2021 Breeders' Cup Challenge series explained

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

Summary

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]

Challenge Series races

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]

MonthRaceTrackLocationDivisionWinnerStatus
DecemberGran Premio Internacional Carlos PellegriniSan IsidroArgentinaBreeders' Cup TurfCool Day (ARG)bypass
JanuaryPaddock StakesKenilworthSouth AfricaBreeders' Cup Filly & Mare TurfQueen Supreme (IRE)pre-entered
JanuaryQueen's PlateKenilworthSouth AfricaBreeders' Cup MileJet Dark (SAF)bypass
FebruaryFebruary StakesTokyoJapanBreeders' Cup ClassicCafe Pharaohbypass
MayGran Premio CriadoresPalermoArgentinaBreeders' Cup DistaffBlue Stripe (ARG)pre-entered
MaySantiagoChile Breeders' Cup MileSucceso (CHI)bypass
MayTokyoJapanBreeders' Cup Filly & Mare TurfGran Alegria (JPN)bypass
MaySanta AnitaCalifornia Breeders' Cup MileSmooth Like Straightpre-entered
JuneJaipur StakesBelmont ParkNew YorkBreeders' Cup Turf SprintCasa Creedpre-entered
JuneBelmont ParkNew YorkBreeders' Cup DistaffLetruskapre-entered
JuneMetropolitan HandicapBelmont ParkNew YorkBreeders' Cup Dirt MileSilver Statepre-entered
JuneYasuda KinenTokyoJapanBreeders' Cup MileDanon Kingly (JPN)bypass
JuneQueen Anne StakesRoyal AscotEnglandBreeders' Cup MilePalace Pier (GB)retired[4]
JunePrince of Wales's StakesRoyal AscotEnglandBreeders' Cup TurfLove IREpre-entered
JuneNorfolk StakesRoyal AscotEnglandBreeders' Cup Juvenile Turf SprintPerfect Power (IRE)bypass
JuneDiamond Jubilee StakesRoyal AscotEnglandBreeders' Cup Turf SprintDream of Dreams (IRE)bypass
JuneFleur de Lis HandicapChurchill DownsKentuckyBreeders' Cup DistaffLetruskapre-entered
JuneChurchill DownsKentuckyBreeders' Cup ClassicMaxfieldbypass[5]
JuneMonterricoPeruBreeders' Cup Filly & Mare TurfReina de Mollendopre-entered
JuneTakarazuka KinenHanshinJapanBreeders' Cup TurfChrono Genesis (JPN)bypass
JulyGulfstream ParkFloridaBreeders' Cup Filly & Mare SprintCe Cepre-entered
JulyBelmont ParkNew YorkBreeders' Cup ClassicMax Playerpre-entered
JulyBelmont ParkNew York Breeders' Cup SprintMind Controlbypass
JulyHaskell InvitationalNew JerseyBreeders' Cup ClassicMandalouninjured[6]
JulyAscotEnglandBreeders' Cup TurfAdayar (IRE)bypass
JulySussex StakesGoodwoodEnglandBreeders' Cup MileAlcohol Free (IRE)bypass
JulyDel MarCaliforniaBreeders' Cup SprintDr. Schivelpre-entered
AugustDel MarCaliforniaBreeders' Cup DistaffShedaresthedevilpre-entered
AugustWhitney HandicapNew YorkBreeders' Cup ClassicKnicks Gopre-entered
AugustFourstardave HandicapSaratoga New YorkBreeders' Cup MileGot Stormypre-entered
AugustPrix Jacques Le MaroisFrance Breeders' Cup MilePalace Pier (GB)retired
AugustJuddmonte InternationalEnglandBreeders' Cup ClassicMishriff (IRE)bypass[7]
AugustEngland Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turfbypass
AugustNunthorpe StakesEnglandBreeders' Cup Turf SprintWinter Power (IRE)bypass
AugustDel MarCaliforniaBreeders' Cup ClassicTripolipre-entered
AugustDel MarCaliforniaBreeders' Cup TurfAstronautpre-entered
AugustDeauvilleFranceBreeders' Cup Juvenile Turf SprintPerfect Power (IRE)bypass
AugustPersonal Ensign StakesNew YorkBreeders' Cup DistaffLetruskapre-entered
AugustNew YorkBreeders' Cup Filly & Mare SprintGaminepre-entered
AugustNew YorkBreeders' Cup TurfGufopre-entered
AugustDel MarCaliforniaBreeders' Cup Dirt MileGinobilipre-entered
SeptemberSaratogaNew YorkBreeders' Cup ClassicMax Playerpre-entered
SeptemberSaratogaNew York Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare TurfWar Like Goddesspre-entered
SeptemberKentucky DownsKentuckyBreeders' Cup TurfImperador (ARG)withdrawn[8]
SeptemberLeopardstownIrelandBreeders' Cup TurfSt Mark's Basilica (FR)retired[9]
SeptemberKentucky DownsKentuckyBreeders' Cup Turf SprintGear Jockeypre-entered
SeptemberLeopardstownIrelandBreeders' Cup Juvenile TurfAtomic Jones (FR)bypass
SeptemberLeopardstownIreland Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare TurfNo Speak Alexander (IRE)bypass
SeptemberCurraghIrelandBreeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies TurfDiscoveries (IRE)bypass
