Breeders' Cup | Horse Racing Free Tips

Breeders’ Cup Announces Challenge Series Races for September and October

Led by the 145th GI Preakness S., the G1 Irish Champion S. and G1 Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, a total of 44 automatic berths into the 37th Breeders’ Cup World Championships will be up for grabs over the next two months as Breeders’ Cup Ltd. released its schedule of Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series races for September and October.

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 Nov. 6-7 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky.

“Win and You’re In” qualifiers will be contested in Brazil, Canada, England, Ireland, France and the U.S. over the September-October time frame, including 27 Grade or Group 1 stakes.

Among the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series racing highlights are:

Three “Win and You’re In” automatic qualifiers for the $7-million GI Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, featuring the Preakness at Pimlico Oct. 3, the first Triple Crown race to be in the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series. Bookended around the Preakness are the GI Awesome Again S. Sept. 26 at Santa Anita Park and the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park Oct. 10.

The complete Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series schedule can be accessed here.

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.

The post Breeders’ Cup Announces Challenge Series Races for September and October appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Preakness Stakes To Offer Automatic Starting Position In Breeders’ Cup Classic

Officials of the Breeders' Cup and The Stronach Group today announced that the winner of the 145th Preakness Stakes (G1) for 3-year-olds on Oct. 3 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore will earn an automatic starting position into the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). The announcement marks the first time that a Triple Crown race will be a part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.

The Breeders' Cup Challenge is an international series of stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into corresponding races of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, scheduled to be held this year on Nov. 6-7 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky. The $7 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic, contested at 1 ¼ miles, will be run on Saturday, Nov. 7.

Both the Preakness, run at 1 3/16 miles, and the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic, will be broadcast live on NBC.

“We are delighted to join The Stronach Group and the Maryland Jockey Club in welcoming the Preakness to this year's Breeders' Cup Challenge Series, and that we will be able to provide the winning connections with an added incentive to run in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic,” said Drew Fleming, Breeders' Cup President and CEO. “As a foundation race of the Triple Crown, and the premier event in the proud history of Maryland racing, we look forward to working together with The Stronach Group, and our partners at NBC Sports, to promote an exciting fall season for Thoroughbred racing.”

“The events of 2020 have for all of us been about responding to unforeseen challenges and making the best of them,” said Craig Fravel, Chief Executive Officer, Racing Operations, 1/ST. “Many of those challenges including the changes to the Triple Crown have been unwelcome but becoming part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series is most welcome and a fitting finale to the three-year-old season as the horses and their connections make their way to Baltimore for the last leg of the Triple Crown. We look forward to hosting the best of America's three-year-old horses on October 3 at the Preakness and to enjoying their success thereafter in the Breeders' Cup Classic.”

“With terrific racing ahead, we're excited that the two biggest events of the fall months will be further connected with the Preakness Stakes winner earning a coveted berth in the Breeders' Cup Classic,” said Jon Miller, President of Programming for NBC and NBCSN.

Due to scheduling changes caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the Preakness date was shifted from May 16 to Oct. 3, and will be run as the third jewel of the 2020 Triple Crown. This year's Triple Crown began on June 20 with the Belmont Stakes (G1), won by Tiz the Law, at Belmont Park, and will be followed by the Kentucky Derby (G1), which will be run on Sept. 5 at Churchill Downs.

Four Preakness winners have won the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic. In 2015, American Pharoah swept the Triple Crown and the Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland to become racing's first “Grand Slam” winner. Preakness winners Sunday Silence (1989), Alysheba (1987) and Curlin (2007) also won the Classic. Alysheba captured the Classic in 1988.

As part of the benefits of the Challenge series, the Breeders' Cup will pay the $150,000 in entry fees for the Preakness winner to start in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic, which is limited to 14 starters. Breeders' Cup also will provide a travel allowance of $10,000 for all North American starters based outside of Kentucky to compete in the World Championships. The Preakness winner must already be nominated to the Breeders' Cup program or it must be nominated by the Championships' pre-entry deadline of Oct. 26 to receive the rewards.

There are six horses who have thus far earned automatic starting positions into this year's Longines Breeders' Cup Classic through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Mozu Ascot, winner of the February Stakes (G1) at Tokyo Racecourse on Feb. 23; Tom's d'Etat, who took the Stephen Foster Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs on June 27; Authentic, winner of the TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park on July 18; Improbable, who won the Whitney (G1) at Saratoga Race Course on Aug. 1; Ghaiyyath (IRE), winner of the Juddmonte International Stakes (G1) at York on Aug. 19 in Great Britain and Maximum Security, who won the TVG Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar on Aug. 22.

The post Preakness Stakes To Offer Automatic Starting Position In Breeders’ Cup Classic appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Baffert: Jockey Club Gold Cup Under Consideration For Maximum Security

As an example of the strength and fitness of Maximum Security, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert pointed out that the 2019 3-year-old male champion was not breathing deeply as he returned to pose in front of the infield board following his victory Saturday in the Grade 1, $500,000 TVG Pacific Classic at Del Mar near San Diego, Calif.

