The 2021 Breeders' Cup Challenge series consisted of 84 horse races that provided the respective winners with an automatic "Win and You're In" Berth in the 2021 Breeders' Cup, held on November 5 and 6. Races were chosen by the Breeders' Cup organization and include key races in the various Breeders' Cup divisions from around the world. The Breeders' Cup organization pays the Breeders' Cup entry fee for the challenge race winners, provided they had been nominated as foals. They also provide travel allowances for out of state competitors
The 2021 Breeders' Cup Challenge series consisted of 84 races from across the United States and 9 other countries. The 2021 series marked a return to a more normal racing schedule after the 2020 racing calendar was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and more closely resembles the 2019 series. Two new races were added to the series: the Suburban Stakes, a qualifier for the Classic, and the Calumet Turf Cup, a qualifier for the Turf. In recognition of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act passed in December 2020, the challenge series races did not permit raceday medication.[1]
On October 27, a total of 196 horses were pre-entered in the Breeders' Cup, of which 46 were automatic qualifiers through the challenge races.[2]
The following table shows the Breeders' Cup Challenge races for 2021 and respective winners. The status column shows whether the horse was pre-entered.[3]
Month | Race | Track | Location | Division | Winner | Status | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
December | Gran Premio Internacional Carlos Pellegrini | San Isidro | Argentina | Breeders' Cup Turf | Cool Day (ARG) | bypass | ||||||
January | Paddock Stakes | Kenilworth | South Africa | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf | Queen Supreme (IRE) | pre-entered | ||||||
January | Queen's Plate | Kenilworth | South Africa | Breeders' Cup Mile | Jet Dark (SAF) | bypass | ||||||
February | February Stakes | Tokyo | Japan | Breeders' Cup Classic | Cafe Pharaoh | bypass | ||||||
May | Gran Premio Criadores | Palermo | Argentina | Breeders' Cup Distaff | Blue Stripe (ARG) | pre-entered | ||||||
May | Santiago | Chile | Breeders' Cup Mile | Succeso (CHI) | bypass | |||||||
May | Tokyo | Japan | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf | Gran Alegria (JPN) | bypass | |||||||
May | Santa Anita | California | Breeders' Cup Mile | Smooth Like Straight | pre-entered | |||||||
June | Jaipur Stakes | Belmont Park | New York | Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint | Casa Creed | pre-entered | ||||||
June | Belmont Park | New York | Breeders' Cup Distaff | Letruska | pre-entered | |||||||
June | Metropolitan Handicap | Belmont Park | New York | Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile | Silver State | pre-entered | ||||||
June | Yasuda Kinen | Tokyo | Japan | Breeders' Cup Mile | Danon Kingly (JPN) | bypass | ||||||
June | Queen Anne Stakes | Royal Ascot | England | Breeders' Cup Mile | Palace Pier (GB) | retired[4] | ||||||
June | Prince of Wales's Stakes | Royal Ascot | England | Breeders' Cup Turf | Love IRE | pre-entered | ||||||
June | Norfolk Stakes | Royal Ascot | England | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint | Perfect Power (IRE) | bypass | ||||||
June | Diamond Jubilee Stakes | Royal Ascot | England | Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint | Dream of Dreams (IRE) | bypass | ||||||
June | Fleur de Lis Handicap | Churchill Downs | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Distaff | Letruska | pre-entered | ||||||
June | Churchill Downs | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Classic | Maxfield | bypass[5] | |||||||
June | Monterrico | Peru | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf | Reina de Mollendo | pre-entered | |||||||
June | Takarazuka Kinen | Hanshin | Japan | Breeders' Cup Turf | Chrono Genesis (JPN) | bypass | ||||||
July | Gulfstream Park | Florida | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint | Ce Ce | pre-entered | |||||||
July | Belmont Park | New York | Breeders' Cup Classic | Max Player | pre-entered | |||||||
July | Belmont Park | New York | Breeders' Cup Sprint | Mind Control | bypass | |||||||
July | Haskell Invitational | New Jersey | Breeders' Cup Classic | Mandaloun | injured[6] | |||||||
July | Ascot | England | Breeders' Cup Turf | Adayar (IRE) | bypass | |||||||
July | Sussex Stakes | Goodwood | England | Breeders' Cup Mile | Alcohol Free (IRE) | bypass | ||||||
July | Del Mar | California | Breeders' Cup Sprint | Dr. Schivel | pre-entered | |||||||
August | Del Mar | California | Breeders' Cup Distaff | Shedaresthedevil | pre-entered | |||||||
August | Whitney Handicap | New York | Breeders' Cup Classic | Knicks Go | pre-entered | |||||||
August | Fourstardave Handicap | Saratoga | New York | Breeders' Cup Mile | Got Stormy | pre-entered | ||||||
August | Prix Jacques Le Marois | France | Breeders' Cup Mile | Palace Pier (GB) | retired | |||||||
August | Juddmonte International | England | Breeders' Cup Classic | Mishriff (IRE) | bypass[7] | |||||||
August | England | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf | bypass | |||||||||
August | Nunthorpe Stakes | England | Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint | Winter Power (IRE) | bypass | |||||||
August | Del Mar | California | Breeders' Cup Classic | Tripoli | pre-entered | |||||||
August | Del Mar | California | Breeders' Cup Turf | Astronaut | pre-entered | |||||||
August | Deauville | France | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint | Perfect Power (IRE) | bypass | |||||||
