A sextet of expenses-paid berths in the Breeders' Cup World Championships are up for grabs this weekend as the racing action heats up across the country. Graded stakes at Churchill Downs, Belmont Park, and Woodbine Racetrack are on the “Win and You're In” list, along with a quartet of MATCH Series stakes being held at Laurel Park on Saturday.
Kicking off the Breeders' Cup Challenge races will be the Jockey Club Derby Invitational at Belmont Park, which features Belmont Derby winner Bolshoi Ballet returning stateside for trainer Aidan O'Brien. The Galileo colt ran fourth last out in the Saratoga Derby, but the stretch out to 1 1/2 miles should suit him well.
The G1 Woodbine Mile winner will earn a spot in the starting gate for the Breeders' Cup Mile, and the $1 million race has drawn a contentious group of 10. Turf maestro Chad Brown will send out Raging Bull, while dual Hall of Famer Mark Casse plans to saddle a three-pronged attack led by Ride A Comet. Brad Cox sends Set Piece north of the border with the red-hot Joel Rosario to pick up the mount.
The other four Breeders' Cup Challenge races offer slots to 2-year-olds on Future Stars Friday: Churchill's G3 Pocahontas to the Juvenile Fillies, Churchill's G3 Iroquois to the Juvenile, Woodbine's G1 Summer to the Juvenile Turf, and Woodbine's G1 Natalma to the Juvenile Fillies Turf.
Check out the full schedule of stakes action here:
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