This after running 1 1/4 miles in 2:01.24, leading wire-to-wire and putting an easy three lengths between himself and runner-up Sharp Samurai at the finish.

Trackside on Sunday morning, Baffert related how the 4-year-old son of New Year's Day practically dragged handlers back to the barn Saturday evening and was fine in the morning light. Baffert also said that as gratifying and emotional as the TVG Pacific Classic win was – it brought tears to the eyes of owners Gary and Mary West – it was not the most impressive of Maximum Security's two-race Del Mar tour de force.

“The most impressive race was the San Diego (Handicap, July 25),” Baffert said. “He was inside, got stopped, had to overcome trouble and a slow track and still won.”

Comparatively, the Pacific Classic, Maximum Security's second start for Baffert and second with Abel Cedillo in the irons, was a day at the beach. From an outside, five of six, post Maximum Security broke alertly and Cedillo was able to get positioned on the lead, near the rail and never relinquish it.

The inevitable next questions: what and where for his next start and will it be at a place where Cedillo or Luis Saez will ride, will be left for another day. Post-TVG Pacific Classic, Baffert had mentioned the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park on October 10 as a prelim to the Breeders' Cup Classic – the TVG Pacific Classic was a “Win and You're In” qualifier – in November at Keeneland. But he's not making any commitment.

“I'm not sure yet,” Baffert said.

Mark Glatt, trainer of TVG Pacific Classic runner-up Sharp Samurai, said the 6-year-old gelding, making only his fourth start on dirt in a 21-race career, also came out of the race in good order. Sharp Samurai was entered in both the Classic and today's Grade II $150,000 Del Mar Mile on grass and opted to go in the Classic.

The $100,000 runner-up share of the Classic purse, compared to $90,000 for a win in the Mile, says it was a wise decision. But Glatt wasn't patting himself on the back.

“I don't have a crystal ball and he would have been tough in the race today,” Glatt said Sunday morning. “But we (now) know he can run on dirt and that gives us a lot of options.”

The post Baffert: Jockey Club Gold Cup Under Consideration For Maximum Security appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Ward Eyes Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf After Campanelle’s Prix Morny Victory

Stonestreet Stables LLC's Campanelle (IRE) led from start to finish to win the Darley Prix Morny (G1) in style at Deauville in France on Sunday. The victory secured her a guaranteed start in the $1-million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2) through the international Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.

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

Campanelle stepped up in class following her victory in the Queen Mary Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot to score her first Group 1 success in the six-furlong Darley Prix Morny. The 2-year-old filly was quickly into stride and raced prominently under Frankie Dettori to win by two lengths in testing ground conditions.

Royal Ascot Coventry Stakes (G2) winner Nando Parrado (GB) ran another big race to place second, with fellow British challenger Rhythm Master (IRE) a neck back in third.

Campanelle, the 8-5 favorite, remains unbeaten in three starts and provided her trainer Wesley Ward a third win in this race, following the victories of Lady Aurelia in 2016 and No Nay Never in 2013.

Dettori speaking to Sky Sports Racing, said, “I was very impressed with her in the Queen Mary. She has grown since Ascot and has a magnificent long stride. She coped with the ground but is much better on good ground. Wesley was very confident. I knew I had a good filly.”

The daughter of Kodiac (GB) out of the Namid (GB) mare Janina (GB), completed the six furlongs in 1:11.80 over a course listed as soft. She becomes the second horse to gain a “Win and You're In” berth into the Juvenile Turf Sprint this year, joining The Lir Jet (IRE) winner of the Norfolk Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot on June 19.

Bookmakers Betfair make Campanelle 5/1 for the one-mile Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1), with Wesley Ward eyeing the Cheveley Park Stakes (G1) at Newmarket, before a likely start in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in November.

Ward said: “The Cheveley Park closes on Tuesday and I've spoken with Adrian Beaumont (International Racing Bureau), so we'll nominate for that to keep her options open. With a filly like this, it suits to space her races out. We had Hootenanny finish second in this race and he went on to win the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.”

“That would probably be more on the agenda, especially as the Breeders' Cup is on her home track at Keeneland. I think a two-turn mile will suit.”

As a part of the benefits of the Challenge series, the Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for Campanelle to start in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, which will be run at 5 1/2 furlongs over the Keeneland turf course. Breeders' Cup also will pay the entry fees for Campanelle to start in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf should her connections choose to enter that race instead of the Juvenile Turf Sprint. Breeders' Cup will provide a travel allowance of $40,000 for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships. The Challenge winner must already be nominated to the Breeders' Cup program or it must be nominated by the Championships' pre-entry deadline of Oct. 26 to receive the rewards.

The post Ward Eyes Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf After Campanelle’s Prix Morny Victory appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post