A total of 15 Breeders' Cup Challenge races will be offering “Win and You're In” berths to the 2023 World Championships this weekend, with major races scheduled for opening weekend at Keeneland, Aqueduct, Santa Anita, and Woodbine.
The action begins with three Challenge races on Friday at Keeneland, led by a field of nine 2-year-old fillies in the $600,000 Darley Alcibiades (G1). Other Friday stakes are the $350,000 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix (G2), which drew a field of 11 and features defending winner Manny Wah, and the $350,000 Jessamine (G2), which drew a field of 11 and is headed by Pepsi Untapable Stakes winner Crown Imperial.
Saturday's Keeneland racing is led by the the $1 million Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes (G1), featuring five Grade 1 winners including Master of the Seas (IRE) and Up to the Mark. In addition to the Coolmore Turf Mile, two other Grade 1 races are on the program: the $750,000 First Lady – which drew a field of eight headed by defending winner In Italian (GB) and Gina Romantica, winner of last fall's Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) – and $600,000 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity, which drew a field of nine headed by Iroquois (G3) winner West Saratoga.
Other stakes Saturday afternoon in Lexington, Ky., are the $350,000 Thoroughbred Club of America (G2), which drew a field of seven and features millionaire Wicked Halo, and the $350,000 Woodford (G2), which drew a field of 12 headed by Group 1 winner Live In The Dream (IRE).
At Aqueduct, Saturday's action includes the $500,000 Jockey Club Derby Invitational (G3), the re-scheduled Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, and two Grade 1 “Win and You're In” qualifiers at one-mile for juveniles in the $500,000 Champagne [Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile] and $400,000 Frizette [Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies]. Saturday's stacked program is supported by the Grade 3, $200,000 Fasig-Tipton Waya and the Grade 3, $200,000 Belmont Turf Sprint.
Saturday's card at Santa Anita features eight juveniles chasing Breeders' Cup berths in the G1 American Pharoah, as well as a field of 10 2-year-old fillies in the G2 Chandelier. Also on the card is the G2 Rodeo Drive, a “Win and You're In” for the Filly & Mare Turf.
The final Challenge race scheduled for Saturday is the G2 Princess Rooney at Gulfstream Park.
Santa Anita and Keeneland have announced that both tracks will combine to present the Keeneland/Santa Anita Breeders' Cup Challenge Pick 6 to players nationwide on Saturday, Oct. 7. A traditional $1 Pick 6 with a player-friendly 15 percent takeout, the Keeneland/Santa Anita Breeders' Cup Challenge Pick 6 will include the following Breeders' Cup “Win & You're In” Challenge Race qualifiers and be offered in this order: Thoroughbred Club of America (KEE); Coolmore Turf (KEE); Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (KEE); American Pharoah Stakes (SAP); Chandelier Stakes (SAP) and the Rodeo Drive Stakes (SAP).
On Sunday, Nest heads a deep field of seven fillies and mares entered for Keeneland's $600,000 Juddmonte Spinster (G1), a “Win and You're In” for the Breeders' Cup Distaff. In addition to Nest, a three-time Grade 1 winner, the Spinster also attracted Juddmonte's Idiomatic, winner of this summer's Personal Ensign (G1). Two other stakes are on Sunday's 10-race program: the 33rd running of the $350,000 Castle & Key Bourbon (G2) – which drew a field of 12 plus three also-eligibles headed by stakes winners Noted, Vote No, and Tok Tok – and the sixth running of the $250,000 Indian Summer (L), which drew a field of 10 headed by two-time stakes winner Amidst Waves.
Sunday's $750,000 Canadian International (G1T) at Woodbine leads a stakes-laden day of racing, which also features the $750,000 E.P. Taylor (G1T), $250,000 Nearctic (G2T), and $200,000 Algonquin (five furlongs on the inner turf), will include a special tribute to the 50th anniversary of the legendary Secretariat's iconic 1973 International triumph, highlighted by a “Big Red” exhibit presented by the National Museum of Racing & Hall of Fame, showcased at Woodbine from October 5-8.