SeptemberCurraghIrelandBreeders' Cup Turf SprintRomantic Proposal (IRE)bypass
SeptemberIroquois StakesChurchill DownsKentuckyBreeders' Cup JuvenileMajor Generalbypass
SeptemberChurchill DownsKentuckyBreeders' Cup Juvenile FilliesHidden Connectionpre-entered
SeptemberBelmontNew YorkBreeders' Cup TurfYibir (GB)pre-entered
SeptemberWoodbineCanada Breeders' Cup MileTown Cruisebypass
SeptemberWoodbineCanadaBreeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies TurfWild Beauty (GB)bypass
SeptemberWoodbineCanadaBreeders' Cup Juvenile TurfAlbahr (GB)pre-entered
SeptemberRockfel StakesEnglandBreeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies TurfHello You (IRE)pre-entered
SeptemberEnglandBreeders' Cup Juvenile TurfRoyal Patronage (FR)bypass
OctoberSanta AnitaCaliforniaBreeders' Cup JuvenileCornichepre-entered
OctoberSanta AnitaCaliforniaBreeders' Cup Juvenile FilliesAin't Easypre-entered
OctoberSpeakeasy StakesSanta AnitaCaliforniaBreeders' Cup Juvenile Turf SprintOne Timerpre-entered
OctoberBelmont ParkNew YorkBreeders' Cup JuvenileJack Christopherpre-entered
SeptemberSanta AnitaCalifornia Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare TurfGoing to Vegaspre-entered
OctoberSanta AnitaCaliforniaBreeders' Cup ClassicMedina Spiritpre-entered
OctoberSanta AnitaCaliforniaBreeders' Cup SprintDr. Schivelpre-entered
OctoberBelmont ParkNew YorkBreeders' Cup Juvenile FilliesEcho Zulupre-entered
OctoberSanta AnitaCaliforniaBreeders' Cup DistaffPrivate Missionpre-entered
OctoberPrix de l'Abbaye de LongchampLongchampFranceBreeders' Cup Turf SprintA Case of You (IRE)pre-entered
OctoberPrix de l'OpéraLongchampFranceBreeders' Cup Filly & Mare TurfRougir (FR)pre-entered
OctoberFranceBreeders' Cup Juvenile TurfAngel Bleu (FR)bypass
OctoberFrance Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies TurfZellie (FR)bypass
OctoberPrix de l'Arc de TriompheLongchampFranceBreeders' Cup TurfTorquator Tasso (GER)bypass
OctoberKeenelandKentuckyBreeders' Cup SprintSpecial Reservepre-entered
OctoberKeenelandKentuckyBreeders' Cup Juvenile FilliesJuju's Mappre-entered
OctoberKeenelandKentuckyBreeders' Cup JuvenileRattle N Rollpre-entered
OctoberKeenelandKentuckyBreeders' Cup Filly & Mare TurfBlowout (GB)bypass
OctoberKeenelandKentuckyBreeders' Cup Filly & Mare SprintBell's the Onebypass
SeptemberBelmont ParkNew YorkBreeders' Cup SprintFollowing Seapre-entered
OctoberKeenelandKentucky Breeders' Cup MileIn Love (BRZ)pre-entered
OctoberKeenelandKentuckyBreeders' Cup Juvenile Turf SprintAverly Janepre-entered
OctoberKeenelandKentucky Breeders' Cup Juvenile TurfTiz the Bombpre-entered
OctoberKeenelandKentuckyBreeders' Cup Distaffpre-entered
OctoberBelmont ParkNew YorkBreeders' Cup Juvenile Turf SprintSlipstreampre-entered
OctoberKeenelandKentuckyBreeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies TurfCalifornia Angelpre-entered
OctoberAscotEngland Breeders' Cup TurfSealiway (FR)bypass
OctoberAscotEngland Breeders' Cup MileBaaeed (GB)bypass

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2021 Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series Features 84 Races in 10 Countries, Awarding Automatic Starting Positions Into World Championships at Del Mar Breeders' Cup . www.breederscup.com . 24 October 2021 . en.
  2. Web site: Breeders' Cup pre-entries see record overseas support . www.bloodhorse.com . 28 October 2021.
  3. Web site: Complete list of 2021 Breeders' Cup pre-entries . www.bloodhorse.com . 28 October 2021.
  4. Web site: Palace Pier retired to Dalham Hall Stud . www.bloodhorse.com . 24 October 2021.
  5. Web site: 2021 Breeders' Cup Classic: Maxfield declared out, along with Dr Post, Happy Saver . www.drf.com . 24 October 2021 . en.
  6. Web site: Mandaloun will miss fall races . BloodHorse.com . 28 October 2021.
  7. Web site: Mishriff needs rest, will skip Breeders' Cup . www.bloodhorse.com . 24 October 2021.
  8. Web site: Imperador among early withdrawals . BloodHorse.com . 28 October 2021.
  9. Web site: St Mark's Basilica retired to stud . www.bloodhorse.com . 24 October 2021.