The 2018 Breeders' Cup Challenge series provided winners of the designated races an automatic "Win and You're In" Berth in the 2018 Breeders' Cup, held on November 2 and 3. The Breeders' Cup also pays the entry fee and provides a travel allowance for the connections of the challenge race winners. Races were chosen by the Breeders' Cup organization and included key races in the various Breeders' Cup divisions from around the world.

Summary

On April 18, 2018, the Breeders' Cup announced the 2018 Breeders' Cup Challenge series races. The main change was the addition of four "win and you're in" races from Royal Ascot: the Queen Anne Stakes provides a berth in the Mile division; the Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) in the Turf; the Norfolk Stakes in the new Juvenile Turf Sprint; and the Diamond Jubilee Stakes in the Turf Sprint.[1] The Jaipur Invitational was also added as a qualifier for the Turf Sprint. The following races were removed from the series: the TJ Smith (Turf Sprint), the Smile Sprint (Sprint), the T. Von Zastrow Stutenpreis (Filly & Mare Turf) and the Grosser Preis von Baden (Turf).[2] On June 25, three more races were added to the challenge series as qualifiers for the Juvenile Turf Sprint. These were the Futurity at Belmont Park, the Indian Summer Stakes at Keeneland and a new race at Santa Anita,[3] subsequently named the Speakeasy Stakes.

A record 221 pre-entries were taken on October 24. Twelve races, including the Classic, were over-subscribed, meaning more than 14 horses (12 in the Juvenile Turf Sprint) wished to enter. Forty-eight of the pre-entries were automatic qualifiers through the Challenge series.[4]

The following automatic qualifiers also won their division of the Breeders' Cup:

  • Sistercharlie automatically qualified by winning the Beverley D and went on to win the Filly & Mare Turf
  • Accelerate, winner of the Classic, automatically qualified by winning both the Pacific Classic and Awesome Again
  • Game Winner qualified by winning the FrontRunner, then won the Juvenile
  • Roy H won the Santa Anita Sprint Championship before winning the Sprint
  • Jaywalk won both the Frizette and Juvenile Fillies

Automatic Qualifiers

The winners of the 2018 Breeders' Cup Challenge races are shown below. The status column shows whether the horse was subsequently entered in the corresponding Breeders' Cup division and if so, if they won. The status column also shows a few horses that had been sidelined by injury or retired prior to the running of the Breeders' Cup.

