The Breeders' Cup has launched a new monthly digital series, Breeders' Cup Challenge Rundown with Rosie, highlighting international races which are part of the organization's Win and You're In program. The first episode is available now and can be viewed on the Breeders' Cup Facebook and YouTube pages, and World Horse Racing's social platforms.
The new series, produced and promoted by World Horse Racing, will run from July through November, with a final episode produced at Keeneland Race Course previewing the 2022 Breeders' Cup World Championships, Nov. 4 and 5. New episodes will be released at the beginning of each month. Host Rosie Tapner will introduce the top performances from prior Challenge Series races, as well as identify unique storylines based around the Thoroughbred athletes and their connections.
“We are delighted to partner with World Horse Racing to bring international racing fans a lot closer to the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series, and tell the fascinating stories of the people behind these great horses as they are being prepared for this year's World Championships,” said Justin McDonald, Breeders' Cup Chief Marketing Officer. “Among our highest priorities each year is to expand the global reach of the Breeders' Cup, and we look forward to doing that with this new series.”
The Breeders' Cup, one of Thoroughbred racing's most prestigious international events, launches the first episode of a monthly digital series, Breeders' Cup Challenge Rundown with Rosie, highlighting the best races from around the world that are part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In.
The first episode is available now on the Breeders' Cup Facebook and YouTube pages, and World Horse Racing's social platforms.
The new series, produced and promoted by World Horse Racing (WHR), will run from July through November, with a final episode produced at Keeneland Race Course previewing the 2022 Breeders' Cup World Championships, Nov. 4 and 5. New episodes will be released at the beginning of each month.
Host Rosie Tapner will introduce the top performances from prior Challenge Series races, as well as identify unique storylines based around the Thoroughbred athletes and their connections. The show will take place in various locations, connecting that particular episode and key international contenders that are being aimed at the 2022 Breeders' Cup World Championships.
“We are delighted to partner with World Horse Racing to bring international racing fans a lot closer to the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series, and tell the fascinating stories of the people behind these great horses as they are being prepared for this year's World Championships,” said Justin McDonald, Breeders' Cup Chief Marketing Officer. “Among our highest priorities each year is to expand the global reach of the Breeders' Cup, and we look forward to doing that with this new series.”
“World Horse Racing is delighted to be teaming up with Breeders' Cup to create, produce, publish and distribute this new series and amplify the World Championships,” said Geoffrey Riddle, Editorial and Brand Director of World Horse Racing. “With 82 races in 11 countries, the Challenge Series has something for everybody around the world, and Rosie Tapner is an exciting new talent who will resonate worldwide. Our organization was set up in 2018 to grow a global audience, and this show promises to bring the best of horse racing to new frontiers in the lead-up to Keeneland in November.”
The Breeders' Cup Challenge Series, now in its 15th year, will be hosted at many of the world's premier racetracks in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, England, France, Ireland, Japan, Peru, South Africa, and the United States. While the show will have a strong international focus, it will also highlight the domestic Challenge Series races. Last year, 40 Breeders' Cup Challenge winners competed in the World Championships at Del Mar, including five Championship race winners: Knicks Go, $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1); Yibir (GB), $4 million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1); Ce Ce, $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1); Echo Zulu, $2 million NetJets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) and Corniche, $2 million TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1).
Nineteen horses were nominated to the Grade 1 TVG.com Haskell Stakes on Saturday, July 23, at Monmouth Park, including a pair from nine-time winning trainer Bob Baffert, racing secretary John F. Heims announced today.
Baffert, who last won the Haskell Stakes in 2020 with Authentic, nominated Santa Anita Derby winner Taiba and Pinehurst.
Preakness Stakes winner Early Voting, Florida Derby winner White Abarrio, Arkansas Derby winner Cyberknife, Blue Grass Stakes winner Zandon and unbeaten Jack Christopher, who has won a pair of Grade 1 races for trainer Chad Brown, were among the nominations for the 55th edition of the $1 million Haskell Stakes.
Seven of the 19 horses nominated to the Haskell are Grade 1 winners.
The Grade 1 United Nations, part of the stakes-filled Haskell undercard, drew 30 nominations – seven from Brown, including defending champion Tribhuvan. The United Nations, which carries a purse of $600,000, is at a mile and three-eighths on the grass.
The lightly-raced Taiba has been idle since finishing 12th in the Kentucky Derby. Pinehurst won the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity a year ago.
Brown nominated three horses to the Haskell – Early Voting, Jack Christopher and Zandon.
Jack Christopher is 4-for-4 lifetime with wins in the Grade 1 Woody Stephens and the Grade 1 Champagne at 2, though he has yet to try two turns. Zandon was third in the Kentucky Derby.
Trainer Rodolphe Brisset nominated Peter Pan Stakes winner We the People, Western River and Kuchar to the Haskell.
The complete list of nominations for the Haskell Stakes:
Classic heroine Cachet (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}) will be given a break prior to resuming her campaign with an eye to the Breeders' Cup in November, trainer George Boughey announced on Thursday. Fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar, the Highclere Thoroughbred Racing colourbearer resumed with an easy win in the G3 Nell Gwyn S. at Newmarket in April, prior to her victory in the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas S. there on May 1. Second in the French equivalent on May 15, the 'TDN Rising Star' led in the G1 Coronation S. before tiring to fifth at Royal Ascot.
“Cachet is good,” Boughey said. “She's had a busy start to the year. She's basically had four Group 1 races. I would imagine she will be busy through early autumn. She peaked last year at the Breeders' Cup in November, and it's been the plan before the Guineas to try and end up there, so I think it's only fair to her that she has a bit of time away from the yard, so she's off to Fittock Stud with the Cumanis and she will be back in the autumn and raring to go.
“She was very good out there in America and she likes the soft mile. Ascot was just a bit searching for her with the hill. At Newmarket you can freewheel for a big part of the race so she could go back there for the [G1] Sun Chariot [S. on Oct. 1] or possibly the [G1 Prix de la] Foret on Arc Day [Oct. 2] before the Breeders' Cup. America is the main target.”