Friday
5:16 p.m. – Grade 1 Alcibiades at Keeneland
Undefeated Brightwork and runaway Pocahontas (G3) winner V V's Dream headline a field of nine 2-year-old fillies entered for the $600,000 Alcibiades (G1), a “Win and You're In” race for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.
V V's Dream, purchased by trainer Ken McPeek at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $190,000, is looking for her third career triumph following her 8¾-length score in the 1-mile Pocahontas (G3) at Churchill Downs on Sept. 16. Her only defeat came when she was beaten a half-length by WSS Racing's unbeaten Brightwork, the likely Darley Alcibiades favorite, in the Debutante (L) at Ellis Park on July 2.
Brightwork, trained by John Ortiz, won the G3 Adirondack and G1 Spinaway at Saratoga following her victory in Ellis' Debutante.
Saturday
1:40 p.m. – Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Aqueduct
The $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, which was rescheduled from last Saturday due to inclement weather, has been redrawn for this Saturday and attracted all but one of the original entrants for the 1 1/2-mile outer turf marathon for 3-year-olds and up at Belmont at the Big A.
The field is headlined by defending race winner War Like Goddess [post 2, Junior Alvarado], who takes on reigning Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf winner Rebel's Romance [post 4, William Buick] amidst a talented group of contenders.
War Like Goddess, trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, looks to make amends from a troubled runner-up effort in Saratoga Race Course's Grade 2 Glens Falls on August 3, a race she won the prior two years. The daughter of English Channel won last year's Hirsch by 2 3/4 lengths before making the trip to Keeneland to finish third to Rebel's Romance in the Grade 1 Turf. War Like Goddess also won the Grade 1 Flower Bowl in 2021 at the Spa, as well as six other graded events.
Rebel's Romance enters for trainer Charlie Appleby off a troubled trip to Saratoga where he contested the Grade 2 Bowling Green on July 30, but did not finish the race after clipping heels and losing jockey Richie Mullen when advancing with purpose in the final turn of the 1 3/8-mile test. The gelded son of Dubawi was briefly considered for the Grade 1 Arlington Million the following week at Colonial Downs, but was rerouted to the Hirsch in pursuit of his fourth Grade or Group 1 score.
2:12 p.m. – Grade 1 Frizette Stakes at Aqueduct
Just F Y I will look to back up a strong debut victory with another big effort in the $400,000 Frizette, a one-turn mile test for juvenile fillies, at Belmont at the Big A. The bay daughter of 2018 Triple Crown Champion Justify made an eye-catching debut when sprinting six furlongs on August 26 at Saratoga Race Course for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. There, she rallied from 2 1/2 lengths off the pace under Junior Alvarado to collar Shop Lifting in the shadow of the wire and post the head victory in a final time of 1:11.06.
Five rivals will line up against Just F Y I, including debut winner Emery (Brad Cox) and stakes winner Princess Indy (Claudio Gonzalez).
In addition to providing a berth into the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, the Frizette is the first New York prep race on the road to the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs.
3:46 p.m. – Grade 1 Champagne at Aqueduct
Fierceness will strive to parlay an astonishing debut performance into Grade 1 company in the $500,000 Champagne for juveniles going a one-turn mile at Belmont at the Big A. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Fierceness demonstrated his talent with a gate-to-wire debut score on August 25 going six furlongs at Saratoga Race Course, where he built on his advantage throughout and was geared down to an 11 1/4-length score in a final time of 1:09.56 over and muddy and sealed main track. The son of second crop sire City of Light produced a 95 Beyer Speed Figure for the win, which is tied for the third fastest figure by a 2-year-old this year.
Seven rivals will face the debut winner, including second-out maiden winner General Partner (Chad Brown), Grade 1 Hopeful runner-up Timberlake (Brad Cox), and New York-bred stakes winner El Grande O (Linda Rice)
The Champagne is a “Win And You're In” qualifying event for the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile on November 3 at Santa Anita Park.
