2021 Breeders' Cup Challenge series

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]

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 Gran Premio Club Hipico Falabella Santiago Chile Breeders' Cup Mile Succeso (CHI) bypass
May Victoria Mile Tokyo Japan Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Gran Alegria (JPN) bypass
May Shoemaker Mile 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 Ogden Phipps Stakes 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 Stephen Foster Handicap Churchill Downs Kentucky Breeders' Cup Classic Maxfield bypass[5]
June Gran Premio Pamplona 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 Princess Rooney Handicap Gulfstream Park Florida Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint Ce Ce pre-entered
July Suburban Stakes Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Classic Max Player pre-entered
July John A. Nerud Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Sprint Mind Control bypass
July Haskell Invitational Monmouth New Jersey Breeders' Cup Classic Mandaloun injured[6]
July King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes Ascot England Breeders' Cup Turf Adayar (IRE) bypass
July Sussex Stakes Goodwood England Breeders' Cup Mile Alcohol Free (IRE) bypass
July Bing Crosby Handicap Del Mar California Breeders' Cup Sprint Dr. Schivel pre-entered
August Clement L. Hirsch Stakes Del Mar California Breeders' Cup Distaff Shedaresthedevil pre-entered
August Whitney Handicap Saratoga 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 Deauville France Breeders' Cup Mile Palace Pier (GB) retired
August Juddmonte International York England Breeders' Cup Classic Mishriff (IRE) bypass[7]
August Yorkshire Oaks York England Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Snowfall bypass
August Nunthorpe Stakes York England Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Winter Power (IRE) bypass
August Pacific Classic Del Mar California Breeders' Cup Classic Tripoli pre-entered
August Del Mar Handicap Del Mar California Breeders' Cup Turf Astronaut pre-entered
August Prix Morny Deauville France Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint Perfect Power (IRE) bypass
August Personal Ensign Stakes Saratoga New York Breeders' Cup Distaff Letruska pre-entered
August Ballerina Stakes Saratoga New York Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint Gamine pre-entered
August Sword Dancer Saratoga New York Breeders' Cup Turf Gufo pre-entered
August Pat O'Brien Handicap Del Mar California Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile Ginobili pre-entered
September Jockey Club Gold Cup Saratoga New York Breeders' Cup Classic Max Player pre-entered
September Flower Bowl Saratoga New York Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf War Like Goddess pre-entered
September Calumet Turf Cup Kentucky Downs Kentucky Breeders' Cup Turf Imperador (ARG) withdrawn[8]
September Irish Champion Stakes Leopardstown Ireland Breeders' Cup Turf St Mark's Basilica (FR) retired[9]
September Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint Kentucky Downs Kentucky Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Gear Jockey pre-entered
September Juvenile Stakes Leopardstown Ireland Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Atomic Jones (FR) bypass
September Matron Stakes Leopardstown Ireland Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf No Speak Alexander (IRE) bypass
September Moyglare Stud Stakes Curragh Ireland Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Discoveries (IRE) bypass
September Flying Five Stakes Curragh Ireland Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Romantic Proposal (IRE) bypass
September Iroquois Stakes Churchill Downs Kentucky Breeders' Cup Juvenile Major General bypass
September Pocahontas Stakes Churchill Downs Kentucky Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Hidden Connection pre-entered
September Jockey Club Derby Belmont New York Breeders' Cup Turf Yibir (GB) pre-entered
September Woodbine Mile Woodbine Canada Breeders' Cup Mile Town Cruise bypass
September Natalma Stakes Woodbine Canada Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Wild Beauty (GB) bypass
September Summer Stakes Woodbine Canada Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Albahr (GB) pre-entered
September Rockfel Stakes Newmarket England Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Hello You (IRE) pre-entered
September Royal Lodge Stakes Newmarket England Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Royal Patronage (FR) bypass
October American Pharoah Stakes Santa Anita California Breeders' Cup Juvenile Corniche pre-entered
October Chandelier Stakes 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 Champagne Stakes Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Juvenile Jack Christopher pre-entered
September Rodeo Drive Stakes Santa Anita California Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Going to Vegas pre-entered
October Awesome Again Stakes Santa Anita California Breeders' Cup Classic Medina Spirit pre-entered
October Santa Anita Sprint Championship Santa Anita California Breeders' Cup Sprint Dr. Schivel pre-entered
October Frizette Stakes Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Echo Zulu pre-entered
October Zenyatta Stakes 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 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère Longchamp France Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Angel Bleu (FR) bypass
October Prix Marcel Boussac Longchamp 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 Phoenix Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Sprint Special Reserve pre-entered
October Alcibiades Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Juju's Map pre-entered
October Breeders' Futurity Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Juvenile Rattle N Roll pre-entered
October First Lady Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Blowout (GB) bypass
October Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint Bell's the One bypass
September Vosburgh Stakes Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Sprint Following Sea pre-entered
October Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Mile In Love (BRZ) pre-entered
October Indian Summer Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint Averly Jane pre-entered
October Bourbon Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Tiz the Bomb pre-entered
October Spinster Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Distaff Letruska pre-entered
October Belmont Futurity Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint Slipstream pre-entered
October Jessamine Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf California Angel pre-entered
October Champion Stakes Ascot England Breeders' Cup Turf Sealiway (FR) bypass
October Queen Elizabeth II Stakes Ascot England Breeders' Cup Mile Baaeed (GB) bypass

See also

References

  1. ^ "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. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  2. ^ "Breeders' Cup pre-entries see record overseas support". www.bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  3. ^ "Complete list of 2021 Breeders' Cup pre-entries". www.bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  4. ^ "Palace Pier retired to Dalham Hall Stud". www.bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  5. ^ "2021 Breeders' Cup Classic: Maxfield declared out, along with Dr Post, Happy Saver". www.drf.com. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  6. ^ "Mandaloun will miss fall races". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  7. ^ "Mishriff needs rest, will skip Breeders' Cup". www.bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  8. ^ "Imperador among early withdrawals". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  9. ^ "St Mark's Basilica retired to stud". www.bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 24 October 2021.