Breeders' Cup Challenge | Horse Racing Free Tips

Gulfstream Won’t Run Princess Rooney Invitational In 2020

The Grade 2 Princess Rooney Invitational won't be held at Gulfstream Park in 2020, the Daily Racing Form reported Monday. Earlier this year, the Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” race for the Filly & Mare Sprint was rescheduled from the first week in July to Sept. 5 and the purse increased to $300,000.

“We had it all planned out, moving the date to a more attractive spot on the calendar in relation to the division, changing the distance back to six furlongs, raising the purse,” Gulfstream vice president of racing Mike Lakow told drf.com. “Then Covid hit and Churchill moved the Derby as well as their Grade 1 filly and mare sprint to the same day.”

Lakow expects to bring the Princess Rooney back in 2021, with the goal of rebuilding it into a Grade 1 race.

The Grade 3 Smile Sprint will still be run, but its purse will be reduced to $100,000 this year.

Weekend Lineup: Enable, Maximum Security Return To Racing

TVG will be live on site at Del Mar covering a loaded weekend of racing featuring seven stakes races from Friday through Sunday including the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap, which will feature 2019 Eclipse Award winner Maximum Security in his first start since joining the barn of Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert.

On Saturday morning, international racing fans can also tune into TVG to watch champion Enable (GB) make a bid for a historic third win in the Group 1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes from Ascot. The race is scheduled for 10:35 a.m. ET. The King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes is part of the “Win and You're In” Breeders' Cup Challenge Series and the winner will earn an automatic berth in the Breeders' Cup Turf.

TVG will also be broadcasting racing from Gulfstream Park, Laurel Park, Monmouth Park and more all weekend.

Saratoga Live, the critically-acclaimed and award-winning television program, will feature more than 210 hours of live programming from Saratoga, which runs through September 7. Saratoga Live will appear each racing day beginning at 1 p.m. ET on FOX Sports and MSG Networks and offer full-card coverage of a Saratoga meet offering. The daily schedule can be found at https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule.

Friday July 24

5:46 p.m.—$100,000 Grade 3 Quick Call Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on FS2

A field of eight sophomore colts will assemble for the 11th running of the Quick Call going 5 ½ furlongs over the Mellon turf. Trainer Doug O'Neill will send out three-time stakes winner Fore Left for as he searches for his first triumph on grass. The bay son of Twirling Candy last raced when finishing a distant ninth in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes to Tiz the Law, which came after a victory in the Group 3 UAE 2000 Guineas at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai. Fore Left has recorded one start over grass, which came in the Grade 3 Cecil DeMille on December 1 at Del Mar at the distance of one mile.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SAR072420USA9-EQB.html

Saturday July 25

2:03 p.m.—$125,000 Grade 3 Marine Stakes at Woodbine on TVG

A key prep on the road to this year's Queen's Plate, the 1 1/16-mile main track Marine has attracted some noteworthy Canadian-breds hoping for a spot in the Plate starting gate. John Oxley's homebred Lucky Curlin chases his second straight win, this time in the Marine, after a sharp score on June 14 at Woodbine. The Mark Casse trainee, in his ninth career start and first test on the Toronto oval Tapeta, rallied from fifth at the stretch call of the seven-furlong race to win by a length under Kazushi Kimura.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/WO072520CAN3-EQB.html

2:18 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 2 Ballston Spa Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on FS2

Champion Sistercharlie (IRE) will kick off her 2020 campaign in the 32nd running of the Ballston Spa for older fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles over the Mellon turf course. Trained by Chad Brown and owned by Peter Brant, Sistercharlie has put together a sensational record that includes seven Grade 1 triumphs while boasting $3,662,003 in lifetime earnings. In 2018, the daughter of Myboycharlie (IRE) earned the Eclipse Award for Champion Turf Female after winning all four of her Grade 1 efforts that year. She has not raced since November, finishing third to Iridessa (IRE) in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Santa Anita.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SAR072520USA3-EQB.html

4:53 p.m.—$125,000 Grade 3 Selene Stakes at Woodbine on TVG

Ten Broeck Farm's Owlette, a bay daughter of Frac Daddy, goes after her fourth Woodbine stakes crown in the Selene. The Wesley Ward trainee took last year's Shady Well and Victorian Queen, and then added another stakes title to her record with a win in this year's Star Shoot on June 13. Owlette will be tested by six other rivals, including the Casse trio of American Tap, Diamond Sparkles, and Two Sixty.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/WO072520CAN8-EQB.html

6:16 p.m.—$250,000 Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap at Saratoga Race Course on FS1

Six-time graded stakes-winner Whitmore will return to historic Saratoga Race Course for the first time since winning the 2018 Grade 1 Forego when the veteran son of Pleasantly Perfect looks to notch his third consecutive victory in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt on Saturday. Whitmore enters the Vanderbilt off back-to-back wins in the Hot Springs – which he captured for the fourth consecutive time – and a three-quarter length score last out in the Grade 3 Count Fleet Sprint in April at Oaklawn Park. Among those he will face is Mr. Amore Stable's Firenze Fire, who has four wins in his last five starts dating to November.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SAR072520USA10-EQB.html