5:14 p.m. – Grade 1 Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland
Pletcher has entered the 7-5 morning line favorite Locked in the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity, which gives the winner a free berth into the $2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1). Owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Walmac Farm, Locked captured a 1-mile maiden special weight race at Saratoga by a widening 7 1/4 lengths on Sept. 1.
Trainer Brad Cox has two starters in this race with Albaugh Family Stables LLC and Donegal Racing's Awesome Road, who won on debut in a six-furlong race at Ellis Park on Aug. 27, and Siena Farm and WinStar Farm LLC's Timberlake, who was second in the Sept. 4 Hopeful Stakes (G1) at Saratoga.
Iroquois Stakes (G3) winner West Saratoga has also entered the race for longtime Keeneland trainer Larry Demeritte.
5:45 p.m. – Grade 1 Coolmore Turf Mile at Keeneland
The Coolmore Turf Mile, whose winner will receive an automatic starting position into the $2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile (G1), boasts five Grade 1 winners: Master of the Seas, Up to the Mark, defending champion Annapolis, Set Piece (GB), and Atone.
Godolphin's Master of the Seas is the 2-1 morning line favorite in the nine-horse field following his dominating win in the Sept. 16 Ricoh Woodbine Mile (G1) in which he earned a free berth into the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile. Trained by Charlie Appleby, Master of the Seas has won three of five starts this year.
Up to the Mark and Annapolis are trained by Todd Pletcher. Up to the Mark, owned by Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable, has excelled at longer distances this year, winning back-to-back Grade 1 races in the May 6 Old Forrester Bourbon Turf Classic Stakes going 1 1/8 miles at Churchill Downs and the June 10 Resorts World Casino Manhattan Stakes over 1 ¼ miles at Belmont Park. Up to the Mark has won four of five starts this year, with his only defeat being a third-place finish in the April 14 Maker's Mark Mile Stakes (G1) at Keeneland. Bass Racing LLC's homebred Annapolis drove clear in the final furlong to win last year's Coolmore Turf Mile by 1 1/2 lengths. On May 4 at Churchill Downs, he won his sixth career race, taking the listed 1-mile Opening Verse Stakes.
Juddmonte's 7-year-old homebred gelding Set Piece, trained by Brad Cox, stormed home from last in the 11-horse field of the Aug. 10 Arlington Million (G1) at Colonial Downs, earning his 13th career win. Three Diamonds Farm's 6-year-old gelding Atone, trained by Mike Maker, won the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes (G1) at Gulfstream Park in January, but has been off the board in his last four starts.
8:00 p.m. – Grade 1 American Pharoah at Santa Anita
Freshened since beaten in his second start, Muth is the horse to beat as he stretches out to a mile and one sixteenth in the $300,000 American Pharoah Stakes. Trained by Bob Baffert, Muth, a $2 million 2-year-old in training sale purchase this past March, was a runaway 8 ¼ length winner of his five furlong maiden debut here on June 18. Subsequently second to his eventual Grade 1 stakes-winning stablemate Prince of Monaco going six furlongs in the G3 Best Pal Stakes Aug. 13, Muth sat out the G1 Del Mar Futurity Sept. 10 and should be extremely tough with leading man Juan Hernandez back aboard on Saturday.
Todd Pletcher will be represented in the American Pharoah by Be You, a colt by Curlin who ships in from Saratoga Springs. Second, beaten a nose as the 3-2 favorite in his six furlong debut Aug. 5 at Saratoga, Be You checked in fourth, beaten 4 ¼ lengths in the Grade 1, seven-furlong Hopeful at 5-2 on Sept. 4 and will also be two-turning for the first time.
Named for the 2015 Triple Crown winner, the American Pharaoh has attracted a field of eight juveniles. A Breeders' Cup “Win & You're In” Challenge Race Qualifier, the American Pharoah winner will earn a fees-paid berth into the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita on Nov. 4.
Sunday
4:31 p.m. – Grade 1 E.P. Taylor Stakes at Woodbine
Locals Moira and Fev Rover will challenge international shipper With The Moonlight over 1 ¼ miles on the eponymous turf course in Sunday's E.P. Taylor Stakes.
