2019 Breeders' Cup Challenge series
# 2019 Breeders' Cup Challenge series

The 2019 Breeders' Cup Challenge series consisted of 86 horse races that provided the respective winners with an automatic "Win and You're In" Berth in the 2019 Breeders' Cup, held on November 1 and 2. Races were chosen by the Breeders' Cup organization and included key races in the various Breeders' Cup divisions from around the world. The Breeders' Cup organization paid the Breeders' Cup entry fee for the challenge race winners, provided they had been nominated as foals.

## Summary

The 2019 Breeders' Cup Challenge series consisted of 86 races, 64 of which were Grade/Group One, from across 11 countries. There were 7 new races from the 2018 Series: the Gran Premio International Carlos Pellegrini (Turf), Prix Morny (Juvenile Turf Sprint), Fourstardave (Mile), Jockey Club Derby (Turf), the Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint (Turf Sprint), Cotillion (Distaff), Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp (Turf Sprint) and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Turf). The following races were removed from the series: Doncaster Mile, Legacy Stakes, Gran Premio 25 de Mayo, Highlander, Forego, Spinaway, and Joe Hirsch Turf Classic. The International Stakes, formerly a qualifier for the Turf, became the first ever European qualifier for the Classic.

On October 21, fifty of the Challenge race winners were pre-entered in one or more of the Breeders' Cup races. Shortly before entries were taken, Magical – a leading contender in the Turf – was retired after spiking a fever.

Entries were taken on October 28. Several challenge race winners opted to enter a different division of the Breeders' Cup. For example, Omaha Beach, who qualified for the Sprint by winning the Santa Anita Sprint Championship, was instead entered in the Dirt Mile. Conversely, Catalina Cruiser and Mitole qualified for the Dirt Mile but instead were entered in the Sprint. Uni ran in the Mile instead of the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf. Elate was entered in the Classic after qualifying in the Distaff.

On Friday, two automatic qualifiers won their respective division of the Breeders' Cup. On Saturday, there were another three:

* Four Wheel Drive, who qualified by winning the Belmont Futurity, won the Juvenile Turf Sprint
* British Idiom, winner of the Alcibiades, also won the Juvenile Fillies
* Iridessa, who qualified by winning the Matron Stakes, won the Filly and Mare Turf
* Blue Prize won the Distaff after qualifying in the Spinster
* Bricks and Mortar qualified by winning the Arlington Million and then won the Turf

Mitole, who qualified for the Dirt Mile by winning the Metropolitan Handicap, won the Sprint. Uni won the Mile after qualifying in the First Lady Stakes for the Filly and Mare Turf.

## Challenge Series races

The following table shows the Breeders' Cup Challenge races for 2019 and the respective winners. The status column shows whether the horse was subsequently entered in the corresponding Breeders' Cup race, and whether they finished in the money.

