From the Keeneland / Breeders’ Cup Media Teams:
2026 BREEDERS’ CUP CHALLENGE SERIES FACT SHEET
Fall Stars Weekend
Keeneland Race Course, Lexington, Kentucky
Oct. 2-4, 2026
- The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In is an international series of 95 stakes races in 14 countries whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race at the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. The schedule may be viewed at BreedersCup.com/races/challenge-series.
- The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series debuted in 2007. Since its inception and through the end of 2025, a total of 2,198 Breeders’ Cup World Championships starters have raced in Challenge Series races, and there have been 743 Challenge Series winners that have started in the World Championships. A total of 106 Challenge Series winners have won a Breeders’ Cup World Championships race. Keeneland Race Course will host eight Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series races over the three day Fall Stars weekend, Oct. 2-4.
- In 2025, three Challenge Series winners won their respective divisions at the Breeders’ Cup World Championships: Forever Young (JPN) took the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), Notable Speech (GB) won the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1), and Ted Noffey took the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1).
- After the 2026 running of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Keeneland Race Course, the 2027 World Championships will be held at the new Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.
Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series Win and You’re In – Fall Stars Races Oct. 2-4
| Date | Race Name | Distance | Age/Sex | Breeders’ Cup Division (All G1) |
| 10/2/2026 | Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix (G2) | 6 Furlongs | 3 YO & UP | Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint |
| 10/2/2026 | Jessamine Presented by Keeneland Sales (G2) | 1 1/16 Miles (T) | 2 YO F | John Deere Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf |
| 10/2/2026 | Darley Alcibiades (G1) | 1 1/16 Miles | 2 YO F | Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies |
| 10/3/2026 | Thoroughbred Club of America (G2) | 6 Furlongs | 3 YO & UP F&M | Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint |
| 10/3/2026 | Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) | 1 1/16 Miles | 2 YO | FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile |
| 10/3/2026 | Coolmore Turf Mile (G1) | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile |
| 10/4/2026 | Juddmonte Spinster (G1) | 1 1/8 Miles | 3 YO & UP F&M | Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff |
| 10/4/2026 | Castle & Key Bourbon Stakes (G2) | 1 1/16 Miles (T) | 2 YO | Brown Advisory Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf |
Friday, Oct. 2
$400,000 Stoll Keenon Odgen Phoenix Stakes (G2), 6 furlongs, 3YO & Up
Race #7 – Post Time: 4:12 p.m. ET
Winner Receives: Automatic starting position in $2 million Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1); $60,000 entry fee waived, $10,000 awarded to Breeders’ Cup nominator (when applicable). All Championship starters based outside of Kentucky receive a travel allowance.
Recent Winner Highlights
| Horse Name | Year of Win | Breeders’ Cup Starter | BCWC Finish Position | Awards |
| Federal Judge | 2024 | Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint | 5 (2024)
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| Hoist the Gold | 2023
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Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup Sprint | 6 (2023)
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| Manny Wah | 2022 | Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup Sprint | 4 (2017) | |
| Special Reserve | 2021 | Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup Sprint | 4 (2021) |
2026 Cygames Breeders’ Sprint Division – Challenge Series Races
| Date | Track | Name | Distance | Age | Winner |
| 2/14/2026 | KAR | Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G2) | 6 Furlongs | 3 YO & UP | Imagination |
| 3/28/2026 | MEY | Dubai Golden Shaheen sponsored by Nakheel (G1) | 6 Furlongs | 3 YO & UP | Dark Saffron |
| 7/25/2026 | DMR | Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) | 6 Furlongs | 3 YO & UP | Listenupshance |
| 9/6/2026 | SEO | Korea Sprint (G3) | 6 Furlongs | 3 YO & UP | Dragon Welds |
| 9/27/2026 | SA | Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G2) | 6 Furlongs | 3 YO & UP | LIstenupshance |
| 10/2/2026 | KEE | Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix (G2) | 6 Furlongs | 3 YO & UP | |
| 9/26/2026 | BEL | Vosburgh (G3) | 7 Furlongs | 3 YO & UP |
$400,000 Jessamine Stakes Presented by Keeneland Sales (G2), 1 1/16 Miles (Turf), 2YO Fillies
Race #8 – Post Time: 4:44 p.m. ET
Winner Receives: Automatic starting position in the $1 million John Deere Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1); $30,000 entry fee waived, $10,000 awarded to Breeders’ Cup nominator (when applicable). All Championship starters based outside of Kentucky receive a travel allowance.
