Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Santa Anita Weekend

From the Breeders’ Cup Media Team / Jim Gluckson:

• The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In is an international series of 93 stakes races in 15 countries whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race at the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. The full schedule may be viewed at BreedersCup.com/races/challenge-series.
• Santa Anita Park will host four Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series races this year on the weekend of Sept. 27-28.
• The $200,000 City of Hope Mile (G2) provides the winner with an automatic starting position into the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1); the $300,000 Goodwood Stakes (G1) gives the winner a guaranteed starting position into the $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), the $200,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship presented by Estrella Jalisco (G2) awards a free berth for the $2 million Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1), and the winner of the $200,000 Zenyatta Stakes (G2) earns an automatic starting position into the $2 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1).
• In 2024, five Breeders’ Cup World Championships winners earned automatic berths via the Breeders’ Cup Challenge series: Lake Victoria (IRE) (John Deere Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf), Citizen Bull (FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile), Immersive (NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies), Soul of an Angel (PNC Bank Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint), and Moira (ON) (Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf).
• After the 2025 running of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Del Mar, the 2026 edition will be held at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., and the 2027 World Championships will be held at the new Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.