9 p.m.—$150,000 Grade 2 San Clemente Stakes at Del Mar on TVG

The likely favorite in the $150,000 San Clemente is Gary Barber's Laura's Light, a bay daughter of Constitution who has won four of her six lifetime starts and comes into the turf test off a tally in the Grade 3 Honeymoon Stakes at Santa Anita on May 30. Laura's Light's chief rivals appear to be a pair of stakes winners in Benjamin and Sally Warren's Warren's Showtime, who'll be handled by regular rider Jorge Velez, and the Florida shipper Cheermeister, who is owned by Teresa and David Palmer and gets the saddle services of Victor Espinoza.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/DMR072520USA9-EQB.html

9:30 p.m.—$150,000 Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar on TVG

The presence of champion Maximum Security didn't deter the connections of six other horses from entering for the 79th running of the 1 1/16-mile main track event that has often served as a stepping stone to the Grade 1 Pacific Classic. Maximum Security, a 4-year-old son of New Year's Day, enters the race with eight wins in 10 starts and earnings of $11.8 million dollars. Last year the bay colt was first under the wire before becoming the first disqualification in Kentucky Derby history, but posted three subsequent wins to secure the Eclipse Award as 3-year-old champion. In his only 2020 start, Maximum Security won the inaugural $20 million Saudi Cup on February 29 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/DMR072520USA10-EQB.html

Sunday July 26

4:23 p.m.—$125,000 Grade 3 Seagram Cup Stakes at Woodbine on TVG

Grade 2 Eclipse Stakes winner Skywire, runner-up Avie's Flatter, and third-place finisher Mr Ritz will reunite when they square off in Sunday's Seagram Cup Stakes. Trainer Josie Carroll will look to win her second straight Seagram crown when she sends out a pair of multiple stakes winners in Avie's Flatter and Mr Ritz, who took last year's running of the 1 1/16-mile main track race for three-year-olds and upward. The graded stakes victors meet up again with four-year-old Skywire, the Mark Casse trainee who pulled off a 17-1 upset in the Eclipse on July 4 at Woodbine.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/WO072620CAN7-EQB.html

5:46 p.m.—$150,000 Grade 2 Bernard Baruch Handicap at Saratoga Race Course on FS2

Harrell Ventures' two-time stakes winner Halladay has done nothing but improve in his last two starts and will attempt to maintain his good form when taking on five others, including four stakes winners, in Sunday's 61st running of the Bernard Baruch for 3-year-olds and upward over the inner turf. Trained by Todd Pletcher, who saddled Dominus to a Bernard Baruch score in 2012, Halladay arrives at Sunday's test off a gate-to-wire triumph in the Sunshine Forever over a firm turf at Gulfstream Park, where he registered a career-best 103 Beyer Speed Figure over eventual Grade 1-winner Aquaphobia and stablemate Social Paranoia, who won the Grade 3 Poker at Belmont Park two starts later.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SAR072620USA9-EQB.html

8:30 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes at Del Mar on TVG

Multiple graded stakes winner United aims to keep his recent hot streak going when he heads up a field of seven entered in the Eddie Read Stakes going 1 1/8-miles on the turf. Trained by Hall of Famer Richard Mandella, United is 2-for-2 thus far in 2020 having earned victories in the Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes and the Grade 2 Charlie Whittingham Stakes. The Giant's Causeway gelding has not been worse than third in his last seven starts and fell just a head short of eventual Horse of the Year Bricks and Mortar in the 2019 Breeders' Cup Turf.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/DMR072620USA8-EQB.html

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Breeders’ Cup Announces 16 Challenge Series Races For August

Headlined by two automatic qualifiers for the $7 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) and three “Win and You're In” starting positions at York's Ebor Festival in Britain, the Breeders' Cup today announced its August schedule of races as part of the 2020 Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.

The Breeders' Cup Challenge, now in its 14th year, is an international series of stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid for a corresponding race in the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which is scheduled to be held this year on Nov. 6-7 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky.

There will be 16 Breeders' Cup Challenge races in August, beginning on Aug. 1 with two races at Saratoga Race Course and one at Del Mar. Saratoga will host the 1 1/8-mile Whitney (G1), which will give the winner an automatic starting position into the 1 ¼-mile, $7 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic, as well as the 1 1/8-mile Personal Ensign (G1), providing the winner with a “Win and You're In” for the 1 1/8-mile, $2 million Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1). Later that day at Del Mar, the second automatic berth into the $2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) will be awarded to the winner of the 6-furlong Bing Crosby Stakes (G1). The following day, Aug. 2, Del Mar will host its “Win and You're In” for the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff, the 1 1/16-mile Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (G1).

On Aug. 8, the first “Win and You're In” for a spot in the 7-furlong, $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) will be on the line in the 7-furlong Ballerina Stakes (G1) at Saratoga.

One week later, on Aug. 15 at Saratoga, the winner of the 1 ¼-mile Alabama Stakes (G1), for 3-year-old fillies, will earn a free bid into the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff. The Alabama will be televised live on NBC as a part of the “Breeders' Cup Challenge Series Win and You're In – presented by America's Best Racing.”

