Breeders’ Cup announces Challenge Series schedule for June, July

By America's Best RacingJun 5, 2020, 8:36 AM EDT

Highlighted by two automatic qualifiers for the $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic and four free berths at the Royal Ascot meeting, the Breeders’ Cup announced Wednesday its June and July schedule of races for 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 into a corresponding race in the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, which will be held this year on Nov. 6-7 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky.

The 15 Challenge Series races scheduled over the next two months will be televised by either NBC Sports, TVG, or Fox Sports. (See full schedule below).

The June “Win and You’re In” qualifiers begin June 6 at Belmont Park with the Grade 1 Runhappy Carter Handicap on FS1 for a free berth into the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint. On June 7, the Yasuda Kinen on TVG will be held at Tokyo Racecourse, with the winner gaining an automatic starting position into the TVG Breeders’ Cup Mile.

The Royal Ascot Meeting begins on Tuesday, June 16 and opens with the Queen Anne Stakes, the first Breeders’ Cup Challenge race at the meeting. The Queen Anne, which will award a free qualifying spot into the TVG Breeders’ Cup Mile, will be followed on June 17 by the Prince of Wales’s Stakes for an automatic berth into the $6 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf. A free starting position will be on the line for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint on June 19 in the Norfolk Stakes. NBCSN will provide live coverage of the first three Breeders’ Cup Challenge races at Ascot.

The “Win and You’re In” qualifying at the Royal Meeting concludes on June 20 with the Diamond Jubilee Stakes, with the winner gaining an automatic qualifying position into the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. The Diamond Jubilee will be televised live on NBC.

Later on June 20 at Belmont Park, as part of NBC’s live Belmont Stakes coverage, another berth into the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint will be awarded in the Jaipur Stakes Presented by America’s Best Racing.

The following Saturday, June 27, Churchill Downs will be the site for two Breeders’ Cup Challenge races: The Grade 2 Stephen Foster will be the first U.S. “Win and You’re In” this year for the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, and the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis will give its winner an automatic spot into the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Both races 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.”

On June 28, the scene shifts back to Japan for the Takarazuka Kinen at Hanshin Racecourse on TVG, with winner securing an automatic starting position into the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf.

On July 4 on NBC, the first “Win and You’re In” of the year for the $2 million Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile will be up for grabs at Belmont Park in the Runhappy Metropolitan Handicap.

On July 18, the TVG.com Haskell will be run at Monmouth Park, with the winner receiving a free position into the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic. The Haskell 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 final Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series races in July will be held in England and both will be televised on TVG. On July 25 at Ascot, a “Win and You’re In” spot into the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf will be awarded to the winner of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes. On July 29 at Goodwood, the Qatar Sussex Stakes winner will earn an automatic berth into the TVG Breeders’ Cup Mile.

The Gran Premio Pamplona at Monterrico Race Course in Peru also may be scheduled during the next two months, depending on governmental regulations. The Gran Premio Pamplona is a “Win and You’re In” for the Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

Breeders’ Cup will be announcing the remainder of the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series schedule in the coming weeks.

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 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.

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

2020 BREEDERS’ CUP CHALLENGE SERIES (June-July Races)
Race Date	TV	Trk.	Race Name	Gr.	Dist.	Age	Sex	Division
6/6/20	FS1	Bel	Runhappy Carter H.	I	7 Furlongs	3 YO & UP		Sprint
6/7/20	TVG	TOK	Yasuda Kinen	I	1 Mile (T)	3 YO & UP		TVG Mile
6/13/20	FS1	Bel	Ogden Phipps	I	1 1/16 Miles	4 YO & UP	F & M	Longines Distaff
6/16/20	NBCSN/TVG	ASC	Queen Anne S.	I	1 Mile (T)	4 YO & UP		TVG Mile
6/17/20	NBCSN/TVG	ASC	Prince of Wales’s S.	I	1 1/4 Miles (T)	4 YO & UP		Longines Turf
6/19/20	NBCSN/TVG	ASC	Norfolk S.	II	5 Furlongs (T)	2 YO		Juvenile Turf Sprint
6/20/20	NBC/TVG	ASC	Diamond Jubilee S.	I	6 Furlongs (T)	4 YO & UP		Turf Sprint
6/20/20	NBC	Bel	Jaipur “Presented by America’s Best Racing”	I	6 Furlongs (T)	3 YO & UP		Turf Sprint
6/27/20	NBC	CD	Fleur de Lis Stakes	II	1 1/8 Miles	4 YO & UP	F & M	Longies Distaff
6/27/20	NBC	CD	Stephen Foster Stakes	II	1 1/8 Miles	4 YO & UP		Longines Classic
6/28/20	TVG	HSN	Takarazuka Kinen	I	1 3/8 Mile (T)	3 YO & UP		Longines Turf
TBD	TBD	MON	Gran Premio Pamplona	I	1 1/4 Miles (T)	3 YO & UP	F & M	Maker’s Mark F&M Turf
7/4/20	NBC	Bel	Runhappy Metropolitan H.	I	1 Mile	3 YO & UP		Dirt Mile
7/18/20	NBC	Mth	TVG.Com Haskell S.	I	1 1/8 Miles	3 YO		Longines Classic
7/25/20	TVG	ASC	King George VI & Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes	I	1 1/2 Miles (T)	3 YO & UP		Longines Turf
7/29/20	TVG	GOO	Qatar Sussex Stakes	I	1 Mile (T)	3 YO & UP		TVG Mile

Thirteen 3-year-olds are late nominees to Triple Crown races

Associated PressMar 31, 2023, 6:14 PM EDT

Syndication: El Paso Times

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Wild On Ice, winner of the Sunland Park Derby, is among 13 3-year-old colts that were made eligible to compete in this year’s Triple Crown series with a late payment of $6,000.

