2016 Breeders' Cup Challenge series

The 2016 Breeders' Cup Challenge series provided winners of the designated races an automatic "Win and You're In" Berth in the 2016 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

A total of seven races were added to the Challenge series in 2016. Four were added in April when the initial announcement was made: the Queen of the Turf (which replaced the Queen Elizabeth Stakes), the Gran Premio Club Hipico Falabella, the Gran Premio Pamplona and the Flying Five Stakes.[1] Three more races from Japan were added in June: the February Stakes, the Yasuda Kinen and the Sprinter Stakes.[2]

Forty-five entrants in the 2016 Breeders' Cup qualified via the Challenge series, which was particularly important in 2016 as seven of the Breeders' Cup races were oversubscribed. A maximum of 14 horses (12 in the Dirt Mile) are allowed to start in each race. Winners of the Challenge races were given automatic entries, while other pre-entries were ranked by a points system and the judgement of a panel of experts.[3]

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

  • Highland Reel, who qualified for the Turf by winning the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II stakes
  • Classic Empire, who won the Breeders' Futurity Stakes to qualify for the Juvenile

A few Challenge series winners could not compete at the Breeders' Cup due to illness, injury or retirement. Exaggerator, who qualified for the Classic by winning the Haskell, was retired in October.[4] Cavorting, who qualified for two Breeders' Cup races, developed some bone bruising and was also retired in October.[5] The Gurkha, who qualified for the Mile by winning the Sussex Stakes, suffered a ruptured colon and was retired.[6] In the Sprint, both Joking and Lord Nelson were scratched due to late injuries.[7]

Winners

The winners of the 2016 Breeders' Cup Challenge series races are shown below.[2][8] The last column shows if the winner was subsequently entered in the corresponding Breeders' Cup race,[9] and if so, whether they achieved a top three placing.[10][7]

