Avenging her only defeat, Stud Wall Street's 4-year-old Samay cruised to a seven-length victory in Sunday's 1 1/4-mile Gran Premio Pamplona (G1) at Hipodromo de Monterrico in Lima, Peru.
With this win, the daughter of Power World gained an automatic starting position and fees paid into the $2-million Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) in November at Santa Anita via the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In.
Samay joins Make It Snappy, winner of the Cartier Paddock Stakes (G1) in South Africa, and Songline, who won the Victoria Mile (G1) in Japan, as the first runners to earn free starting positions into this year's Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.
Samay, trained by Juan Suarez and ridden by Carlos Herrera, improved her record to nine wins in 10 starts, with her only defeat coming in last year's Gran Premio Pamplona, when she finished third.
In Sunday's race, Samay broke alertly from post 3 as the 5-1 favorite in a field of 13 fillies and mares. She was reserved off the pace by Herrera through the first six furlongs, while Stud Dos G's 4-year-old Raika, who finished second in last year's race, prompted the early pace after breaking on top and opening a four-length lead over Abundancia through the first 800 meters. Approaching the far turn, Samay moved up smoothly along the inside, while Abundancia took a brief lead over the Raika at the top of the lane. Then suddenly, Herrera shifted Samay off the rail and into another gear and the filly responded with a formidable surge, rolling past Abundancia and drawing off to an impressive finish. Abundancia held on for second, with Raika finishing third.
Samay completed the 1 1/4 miles in 2:01.22 over a course listed as firm. She has won four consecutive races, including her first group stakes win in the May 28 Clasico Republica Argentina (G3) her previous start.
The Breeders' Cup Challenge Series is an international series of 80 Graded/Group stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, scheduled to be held Nov. 3-4 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California.
As a part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for Samay to start in the Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, which will be run at 1 1/4 miles at Santa Anita. Breeders' Cup will also provide a travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships. The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders' Cup program by the pre-entry deadline of Oct. 23 to receive the rewards.
The Grand Premio Pamplona was the fifth and final Breeders' Cup Challenge Series race in South America for the 2023 season. The season's South American Challenge races and winners appear below.
| Race Date | Track | Race Name | Distance | BCWC Division | Winner |
| 12/17/22 | SIS | Gran Premio International Carlos Pellegrini Stakes (G1) | 1 1/2 Miles (T) | Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) | The Punisher (ARG) |
| 5/1/23 | PAL | Gran Premio Criadores (G1) | 1 1/4 Miles | Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) | Belleza de Arteaga (ARG) |
| 5/29/23 | CHS | Gran Premio Club Hípico Falabella (G1) | 1 1/4 Miles (T) | FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) | Lukka (CHI) |
| 6/18/23 | GVA | Grande Premio Brasil (G1) | 1 1/2 Miles (T) | Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) | Raptor's (BRZ) |
| 6/28/23 | MON | Gran Premio Pamplona (G1) | 1 1/4 Miles (T) | Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) | Samay (PER) |
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