The scene will then shift to Europe for the next four Breeders' Cup Challenge races. On Aug. 16, France's historic racing venue, Deauville, will host the 1-mile Prix du Haras de Fresnay-Le Buffard – Jacques Le Marois (G1), granting an automatic berth into the 1-mile, $2 million TVG Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) on turf.

On Aug. 19 in Great Britain, York Racecourse will open its Yorkshire Ebor Festival, which will be home to three Breeders' Cup Challenge Series races. On the first day of the meet, the 1 ¼-mile Juddmonte International Stakes (G1) will offer Europe's only free berth into the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic. On Aug. 20, fillies and mares will be in spotlight for the 1 ½-mile Darley Yorkshire Oaks (G1), with the winner awarded a free spot in the 1 3/16-mile, $2 million Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1). A “Win and You're In” position for the 5 ½-furlong, $1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1) will be at stake the following day, Aug. 21, in the 5-furlong Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes (G1).

Back in the U.S., three Breeders' Cup Challenge races will be held on Aug. 22. Saratoga will host the 1-mile Fourstardave (G1), earning the winner a free spot in the TVG Breeders' Cup Mile. Del Mar will host two Breeders' Cup Challenge races: the 1 ¼-mile TVG Pacific Classic (G1) for the year's sixth automatic berth into the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic, and the 1 3/8-mile Del Mar Handicap – presented by the Japan Racing Association (G2), a “Win and You're In” for the $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1).

On Aug. 23, the second “Win and You're In” for the 5 ½ -furlong, $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2) will be offered at Deauville in the 6-furlong Darley Prix Morny (G1) for 2-year-olds.

The month of Challenge Series races will close with two events on Aug. 29: the 1 ½-mile Sword Dancer (G1) at Saratoga for a free berth into the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf, and the 7-furlong Pat O'Brien Stakes (G2) at Del Mar, which offers an automatic starting position into the 1-mile, $2 million Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1).

As part of the enhanced benefits to horsemen competing in the series, Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees and guarantee a starting position in a corresponding Championships race for winners of all Challenge races. The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders' Cup program by the Championships' pre-entry deadline of Oct. 26 to receive the rewards, and those rewards must be used in the year they are earned.

Breeders' Cup also will provide a $10,000 travel allowance for starters within North America that are stabled outside of Kentucky, and a $40,000 travel stipend to the connections of all Championship starters from outside of North America.

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‘Arguably The Best Horse In The World’: Midnight Bisou Ready For Next Saturday’s Fleur De Lis

Bloom Racing Stable, Madaket Stables and Allen Racing's 2019 Eclipse Award-winner Midnight Bisou completed her most serious preparation for next Saturday's $200,000 Fleur de Lis presented by Coca-Cola (Grade II) with a swift six-furlong move in 1:12 Monday morning at Churchill Downs.

Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, Midnight Bisou has been well-traveled throughout her career with five Grade I victories and runner-up efforts in last year's $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff (GI) and February's $20 million Saudi Cup.

“Her training before we went to Saudi was just mindboggling,” Asmussen said. “It's just like it is now. We still wonder how she's able to do it so easily and so consistently. Her works at Churchill have been beautiful. I was very tempted to run her in the (June 13) Ogden Phipps (GI) and leaving She's a Julie for the Fleur de Lis. I feel like with what she's done – traveling to Saudi, taking on older boys and everyone knows the trip she got and knows the circumstances… how do you have an adjective what she is and what she means to racing? Coming back, the next race isn't the goal for this year. The Breeders' Cup is. She is arguably the best horse in the world.”

Midnight Bisou's 20-race career has been nothing short of spectacular. The now 5-year-old mare began her career on the 2018 Road to the Kentucky Oaks with victories in the $200,000 Santa Ynez (GII), $100,000 Santa Ysabel (GIII) and $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks (GI) with previous trainer Bill Spawr. Midnight Bisou finished third behind Monomoy Girl in the 2018 Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI).

Under the care of Asmussen, Bisou reeled off victories in the $250,000 Mother Goose (GII), $1 million Cotillion (GI), $300,000 Houston Ladies Classic (GIII), $350,000 Azeri (GII), $750,000 Apple Blossom (GI), $700,000 Ogden Phipps (GI), $150,000 Molly Pitcher (GIII), $700,000 Personal Ensign (GI) and $300,000 Beldame (GII).

Midnight Bisou is slated to take on 2019 Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI) winner Serengeti Empress in the Fleur de Lis, which is part of a quartet of stakes next Saturday at Churchill Downs along with the $400,000 Stephen Foster presented by Coca-Cola (GII), $100,000 Regret presented by TwinSpires.com (GIII) and $100,000 Bashford Manor presented by TwinSpires.com (GIII).

The Fleur de Lis is a Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In Distaff Division” race while the Stephen Foster is a Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In Classic Division” event. This year's Breeders' Cup is scheduled for Nov. 6-7 at Keeneland.

Nominations for all four races are available online at www.churchilldowns.com/horsemen/stakes/nominations.

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