Month Race Track Location Division Winner BC Status
January Paddock Stakes Kenilworth South Africa Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Smart Call not entered
January Queen's Plate Kenilworth South Africa Breeders' Cup Mile Legal Eagle not entered
February February Stakes Tokyo Japan Breeders' Cup Classic Moanin not entered
April Doncaster Mile Randwick Australia Breeders' Cup Mile Winx not entered
April TJ Smith Stakes Randwick Australia Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Chautauqua not entered
April Queen of the Turf Stakes Randwick Australia Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Azkadelia not entered
May Gran Premio Criadores Palermo Argentina Breeders' Cup Distaff Corona Del Inca entered
May Gran Premio Club Hipico Falabella Santiago Chile Breeders' Cup Mile Kitcat entered Filly & Mare Turf
May Gran Premio 25 de Mayo San Isidro Argentina Breeders' Cup Turf Don Inc not entered
June Shoemaker Mile Santa Anita California Breeders' Cup Mile Midnight Storm 3rd
June Yasuda Kinen Tokyo Japan Breeders' Cup Mile Logotype not entered
June Ogden Phipps Stakes Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Distaff Cavorting retired
June Metropolitan Handicap Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile Frosted entered Classic
June Grande Prêmio Brasil Hipódromo da Gávea Brazil Breeders' Cup Turf My Cherie Amour not entered
June Stephen Foster Handicap Churchill Downs Kentucky Breeders' Cup Classic Bradester not entered
June Fleur de Lis Handicap Churchill Downs Kentucky Breeders' Cup Distaff Paid Up Subscriber not entered
June The Gold Cup at Santa Anita Santa Anita California Breeders' Cup Classic Melatonin entered
June Takarazuka Kinen Hanshin Japan Breeders' Cup Turf Marialite not entered
June Gran Premio Pamplona Monterrico Peru Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Ryans Charm entered
July Princess Rooney Handicap Gulfstream Park Florida Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint Spelling Again entered
July Smile Sprint Handicap Gulfstream Park Florida Breeders' Cup Sprint Delta Bluesman entered
July Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Catch A Glimpse entered
July King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes Ascot England Breeders' Cup Turf Highland Reel 1st
July Sussex Stakes Goodwood England Breeders' Cup Mile The Gurkha retired
July Clement L. Hirsch Stakes Del Mar California Breeders' Cup Distaff Stellar Wind entered
July Bing Crosby Handicap Del Mar California Breeders' Cup Sprint Lord Nelson scratched
July Haskell Invitational Monmouth New Jersey Breeders' Cup Classic Exaggerator retired
August Whitney Handicap Saratoga New York Breeders' Cup Classic Frosted entered
August Beverly D. Stakes Arlington Illinois Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Sea Calisi entered
August Arlington Million Arlington Illinois Breeders' Cup Turf Mondialiste entered
August Prix Jacques Le Marois Deauville France Breeders' Cup Mile Ribchester not entered
August Juddmonte International York England Breeders' Cup Turf Postponed not entered
August Yorkshire Oaks York England Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Seventh Heaven entered
August Nunthorpe Stakes York England Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Mecca's Angel not entered
August Pacific Classic Del Mar California Breeders' Cup Classic California Chrome 2nd
August Del Mar Handicap Del Mar California Breeders' Cup Turf Ashleyluvssugar entered
August Pat O'Brien Handicap Del Mar California Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile Masochistic not entered
August Personal Ensign Stakes Saratoga New York Breeders' Cup Distaff Haveyougoneaway not entered
August Ballerina Stakes Saratoga New York Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint Cavorting retired
August Sword Dancer Invitational Saratoga New York Breeders' Cup Turf Flintshire 2nd
August Forego Stakes Saratoga New York Breeders' Cup Sprint A.P. Indian entered
September T. Von Zastrow Stutenpreis Baden-Baden Germany Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Parvaneh not entered
September Spinaway Stakes Saratoga New York Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Pretty City Dancer and
Sweet Loretta (dead heat)
not entered
entered
September Grosser Preis von Baden Baden-Baden Germany Breeders' Cup Turf Iquitos not entered
September Matron Stakes Leopardstown Ireland Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Alice Springs entered Mile
September Irish Champion Stakes Leopardstown Ireland Breeders' Cup Turf Almanzor not entered
September Juvenile Turf Stakes Leopardstown Ireland Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Landfall not entered
September Moyglare Stud Stakes Curragh Ireland Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Intricately entered
September Flying Five Stakes Curragh Ireland Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Ardhoomey not entered
September Pocahontas Stakes Churchill Downs Kentucky Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Daddy's Lil Darling entered
September Iroquois Stakes Churchill Downs Kentucky Breeders' Cup Juvenile Not This Time 2nd
September Canadian Stakes Woodbine Canada Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Rainha Da Bateria not entered
September Woodbine Mile Woodbine Canada Breeders' Cup Mile Tepin 2nd
September Natalma Stakes Woodbine Canada Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Victory to Victory scratched
September Summer Stakes Woodbine Canada Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Good Samaritan 3rd
September Rockfel Stakes Newmarket England Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Spain Burg entered
September Royal Lodge Stakes Newmarket England Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Best of Days not entered
October Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Turf Ectot entered
October Vosburgh Stakes Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Sprint Joking scratched
October Awesome Again Stakes Santa Anita California Breeders' Cup Classic California Chrome 2nd
October FrontRunner Stakes Santa Anita California Breeders' Cup Juvenile Gormley entered
October Chandelier Stakes Santa Anita California Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Noted and Quoted entered
October Rodeo Drive Stakes Santa Anita California Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Avenge 3rd
October Zenyatta Stakes Santa Anita California Breeders' Cup Distaff Stellar Wind entered
October Sprinters Stakes Nakayama Japan Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Red Falx not entered
October Prix de l'Opéra Chantilly France Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Speedy Boarding not entered
October Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère Chantilly France Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf National Defense not entered
October Prix Marcel Boussac Chantilly France Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Wuheida not entered
October Alcibiades Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Dancing Rags entered
October Phoenix Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Sprint A. P. Indian entered
October Flower Bowl Invitational Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Lady Eli 2nd
October Champagne Stakes Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Juvenile Practical Joke 3rd
October Frizette Stakes Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Yellow Agate entered
October Jockey Club Gold Cup Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Classic Hoppertunity entered
October Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Mile Miss Temple City entered
October Breeders' Futurity Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Juvenile Classic Empire 1st
October Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint Irish Jasper entered
October Santa Anita Sprint Championship Santa Anita California Breeders' Cup Sprint Lord Nelson scratched
October Bourbon Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Keep Quiet entered
October Spinster Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Distaff I'm a Chatterbox entered
October Jessamine Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf La Coronel entered

References

  1. "2016 Breeders' Cup Challenge Features 59 Grade/Group 1 Races in 12 Countries". breederscup.com. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  2. "Japan Races Added to BC Challenge Series". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  3. "California Chrome, Arrogate, Beholder, Songbird, Found (IRE), and Nyquist Lead 185 Pre-Entered Horses for 2016 Breeders' Cup World Championships at Santa Anita Park". breederscup.com. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  4. "Exaggerator Retired". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  5. "Cavorting Retired From Racing; Joins Broodmare Band At Stonestreet". www.paulickreport.com. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  6. Porteous, Lewis. "Classic and Sussex Stakes winner The Gurkha retired | Horse Racing News | Racing Post". Racing Post. Archived from the original on 24 September 2016. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  7. "Charts for 2016 Breeders' Cup - Saturday". Equibase.com. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
  8. "Breeders' Cup Challenge". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  9. "Complete Breeders' Cup Entries". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  10. "Charts for the 2016 Breeders' Cup - Friday". Equibase.com. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
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