Moira, a 4-year-old trained by Kevin Attard, who was facing older rivals and trying turf for the first time in last fall's E.P. Taylor (finishing eighth), is coming off a smashing 6 ¼-length victory in the Grade 2 Canadian over 1 1/8 miles of turf at Woodbine Sept. 9. Winner of Sovereign Awards as Canada's Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old filly last year, Moira had finished second in each of her first three starts this season.
Fev Rover (IRE) defeated Moira on one of those occasions, leaving that rival 4 ¼ lengths back when making her seasonal bow over one mile of turf in the Grade 2 Nassau. Returning to action two weeks later in Saratoga's Grade 1 Diana Stakes, Fev Rover was a close and unlucky third but got her Grade 1 victory next time out in the Beverly D. at Colonial Downs. In her most recent outing in the Canadian, however, the Mark Casse-trained 5-year-old was fourth as the odds-on favourite.
With The Moonlight will be the first E.P. Taylor starter for trainer Charlie Appleby, who owns eight Grade 1 wins from 11 starters at Woodbine. The filly has been away from the races since finishing sixth over “soft” going in the Group 2 Dahlia at Newmarket on May 7. Slated to start in the Grade 1 New York Stakes at Belmont on June 7, With The Moonlight missed that engagement due to what was described at the time as a “poor scope” and was sent home, but she has recovered well and appears ready to run.
5:16 p.m. – Grade 1 Spinster Stakes at Keeneland
Sunday's 1 1/8-mile Juddmonte Spinster Stakes for fillies and mares, 3-years-old and up, could set up as a battle between two daughters of Breeders' Cup Classic winner Curlin, as Nest tries to turn the tables on Idiomatic, who defeated her in the Aug. 25 Personal Ensign (G1) at Saratoga.
The Spinster winner earns an automatic starting position in the $2 million Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1). Nest, trained by Todd Pletcher, finished fourth in last year's Distaff at Keeneland. However, she still completed an outstanding season of five stakes victories and a second in the Belmont Stakes (G1) that propelled her to the 3-year-old filly championship. She won the July 23 Shuvee Stakes (G2) at Saratoga in her seasonal debut, but finished third over sloppy track in the Personal Ensign.
Juddmonte's 4-year-old homebred Idiomatic, trained by Cox, won the Personal Ensign gate to-wire by four lengths, registering her sixth win in seven starts this year that also included a triumph in the July 8 Delaware Handicap (G2).
5:39 p.m. – Grade 1 Canadian International at Woodbine
Multiple Grade/Group 1 winner Nations Pride (IRE), a globetrotting 4-year-old son of Teofilo (IRE)-Important Time (IRE), will carry the hopes of trainer Charlie Appleby and the Godolphin operation in Sunday's 1 ¼-mile turf race. Nations Pride spent the early part of 2023 in Meydan where he won the Dubai Millennium Stakes and finished third to Lord North in the Dubai Turf. His return to Europe yielded a stirring score in the Grosser Dallmayr-Preis – Bayerisches Zuchtrennen (G1T) at Munich in late July.
Among the seven rivals to face Nations Pride are Adhamo and British Royalty.
Grade 1 winner Adhamo (IRE), a 5-year-old son of Intello (GER)-Foreign Tune (GB), has flourished in the U.S. after four wins, including a Group 3 victory, in France. Trained by Chad Brown, the chestnut is 5-3-4 mark from 18 starts, with his biggest victory to date coming in the 2022 United Nations (G1T) Stakes.
British Royalty, a 5-year-old son of English Channel-Queen Martha, is no stranger to success on the E.P. Taylor turf, having won the 2021 Breeders' Stakes (third jewel in the Canadian Triple Crown), at 1 ½ miles. Trained by Barbara Minshall, who co-owns with Bruce Lunsford, the bay gelding, bred in Ontario by Richard Lister, is 2-4-1 from 21 career starts.
Canadian International Entries
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