August | Personal Ensign Stakes | New York | Breeders' Cup Distaff | Letruska | pre-entered | |||||||
August | New York | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint | Gamine | pre-entered | ||||||||
August | New York | Breeders' Cup Turf | Gufo | pre-entered | ||||||||
August | Del Mar | California | Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile | Ginobili | pre-entered | |||||||
September | Saratoga | New York | Breeders' Cup Classic | Max Player | pre-entered | |||||||
September | Saratoga | New York | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf | War Like Goddess | pre-entered | |||||||
September | Kentucky Downs | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Turf | Imperador (ARG) | withdrawn[8] | |||||||
September | Leopardstown | Ireland | Breeders' Cup Turf | St Mark's Basilica (FR) | retired[9] | |||||||
September | Kentucky Downs | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint | Gear Jockey | pre-entered | |||||||
September | Leopardstown | Ireland | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf | Atomic Jones (FR) | bypass | |||||||
September | Leopardstown | Ireland | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf | No Speak Alexander (IRE) | bypass | |||||||
September | Curragh | Ireland | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf | Discoveries (IRE) | bypass | |||||||
September | Curragh | Ireland | Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint | Romantic Proposal (IRE) | bypass | |||||||
September | Iroquois Stakes | Churchill Downs | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Juvenile | Major General | bypass | ||||||
September | Churchill Downs | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies | Hidden Connection | pre-entered | |||||||
September | Belmont | New York | Breeders' Cup Turf | Yibir (GB) | pre-entered | |||||||
September | Woodbine | Canada | Breeders' Cup Mile | Town Cruise | bypass | |||||||
September | Woodbine | Canada | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf | Wild Beauty (GB) | bypass | |||||||
September | Woodbine | Canada | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf | Albahr (GB) | pre-entered | |||||||
September | Rockfel Stakes | England | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf | Hello You (IRE) | pre-entered | |||||||
September | England | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf | Royal Patronage (FR) | bypass | ||||||||
October | Santa Anita | California | Breeders' Cup Juvenile | Corniche | pre-entered | |||||||
October | Santa Anita | California | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies | Ain't Easy | pre-entered | |||||||
October | Speakeasy Stakes | Santa Anita | California | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint | One Timer | pre-entered | ||||||
October | Belmont Park | New York | Breeders' Cup Juvenile | Jack Christopher | pre-entered | |||||||
September | Santa Anita | California | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf | Going to Vegas | pre-entered | |||||||
October | Santa Anita | California | Breeders' Cup Classic | Medina Spirit | pre-entered | |||||||
October | Santa Anita | California | Breeders' Cup Sprint | Dr. Schivel | pre-entered | |||||||
October | Belmont Park | New York | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies | Echo Zulu | pre-entered | |||||||
October | Santa Anita | California | Breeders' Cup Distaff | Private Mission | pre-entered | |||||||
October | Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp | Longchamp | France | Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint | A Case of You (IRE) | pre-entered | ||||||
October | Prix de l'Opéra | Longchamp | France | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf | Rougir (FR) | pre-entered | ||||||
October | France | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf | Angel Bleu (FR) | bypass | ||||||||
October | France | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf | Zellie (FR) | bypass | ||||||||
October | Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe | Longchamp | France | Breeders' Cup Turf | Torquator Tasso (GER) | bypass | ||||||
October | Keeneland | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Sprint | Special Reserve | pre-entered | |||||||
October | Keeneland | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies | Juju's Map | pre-entered | |||||||
October | Keeneland | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Juvenile | Rattle N Roll | pre-entered | |||||||
October | Keeneland | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf | Blowout (GB) | bypass | |||||||
October | Keeneland | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint | Bell's the One | bypass | |||||||
September | Belmont Park | New York | Breeders' Cup Sprint | Following Sea | pre-entered | |||||||
October | Keeneland | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Mile | In Love (BRZ) | pre-entered | |||||||
October | Keeneland | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint | Averly Jane | pre-entered | |||||||
October | Keeneland | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf | Tiz the Bomb | pre-entered | |||||||
October | Keeneland | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Distaff | pre-entered | ||||||||
October | Belmont Park | New York | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint | Slipstream | pre-entered | |||||||
October | Keeneland | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf | California Angel | pre-entered | |||||||
October | Ascot | England | Breeders' Cup Turf | Sealiway (FR) | bypass | |||||||
October | Ascot | England | Breeders' Cup Mile | Baaeed (GB) | bypass | |||||||