2017 Breeders' Cup Challenge series explained

The 2017 Breeders' Cup Challenge series provided winners of the designated races an automatic "Win and You're In" Berth in the 2017 Breeders' Cup. Races were chosen by the Breeders' Cup organization and included key prep races in the various Breeders' Cup divisions from around the world.

Summary

On April 12, 2017, the Breeders Cup organization announced that the 2017 Breeders' Cup Challenge would consist of 81 races from 13 countries. Compared to the 2016 Challenge Series, three races were added: the Belmont Sprint Championship Stakes, the Highlander Stakes and the First Lady Stakes.[1] The Gold Cup at Santa Anita, Belmont Oaks and Canadian Stakes were discontinued from the series.

Fifty pre-entrants in the 2017 Breeders' Cup qualified via the Challenge series, which was particularly important as seven of the Breeders' Cup races were oversubscribed. A maximum of 14 horses (12 in the Turf Sprint) are allowed to start in each race. Winners of the Challenge races are given automatic entries, while other pre-entries are ranked by a points system and the judgement of a panel of experts.[2] [3]

A few challenge series winners could not compete at the 2017 Breeders' Cup due to injury or retirement. Two-time Eclipse Award winner Songbird qualified for the Distaff by winning the Ogden Phipps Stakes but was retired in August due to injury. [4] Bal a Bali, winner of the Shoemaker Mile Stakes, was retired in October because he was not training at a high enough level.[5] Ulysses was a late scratch due to an ankle injury.[6]

Five winners of Challenge series races went on to win their respective division at the Breeders' Cup:

Winners

The winners of the 2017 Breeders' Cup Challenge series races are shown below.[7] [8] The last column shows if the winner was subsequently pre-entered in the corresponding Breeders' Cup race[9] and if so, whether they finished in the top three positions.[10] [11]