| Month | Race | Track | Location | Division | Winner | Status |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| December | Gran Premio Internacional Carlos Pellegrini | San Isidro | Argentina | Breeders' Cup Turf | Il Mercato (ARG) | bypass |
| January | Paddock Stakes | Kenilworth | South Africa | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf | Oh Susanna (AUS) | bypass |
| January | Queen's Plate | Kenilworth | South Africa | Breeders' Cup Mile | Do It Again (SAF) | bypass |
| February | February Stakes | Tokyo | Japan | Breeders' Cup Classic | Inti (JPN) | bypass |
| May | Gran Premio Criadores | Palermo | Argentina | Breeders' Cup Distaff | Entropia (ARG) | bypass |
| May | Gran Premio Club Hipico Falabella | Santiago | Chile | Breeders' Cup Mile | Tamburo Di Oro | bypass |
| May | Shoemaker Mile | Santa Anita | California | Breeders' Cup Mile | Bolo | scratched |
| June | Yasuda Kinen | Tokyo | Japan | Breeders' Cup Mile | Indy Champ | bypass |
| June | Jaipur Invitational | Belmont Park | New York | Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint | World of Trouble | retired |
| June | Ogden Phipps Stakes | Belmont Park | New York | Breeders' Cup Distaff | Midnight Bisou | second |
| June | Metropolitan Handicap | Belmont Park | New York | Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile | Mitole | won Sprint |
| June | Grande Prêmio Brasil | Hipódromo da Gávea | Brazil | Breeders' Cup Turf | George Washington (BRZ) | bypass |
| June | Fleur de Lis Handicap | Churchill Downs | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Distaff | Elate | fourth in Classic |
| June | Stephen Foster Handicap | Churchill Downs | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Classic | Seeking the Soul | ran |
| June | Queen Anne Stakes | Royal Ascot | England | Breeders' Cup Mile | Lord Glitters (FR) | ran |
| June | Prince of Wales's Stakes | Royal Ascot | England | Breeders' Cup Turf | Crystal Ocean (GB) | bypass |
| June | Norfolk Stakes | Royal Ascot | England | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint | A'Ali (IRE) | ran |
| June | Diamond Jubilee Stakes | Royal Ascot | England | Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint | Blue Point (IRE) | retired |
| June | Takarazuka Kinen | Hanshin | Japan | Breeders' Cup Turf | Lys Gracieux | bypass |
| June | Gran Premio Pamplona | Monterrico | Peru | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf | Gracia Divina | bypass |
| June | Princess Rooney Handicap | Gulfstream Park | Florida | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint | Stormy Embrace | bypass |
| July | John A. Nerud | Belmont Park | New York | Breeders' Cup Sprint | Promises Fulfilled | bypass |
| July | Haskell Invitational | Monmouth | New Jersey | Breeders' Cup Classic | Maximum Security | bypass |
| July | King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes | Ascot | England | Breeders' Cup Turf | Enable | bypass |
| July | Bing Crosby Handicap | Del Mar | California | Breeders' Cup Sprint | Cistron | bypass |
| July | Clement L. Hirsch Stakes | Del Mar | California | Breeders' Cup Distaff | Ollie's Candy | fourth |
| July | Sussex Stakes | Goodwood | England | Breeders' Cup Mile | Too Darn Hot | bypass |
| August | Whitney Handicap | Saratoga | New York | Breeders' Cup Classic | McKinzie | second |
| August | Beverly D. Stakes | Arlington | Illinois | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf | Sistercharlie | third |
| August | Arlington Million | Arlington | Illinois | Breeders' Cup Turf | Bricks and Mortar | won |
| August | Fourstardave Handicap | Saratoga | New York | Breeders' Cup Mile | Got Stormy | second |
| August | Prix Jacques Le Marois | Deauville | France | Breeders' Cup Mile | Romanised (IRE) | bypass |
| August | Pacific Classic | Del Mar | California | Breeders' Cup Classic | Higher Power | third |
| August | Del Mar Handicap | Del Mar | California | Breeders' Cup Turf | Acclimate | ran |
| August | Prix Morny | Deauville | France | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint | Earthlight | bypass |
| August | Juddmonte International | York | England | Breeders' Cup Classic | Japan | bypass |
| August | Yorkshire Oaks | York | England | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf | Enable | bypass |
| August | Nunthorpe Stakes | York | England | Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint | Battaash | bypass |
| August | Personal Ensign Stakes | Saratoga | New York | Breeders' Cup Distaff | Midnight Bisou | second |
| August | Ballerina Stakes | Saratoga | New York | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint | Come Dancing | ran |
| August | Sword Dancer | Saratoga | New York | Breeders' Cup Turf | Annals of Time | bypass |
| August | Pat O'Brien Handicap | Del Mar | California | Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile | Catalina Cruiser | ran in Sprint |
| September | Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint | Kentucky Downs | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint | Totally Boss | ran |
| September | Jockey Club Derby | Belmont | New York | Breeders' Cup Turf | Spanish Mission | bypass |
| September | Juvenile Stakes | Leopardstown | Ireland | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf | Mogul | bypass |
| September | Matron Stakes | Leopardstown | Ireland | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf | Iridessa (IRE) | won |
