Headlined by three automatic qualifiers for the $7-million GI Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic and three “Win and You’re In” starting positions at York’s Ebor Festival in Britain, the Breeders’ Cup announced its August schedule of Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series races Wednesday.
There will be 16 Breeders’ Cup Challenge races in August, beginning Aug. 1 with two races at Saratoga Race Course and one at Del Mar. Saratoga will host the GI Whitney S., which will give the winner an automatic berth into Classic, as well as the GI Personal Ensign S., providing the winner a spot in the starting gate for the $2-million GI Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Later that day at Del Mar, the second automatic berth into the $2-million GI Breeders’ Cup Sprint will be awarded to the winner of the GI Bing Crosby S. The following day, Aug. 2, Del Mar will host its “Win and You’re In” for the Distaff, the GI Clement L. Hirsch S.
The rest of the August schedule with corresponding Breeders’ Cup events are as follows: the Aug. 8 GI Ballerina S. at Saratoga (Filly & Mare Sprint), Aug. 15 GI Alabama S. at Saratoga (Distaff), Aug. 16 G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville in France (Mile), Aug. 19 G1 Juddmonte International S. at York in Great Britain (Classic), Aug. 20 G1 Darley Yorkshire Oaks at York (Filly & Mare Turf), Aug. 21 G1 Coolmore Nunthorpe S. at York (Turf Sprint), Aug. 22 GI Fourstardave H. at Saratoga (Mile), GI TVG Pacific Classic (Classic) and GII Del Mar H. (Turf) at Del Mar, Aug. 23 G1 Darley Prix Morny at Deauville (Juvenile Turf Sprint), Aug. 29 GI Sword Dancer Invitational S. at Saratoga (Turf) and GII Pat O’Brien S. at Del Mar (Dirt Mile).
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