaheen, Sprint).
The next international Challenge qualifier falls on May 1 with Argentina's Gran Premio Criadores, offering a berth in the Distaff division.