MonthRaceTrackLocationDivisionWinnerBC Status
JanuaryPaddock StakesKenilworthSouth AfricaBreeders' Cup Filly & Mare TurfBela Belanot entered
JanuaryQueen's PlateKenilworthSouth AfricaBreeders' Cup MileLegal Eaglenot entered
FebruaryFebruary StakesTokyoJapanBreeders' Cup ClassicGold Dreamnot entered
AprilDoncaster MileRandwickAustraliaBreeders' Cup MileIt's Somewhatnot entered
AprilTJ Smith StakesRandwickAustraliaBreeders' Cup Turf SprintChautauquanot entered
AprilQueen of the Turf StakesRandwickAustraliaBreeders' Cup Filly & Mare TurfFoxplaynot entered
MayGran Premio CriadoresPalermoArgentinaBreeders' Cup DistaffKiriakinot entered
MaySan IsidroArgentinaBreeders' Cup TurfSixties Songnot entered
MaySantiagoChile Breeders' Cup MileTop Casablancanot entered
JuneSanta AnitaCalifornia Breeders' Cup MileBal a Baliinjured
JuneYasuda KinenTokyoJapanBreeders' Cup MileSatono Aladdinnot entered
JuneBelmont ParkNew YorkBreeders' Cup DistaffSongbirdinjured
JuneMetropolitan HandicapBelmont ParkNew YorkBreeders' Cup Dirt MileMor Spiritentered
JuneHipódromo da GáveaBrazilBreeders' Cup TurfVoador Mageenot entered
JuneChurchill DownsKentuckyBreeders' Cup ClassicGun Runnerwon
JuneFleur de Lis HandicapChurchill DownsKentuckyBreeders' Cup DistaffForever Unbridledwon
JuneMonterricoPeruBreeders' Cup Filly & Mare TurfBirdie Goldentered
JuneTakarazuka KinenHanshinJapanBreeders' Cup TurfSatono Crownnot entered
JulyGulfstream ParkFloridaBreeders' Cup Filly & Mare SprintCurlin's Approvalentered
JulySmile Sprint HandicapGulfstream Park FloridaBreeders' Cup SprintImperial Hintsecond
JulyWoodbineCanadaBreeders' Cup Turf SprintGreen Masknot entered
JulyBelmont ParkNew York Breeders' Cup SprintMind Your Biscuitsthird
JulyDel MarCaliforniaBreeders' Cup SprintRansom the Moonentered
JulyAscotEnglandBreeders' Cup TurfEnablenot entered
JulyHaskell InvitationalNew JerseyBreeders' Cup ClassicGirvinnot entered
JulyDel MarCaliforniaBreeders' Cup DistaffStellar Windentered
AugustSussex StakesGoodwoodEnglandBreeders' Cup MileHere Comes Whennot entered
AugustWhitney HandicapNew YorkBreeders' Cup ClassicGun Runnerwon
AugustArlingtonIllinois Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare TurfDacitaentered
AugustArlingtonIllinoisBreeders' Cup TurfBeach Patrolsecond
AugustDel MarCaliforniaBreeders' Cup ClassicCollectedsecond
AugustDel MarCaliforniaBreeders' Cup TurfHuntentered
AugustPrix Jacques Le MaroisFrance Breeders' Cup MileAl Wukairnot entered
AugustJuddmonte InternationalEnglandBreeders' Cup TurfUlyssesscratched
AugustEngland Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare TurfEnablenot entered
AugustNunthorpe StakesEnglandBreeders' Cup Turf SprintMarshaentered
AugustPersonal Ensign StakesNew YorkBreeders' Cup DistaffForever Unbridledwon
AugustNew YorkBreeders' Cup Filly & Mare SprintBy the Moonentered
AugustNew YorkBreeders' Cup TurfSadler's Joyentered
AugustNew YorkBreeders' Cup SprintDrefongentered
AugustDel MarCaliforniaBreeders' Cup Dirt MileGiant Expectationsentered
SeptemberT. Von Zastrow StutenpreisBaden-BadenGermany Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare TurfAshiananot entered
SeptemberSaratogaNew YorkBreeders' Cup Juvenile FilliesLady Ivankascratched
SeptemberGrosser Preis von BadenBaden-Baden GermanyBreeders' Cup TurfGuignolnot entered
SeptemberLeopardstownIrelandBreeders' Cup Juvenile TurfNelsonwithdrawn[12]
SeptemberLeopardstownIreland Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare TurfHydrangeanot entered
SeptemberLeopardstownIrelandBreeders' Cup TurfDecorated Knightentered
SeptemberCurraghIrelandBreeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies TurfHappilyentered
SeptemberCurraghIrelandBreeders' Cup Turf SprintCaravaggio not entered
SeptemberChurchill DownsKentuckyBreeders' Cup Juvenile FilliesPatrona Margaritanot entered
SeptemberIroquois StakesChurchill DownsKentuckyBreeders' Cup JuvenileThe Tabulatorentered
SeptemberWoodbineCanada Breeders' Cup MileWorld Approvalwon
SeptemberWoodbineCanadaBreeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies TurfCapla Temptressentered
SeptemberWoodbineCanadaBreeders' Cup Juvenile TurfUntamed Domainsecond
SeptemberRockfel StakesEnglandBreeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies TurfJuliet Capuletentered
SeptemberEnglandBreeders' Cup Juvenile TurfRoaring Lionnot entered
SeptemberBelmont ParkNew YorkBreeders' Cup SprintTakafulentered
SeptemberJoe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational StakesBelmont ParkNew YorkBreeders' Cup TurfBeach Patrolsecond
SeptemberSanta AnitaCaliforniaBreeders' Cup JuvenileBolt d'Orothird
SeptemberSanta AnitaCaliforniaBreeders' Cup DistaffParadise Woodsthird
SeptemberSanta AnitaCaliforniaBreeders' Cup Juvenile FilliesMoonshine Memoriesentered
SeptemberSanta AnitaCalifornia Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare TurfAvengeentered
SeptemberSanta AnitaCaliforniaBreeders' Cup ClassicMubtaahijentered
SeptemberNakayamaJapan Breeders' Cup Turf SprintRed Falxnot entered
OctoberPrix de l'OpéraChantillyFranceBreeders' Cup Filly & Mare TurfRhododendronsecond
OctoberFranceBreeders' Cup Juvenile TurfHappilyentered Fillies Turf
OctoberFrance Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies TurfWild Illusionnot entered
OctoberKeenelandKentuckyBreeders' Cup SprintWhitmoreentered
OctoberKeenelandKentuckyBreeders' Cup Juvenile FilliesHeavenly Loveentered
OctoberBelmont ParkNew YorkBreeders' Cup JuvenileFirenze Fireentered
OctoberBelmont ParkNew YorkBreeders' Cup ClassicDiversifywithdrawn[13]
OctoberKeenelandKentuckyBreeders' Cup Filly & Mare TurfZipessaentered
OctoberKeenelandKentuckyBreeders' Cup Filly & Mare SprintFinley'sluckycharmentered
OctoberKeenelandKentucky Breeders' Cup MileSuedoisentered
OctoberKeenelandKentuckyBreeders' Cup JuvenileFree Drop Billyentered
OctoberSanta AnitaCaliforniaBreeders' Cup SprintRoy Hwon
OctoberBelmont ParkNew York Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare TurfWar Flagentered
OctoberBelmont ParkNew YorkBreeders' Cup Juvenile FilliesSeparationofpowersentered
OctoberKeenelandKentucky Breeders' Cup Juvenile TurfFlameawayentered
OctoberKeenelandKentuckyBreeders' Cup DistaffRomantic Visionentered
OctoberKeenelandKentuckyBreeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies TurfRushing Fallwon

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Del Mar to Host Five Breeders' Cup Challenge Races During Summer Meeting. www.dmtc.com. 12 April 2017. en.
  2. Web site: Nine Previous Winners Pre-Entered in 2017 Breeders' Cup. BloodHorse.com. 26 October 2017. en.
  3. Web site: ARROGATE, GUN RUNNER, STELLAR WIND, HIGHLAND REEL (IRE), ULYSSES (IRE), LADY ELI AND BOLT D’ORO LEAD 187 HORSES PRE-ENTERED FOR 2017 BREEDERS’ CUP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS AT DEL MAR Breeders' Cup. www.breederscup.com. 26 October 2017. en.
  4. Web site: Champion Songbird Retired. BloodHorse.com. 27 October 2017. en.
  5. Web site: Bal a Bali Retired to Calumet Farm. BloodHorse.com. 27 October 2017. en.
  6. Web site: Ulysses Scratched From Breeders' Cup Turf. BloodHorse.com. 4 November 2017. en.
  7. Web site: Breeders' Cup Challenge Races - North American winners. www.bloodhorse.com. 26 October 2017. en.
  8. Web site: Breeders' Cup Challenge. www.drf.com. 26 October 2017. en.
  9. Web site: Breeders' Cup Pre-entries for 2017. BloodHorse.com. 26 October 2017.
  10. Web site: Charts for the 2017 Breeders Cup - Friday. Equibase. 4 November 2017.
  11. Web site: Charts for the 2017 Breeders Cup - Saturday. Equibase. 4 November 2017.
  12. Web site: Nelson Likely Done Racing for the Year. BloodHorse.com. 4 November 2017. en.
  13. Web site: Diversify to Skip Breeders' Cup Classic. BloodHorse.com. 30 October 2017. en.