There are now 382 horses eligible to compete in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont. The late payment was due Monday. The Triple Crown opens May 6 with the Derby.

Wild On Ice won the Sunland Park Derby at 35-1 odds. The other late nominees are: Ireland-bred Brave Emperor, El Camino Real Derby winner Chase the Chaos, Coffeewithchris, Empirestrikesfast, Eye Witness, Henry Q, Interlock Empire, King Russell, Kolomio, Mr. Peeks, Nautical Star, and Ninetyprcentmaddie.

Any horse not nominated during the early or late phases can become eligible through a supplemental fee due at the time of entry for each Triple Crown race. The Kentucky Derby fee is $200,000, the Preakness is $150,000 and the Belmont costs $50,000.

Florida Derby 2023: How to watch, what to know ahead of race day

By Annie CoryMar 29, 2023, 1:36 PM EDT

The stakes are high on the road to the Kentucky Derby, as a field of 12 will vie for $1 million and precious qualifying points at the Curlin Florida Derby on Saturday, April 1 on CNBC and Peacock. The winner of the race will receive 100 of these points with the runner-up getting 40, the third-place runner receiving 30, the fourth-place finisher receiving 20 and the fifth-place horse receiving 10.

NBC Sports has you covered with everything you need to know about Saturday’s race, which will get underway Saturday at 6 p.m. EST, airing on CNBC and streaming on Peacock.

Who will be racing at the Florida Derby?

Jungfrau
- Bill Mott (trainer), Paco Lopez (jockey)
West Coast Cowboy
- Saffie Joseph Jr. (trainer), Sonny Leon (jockey)
Shaq Diesel
- Renaldo Richards (trainer), Miguel Vasquez (jockey)
Mage
- Gustavo Delgado (trainer), Luis Saez (jockey)
Mr. Peeks
- Saffie Joseph Jr. (trainer), Edwin Gonzalez (jockey)
Nautical Star
- Saffie Joseph Jr. (trainer), Leonel Reyes (jockey)
II Miracolo
- Antonio Sano (trainer), Jesus Rios (jockey)
Mr. Ripple
- Saffie Joseph Jr. (trainer), Edgard Zayas (jockey)
Cyclone Mischief
- Dale Romans (trainer), Javier Castellano (jockey)
Fort Bragg
- Tim Yakteen (trainer), Joel Rosario (jockey)
Forte
- Todd Pletcher (trainer), Irad Ortiz Jr. (jockey)
Dubyuhnell
- Danny Gargan (trainer), Jose Ortiz (jockey)

Who is the favorite for the Florida Derby?

All eyes will be on the reigning two-year-old champion Forte come Saturday, who has earned 90 points to date and won five of his six career starts. His 2023 campaign got off to a quick start after taking the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream by 4 1/2 lengths on March 4 in his 3-year-old debut. His other recent wins include triumphs at the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes, the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity and the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

The 4/5 morning line favorite and trainer Todd Pletcher, however, will have some obstacles in the way as they look to continue the charge to Louisville for the Kentucky Derby. As Pletcher looks to extend his streak to a record-setting seven wins, he’ll need Forte to overcome a post position 11 at Gulfstream Park.

Horses who have drawn post position 11 at the Florida Derby distance of 1 1/8 miles since Gulfstream was reconfigured in 2006 have come away with the crown a mere 2 of 50 times.

What should I look for come race day?

The unlucky post position for the favorite Forte opens the door for other contenders, such as Fort Bragg and Cyclone Mischief.

Fort Bragg, who was initially slated to race at last weekend’s Sunland Derby before re-routing to Gulfstream, will be making his second start for Tim Yakteen. The $700,000 purchase is coming off a fifth-place finish at the Fountain of Youth on March 4 and is 5-1 on the morning line for Florida under Forte.

Not far behind, however, is Cyclone Mischief, who displayed an encouraging performance at the Fountain of Youth, holding a lead for the first mile before falling to third. The three-year-old and his trainer, Dale Romans, will look to cause a bit more havoc at Gulfstream and earn valuable points to keep the hopes for Louisville alive.

Others to keep an eye on come race time include Mage, who has a total of 10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points and West Coast Cowboy, who currently sits with six.

How can I watch the Florida Derby?

Date: Saturday, April 1st
Time: 6 p.m. EST
TV Network: CNBC
Streaming: Peacock

When is the 2023 Kentucky Derby?

The 2023 Kentucky Derby is scheduled for Saturday, May 6th, and will air across the networks of NBC Sports and Peacock.

For more horse racing coverage and the latest on the road to the Kentucky Derby, visit nbcsports.com.