Month Race Track Location[5] Division Winner BC Status
January Paddock Stakes Kenilworth South Africa Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Oh Susanna (AUS) not entered
January Queen's Plate Kenilworth South Africa Breeders' Cup Mile Legal Eagle (SAF) not entered
February February Stakes Tokyo Japan Breeders' Cup Classic Nonkono Yume (JPN) not entered
April Doncaster Mile Randwick Australia Breeders' Cup Mile Happy Clapper not entered
April Legacy Stakes Randwick Australia Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Alizee (AUS) not entered
May Gran Premio Criadores Palermo Argentina Breeders' Cup Distaff Sinfonia Fantastica (ARG) not entered
May Gran Premio Club Hipico Falabella Santiago Chile Breeders' Cup Mile Nuevo Maestro (CHI) not entered
May Gran Premio 25 de Mayo San Isidro Argentina Breeders' Cup Turf La Extrana Dama (ARG) not entered
May Shoemaker Mile Santa Anita California Breeders' Cup Mile Hunt (IRE) ill[6]
June Yasuda Kinen Tokyo Japan Breeders' Cup Mile Mozu Ascot not entered
June Ogden Phipps Stakes Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Distaff Abel Tasman pre-entered
June Jaipur Invitational Stakes Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Disco Partner pre-entered
June Metropolitan Handicap Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile Bee Jersey retired due to injury[7]
June Grande Prêmio Brasil Hipódromo da Gávea Brazil Breeders' Cup Turf Quarteto De Cordas (BRZ) pre-entered
June Stephen Foster Handicap Churchill Downs Kentucky Breeders' Cup Classic Pavel pre-entered
June Fleur de Lis Handicap Churchill Downs Kentucky Breeders' Cup Distaff Blue Prize (ARG) pre-entered
June Queen Anne Stakes Ascot England Breeders' Cup Mile Accidental Agent (GB) not entered
June Prince of Wales's Stakes Ascot England Breeders' Cup Turf Poet's Word (IRE) injured[8]
June Norfolk Stakes Ascot England Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint Shang Shang Shang pre-entered
June Diamond Jubilee Stakes Ascot England Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Merchant Navy (AUS) not entered
June Gran Premio Pamplona Monterrico Peru Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Smart Choice (ARG) pre-entered
June Takarazuka Kinen Hanshin Japan Breeders' Cup Turf Mikki Rocket (JPN) not entered
June Highlander Stakes Woodbine Canada Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Long On Value not entered
June Princess Rooney Handicap Gulfstream Park Florida Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint Stormy Embrace pre-entered
July Belmont Sprint Championship Stakes Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Sprint Limousine Liberal pre-entered
July King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes Ascot England Breeders' Cup Turf Poet's Word (IRE) injured[9]
July Bing Crosby Handicap Del Mar California Breeders' Cup Sprint Ransom the Moon not entered
July Haskell Invitational Monmouth New Jersey Breeders' Cup Classic Good Magic retired[10]
July Clement L. Hirsch Stakes Del Mar California Breeders' Cup Distaff Unique Bella retired due to injury[11]
August Sussex Stakes Goodwood England Breeders' Cup Mile Lightning Spear (GB) pre-entered
August Whitney Handicap Saratoga New York Breeders' Cup Classic Diversify bypassed[12]
August Arlington Million Arlington Illinois Breeders' Cup Turf Robert Bruce (CHI) pre-entered
August Beverly D. Stakes Arlington Illinois Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Sistercharlie (IRE) won
August Prix Jacques le Marois Deauville France Breeders' Cup Mile Alpha Centauri (IRE) retired due to injury[13]
August Pacific Classic Del Mar California Breeders' Cup Classic Accelerate won
August Del Mar Handicap Del Mar California Breeders' Cup Turf Fashion Business (GB) not entered
August Juddmonte International York England Breeders' Cup Turf Roaring Lion pre-entered in Classi
August Yorkshire Oaks York England Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Sea of Class (IRE) not entered
August Nunthorpe Stakes York England Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Alpha Delphini (GB) not entered
August Personal Ensign Stakes Saratoga New York Breeders' Cup Distaff Abel Tasman pre-entered
August Ballerina Stakes Saratoga New York Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint Marley's Freedom pre-entered
August Forego Stakes Saratoga New York Breeders' Cup Sprint Whitmore pre-entered
August Sword Dancer Saratoga New York Breeders' Cup Turf Glorious Empire (IRE) pre-entered
August Pat O'Brien Handicap Del Mar California Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile Catalina Cruiser pre-entered
September Spinaway Stakes Saratoga New York Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Sippican Harbor pre-entered
September Juvenile Stakes Leopardstown Ireland Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Madhmoon (IRE) not entered
September Matron Stakes Leopardstown Ireland Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Laurens (FR) bypassed[14]
September Irish Champion Stakes Leopardstown Ireland Breeders' Cup Turf Roaring Lion pre-entered in Classic[15]
September Iroquois Stakes Churchill Downs Kentucky Breeders' Cup Juvenile Cairo Cat not entered
September Pocahontas Stakes Churchill Downs Kentucky Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Serengeti Empress pre-entered
September Woodbine Mile Woodbine Canada Breeders' Cup Mile Oscar Performance pre-entered
September Moyglare Stud Stakes Curragh Ireland Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Skitter Scatter not entered
September Flying Five Stakes Curragh Ireland Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Havana Grey (GB) pre-entered
September Natalma Stakes Woodbine Canada Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf La Pelosa (IRE) pre-entered
September Summer Stakes Woodbine Canada Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Fog of War not entered
September Rockfel Stakes Newmarket England Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Just Wonderful pre-entered
September Royal Lodge Stakes Newmarket England Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Mohawk (IRE) not entered
September Vosburgh Stakes Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Sprint Imperial Hint pre-entered
September Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Turf Channel Maker pre-entered
September Jockey Club Gold Cup Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Classic Discreet Lover pre-entered
September FrontRunner Stakes Santa Anita California Breeders' Cup Juvenile Game Winner won
September Chandelier Stakes Santa Anita California Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Bellafina pre-entered
September Rodeo Drive Stakes Santa Anita California Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Vasilika not entered
September Awesome Again Stakes Santa Anita California Breeders' Cup Classic Accelerate won
September Sprinters Stakes Nakayama Japan Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Fine Needle (JPN) not entered
September Zenyatta Stakes Santa Anita California Breeders' Cup Distaff Vale Dori (ARG) pre-entered
October Phoenix Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Sprint Promises Fulfilled pre-entered
October Alcibiades Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Restless Rider pre-entered
October First Lady Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf A Raving Beauty (GER) pre-entered
October Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint Golden Mischief pre-entered
October Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Mile Next Shares pre-entered
October Breeders' Futurity Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Juvenile Knicks Go pre-entered
October Champagne Stakes Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Juvenile Complexity pre-entered
October Speakeasy Stakes Santa Anita California Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint It's Gonna Hurt pre-entered
October Santa Anita Sprint Championship Santa Anita California Breeders' Cup Sprint Roy H won
October Prix de l'Opéra Longchamp France Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Wild Illusion pre-entered
October Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère Longchamp France Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Royal Marine not entered
October Prix Marcel Boussac Longchamp France Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Lily's Candle (FR) pre-entered
October Indian Summer Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint Strike Silver pre-entered
October Bourbon Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Current pre-entered
October Spinster Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Distaff Blue Prize pre-entered
October Belmont Futurity Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint Uncle Benny pre-entered
October Frizette Stakes Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Jaywalk won
October Flower Bowl Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Fourstar Crook pre-entered
October Jessamine Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Concrete Rose pre-entered

See also

References

  1. ↑ "18 Breeders' Cup Challenge Series Features 82 Races in 12 Countries Awarding Automatic Berths, Travel and Paid Entry Fees Into World Championships". www.breederscup.com. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  2. ↑ "The Breeders' Cup Challenge". www.breederscup.com. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  3. ↑ "Breeders' Cup Adds Three Challenge Races for New Race". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  4. ↑ Angst, Frank. "Record 221 Pre-Entries for 2018 Breeders' Cup". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  5. ↑ "2018 BC Pre-entries" (PDF). bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  6. ↑ "Hunt Declared from BC Mile as Divisidero Draws In". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
  7. ↑ "Grade 1 Winner Bee Jersey Retired With Tendon Injury". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  8. ↑ "Poet's Word Out for Remainder of Year Due to Injury". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  9. ↑ "Poet's Word Out for Remainder of Year Due to Injury". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  10. ↑ "Champion Good Magic Retired to Hill 'n' Dale Farms". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  11. ↑ "Grade 1 Winner Unique Bella Retired From Racing". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  12. ↑ "Diversify to skip Breeders' Cup Classic, per owner Ralph Evans". live.drf.com. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  13. ↑ "Alpha Centauri and Saxon Warrior Retired With Injuries". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  14. ↑ "Laurens to Bypass Breeders' Cup". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  15. ↑ "Breeders' Cup Classic Bid an Option for Roaring Lion". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
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