Breeders’ Cup Challenge Races For Early October
Who are you betting on in these Breeders’ Cup World Championship Win and You’re In Races?
A big weekend of Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series races are scheduled Oct. 6–8, and Keeneland’s opening Fall Stars weekend leads the way with eight “Win and You’re In” contests for the Breeders’ Cup.
In addition, Belmont Park hosts four Breeders’ Cup Challenge races, led by Saturday’s $500,000 Champagne Stakes (G1) for 2-year-olds where the winner qualifies for the Breeders’ Cup $2 million Sentient Jet Juvenile. Also on Saturday at Belmont is the $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1), a qualifier to the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Santa Anita is in on the exciting weekend of racing with the Santa Anita Sprint; a Breeders’ Cup qualifier to the $1.5 million Twinspires Sprint Nov. 4 at Del Mar.
Keeneland has really upped the ante this weekend with stakes races totaling $3.75 million in purse payouts, led by the $1 million Shadwell Turf Mile on Saturday, Oct. 7. Miss Temple City (3–1) tries to repeat as the favorite in the Turf Mile, facing the boys again in one of the many intriguing storylines in the 32nd running of the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile. Miss Temple City swept the two Grade 1 turf miles at Keeneland in 2016, and enters off a confidence-building victory at Kentucky Downs. A capacity field of 14 will go to the gate looking to knock off the defending lady champ with Heart to Heart (7–2), Mondialiste (4–1) and Divisidero (9–2) the top challengers. Also in the Turf Mile field is American Patriot, who gave 2017 Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Todd Pletcher a Keeneland record 51st stakes win in the Maker’s 46 Mile last spring.
A Shadwell win offers automatic qualification to the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile be run during the Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Del Mar on Nov. 3–4.
Here’s what else to watch for at Keeneland during the Fall Stars weekend filled Breeders’ Cup Challenge races.
Friday’s $400,000 Grade 1 Darley Alcibiades for 2-year-old fillies could generate an early hopeful for the Kentucky Oaks next spring. The winner of the Alcibiades gains entry into the $2 million 14 Hands Winery Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.
Looking for a potential road-to-the-Derby horse?
Check out Sunday’s 104th running of the $500,000 Grade 1 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity for 2-year-olds. The winner moves on to the $2 million Grade 1 Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Dale Romans-trained Free Drop Billy (2–1) is the favorite after running second in the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga. Givemeaminit (7–2) was just a head back of Free Drop Billy in the Hopeful and looks to get his picture taken this time.
Also on the card Sunday, the 62nd running of the $500,000 Juddmonte Spinster for fillies and mares checks in as one of the biggest money events of the meet and a prelude to the $2 million Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff.