| September | Irish Champion Stakes | Leopardstown | Ireland | Breeders' Cup Turf | Magical (IRE) | retired |
| September | Iroquois Stakes | Churchill Downs | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Juvenile | Dennis' Moment | ran |
| September | Pocahontas Stakes | Churchill Downs | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies | Lazy Daisy | ran |
| September | Woodbine Mile | Woodbine | Canada | Breeders' Cup Mile | El Tormenta | ran |
| September | Moyglare Stud Stakes | Curragh | Ireland | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf | Love | bypass |
| September | Flying Five Stakes | Curragh | Ireland | Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint | Fairyland (IRE) | bypass |
| September | Natalma Stakes | Woodbine | Canada | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf | Abscond | ran |
| September | Summer Stakes | Woodbine | Canada | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf | Decorated Invader | fourth |
| September | Cotillion Stakes | PARX | Pennsylvania | Breeders' Cup Distaff | Street Band | ran |
| September | American Pharoah Stakes | Santa Anita | California | Breeders' Cup Juvenile | Eight Rings | ran |
| September | Chandelier Stakes | Santa Anita | California | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies | Bast | third |
| September | Rockfel Stakes | Newmarket | England | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf | Daahyeh (GB) | second |
| September | Royal Lodge Stakes | Newmarket | England | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf | Royal Dornoch (IRE) | bypass |
| September | Vosburgh Stakes | Belmont Park | New York | Breeders' Cup Sprint | Imperial Hint | scratched |
| September | Jockey Club Gold Cup | Belmont Park | New York | Breeders' Cup Classic | Code of Honor | ran |
| September | Rodeo Drive Stakes | Santa Anita | California | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf | Mirth | ran |
| September | Awesome Again Stakes | Santa Anita | California | Breeders' Cup Classic | Mongolian Groom | entered |
| September | Sprinters Stakes | Nakayama | Japan | Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint | Tower of London (JPN) | bypass |
| September | Zenyatta Stakes | Santa Anita | California | Breeders' Cup Distaff | Paradise Woods | ran |
| October | Phoenix Stakes | Keeneland | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Sprint | Engage | fourth |
| October | Alcibiades Stakes | Keeneland | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies | British Idiom | won |
| October | First Lady Stakes | Keeneland | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf | Uni (GB) | won the Mile |
| October | Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes | Keeneland | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint | Spiced Perfection | fourth |
| October | Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes | Keeneland | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Mile | Bowies Hero | ran |
| October | Breeders' Futurity Stakes | Keeneland | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Juvenile | Maxfield | injured |
| October | Champagne Stakes | Belmont Park | New York | Breeders' Cup Juvenile | Tiz the Law | bypass |
| October | Santa Anita Sprint Championship | Santa Anita | California | Breeders' Cup Sprint | Omaha Beach | second in Dirt Mile |
| October | Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp | Longchamp | France | Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint | Glass Slippers (GB) | bypass |
| October | Prix de l'Opéra | Longchamp | France | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf | Villa Marina (GB) | ran |
| October | Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère | Longchamp | France | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf | Victor Ludorum (GB) | bypass |
| October | Prix Marcel Boussac | Longchamp | France | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf | Albigna (Ire) | fourth |
| October | Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe | Longchamp | France | Breeders' Cup Turf | Waldgeist (GB) | bypass |
| October | Indian Summer Stakes | Keeneland | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint | Kimari | fourth |
| October | Bourbon Stakes | Keeneland | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf | Peace Achieved | ran |
| October | Spinster Stakes | Keeneland | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Distaff | Blue Prize (ARG) | won |
| October | Belmont Futurity | Belmont Park | New York | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint | Four Wheel Drive | won |
| October | Frizette Stakes | Belmont Park | New York | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies | Wicked Whisper | ran |
| October | Flower Bowl | Belmont Park | New York | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf | Sistercharlie (IRE) | third |
| October | Speakeasy Stakes | Santa Anita | California | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint | El Tigre Terrible | bypass |
| October | Jessamine Stakes | Keeneland | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf | Sweet Melania | third |

## Television coverage

For the 2019 Breeders' Cup Challenge, NBCSN will produce 11 live broadcasts, covering more than 20 of the races in North America. The races will also be live streamed. This is in addition to NBC's coverage of the American Triple Crown series and Royal Ascot, the latter of which has four Breeders' Cup Challenge races.