Recent Winner Highlights
| Horse Name | Year of Win | Breeders’ Cup Starter | BCWC Finish Position |
| Imaginationthelady | 2025 | Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf | 4 (2025) |
| May Day Ready | 2024 | Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf | 2 (2024) |
| Buchu | 2023 | Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf | 6 (2023)
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| Aunt Pearl (IRE) | 2020
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Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf | 1 (2020)
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| Sweet Melania | 2019 | Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf | 3 (2019) |
2026 John Deere Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Division – Challenge Series Races
| Date | Track | Name | Distance | Winner |
| 7/25/2026 | ASC | Princess Margaret Stakes (G3) | 7 Furlongs (T) | Moonrise (IRE) |
| 9/12/2026 | WO | Johnnie Walker Natalma Stakes (G1) | 1 Mile (T) | Voyager |
| 9/13/2026 | CUR | Moyglare Stud Stakes (G1) | 7 Furlongs (T) | Sun Goddess (IRE) |
| 10/2/2026 | KEE | Jessamine Presented by Keeneland Sales (G2) | 1 1/16 Miles (T) | |
| 10/3/2026 | BEL | Miss Grillo (G2) | 1 1/16 Miles (T) | |
| 10/4/2026 | LCH | Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac (G1) | 1 Mile (T) |
$650,000 Darley Alcibiades (G1), 1 1/16 miles, 2YO Fillies
Race #9 – Post Time: 5:16 p.m. ET
Winner Receives: Automatic starting position in $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1); $60,000 entry fee waived, $10,000 awarded to Breeders’ Cup nominator (when applicable). All Championship starters based outside of Kentucky receive a travel allowance.
Recent Winner Highlights
| Horse Name | Year of Win | Breeders’ Cup Starter | BCWC Finish Position | Awards |
| Tommy Jo | 2025 | Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies | 5 (2025) | |
| Immersive | 2024 | Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies | 1 (2024) | 2024 Champion 2-Year-Old Filly |
| Candied | 2023 | Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies | 3 (2023)
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| Wonder Wheel | 2022 | Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies | 1 (2022)
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2022 Champion 2-Year-Old Filly |
| Juju’s Map | 2021 | Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies | 2 (2021) | |
| British Idiom | 2019 | Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies | 1 (2019) | 2019 Champion 2-Year-Old Filly |
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Division – Challenge Series Races
| Date | Track | Race | Distance | Winner |
| 9/5/2026 | SAR | Spinaway (G1) | 7 Furlongs | Summer Starlet |
| 10/2/2026 | KEE | Darley Alcibiades (G1) | 1 1/16 Miles | |
| 10/3/2026 | SA | Oak Leaf Presented by Oak Tree (G1) | 1 1/16 Miles |
Saturday, Oct. 3
$400,000 Thoroughbred Club of America (G2), 6 Furlongs, 3YO & Up F&M
Race #7 – Post Time: 4:12 p.m. ET
Winner Receives: Automatic starting position in $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1); $30,000 entry fee waived, $10,000 awarded to Breeders’ Cup nominator (when applicable). All Championship starters based outside of Kentucky receive a travel allowance.
Recent Winner Highlights
| Horse Name | Year of Win | Breeders’ Cup Starter | BCWC Finish Position |
| Praying | 2025 | Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint | 7 (2025) |
| Zeitlos | 2024 | Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint | 7 (2024) |
| Yuugiri | 2023 | Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint | 2 (2023)
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| Spiced Perfection | 2019 | Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint | 4 (2019)
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Winner Highlights: Judy the Beauty (2013) finished second in the DraftKings Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, and won the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. She was voted 2014 Champion Female Sprinter; Groupie Doll (2012) won the 2012 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, and was voted 2013 Champion Female Sprinter, and won the 2013 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. She was voted the 2013 Champion Female Sprinter.
2026 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint Division – Challenge Series Races
| Date | Track | Race | Distance | Age | Winner |
| 8/29/2026 | SAR | Ballerina (G1) | 7 Furlongs | 3 YO & UP F&M | Ways and Means |
| 9/12/2026 | GP | Princess Rooney Stakes (G3) | 7 Furlongs | 3 YO & UP F&M | Kerry’s Kiss |
| 10/3/2026 | KEE | Thoroughbred Club of America (G2) | 6 Furlongs | 3 YO & UP F&M |
$650,000 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1), 1 1/16 Miles, 2YO
Race #5 – Post Time: 5:16 p.m. ET
Winner Receives: Automatic starting position in $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1); $60,000 entry fee waived, $10,000 awarded to Breeders’ Cup nominator (when applicable). All Championship starters based outside of California receive a travel allowance.
Recent Winner Highlights
| Horse Name | Year of Win | Breeders’ Cup Starter | BCWC Finish Position | Awards |
| Ted Noffey | 2025 | Breeders’ Cup Juvenile | 1 (2025) | 2025 Champion Two-Year-Old Male |
| Locked | 2023 | Breeders’ Cup Juvenile | 3 (2023) | |
| Forte | 2022 | Breeders’ Cup Juvenile | 1 (2022) | 2022 Champion 2-Year-Old Male |
| Essential Quality | 2020 | Breeders’ Cup Juvenile | 1 (2020)
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2020 Champion 2-Year-Old Male |
| Knicks Go | 2018 | Breeders’ Cup Juvenile
Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile Breeders’ Cup Classic |
2 (2018)
1 (2020)
1 (2021) |
2026 FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Division – Challenge Series Races
| Race Date | Track | Race Name | Distance | Winner |
| 10/3/2026 | KEE | Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) | 1 1/16 Miles | |
| 10/3/2026 | SA | The American Pharoah (G1) | 1 1/16 Miles | |
| 10/3/2026 | BEL | Champagne (G1) | 1 Mile |
$1,250,000 Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes (G1), 1 Mile (Turf), 3YO & Up
Race #10 – Post Time: 5:48 p.m. ET
Winner Receives: Automatic starting position in $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1); $60,000 entry fee waived, $10,000 awarded to Breeders’ Cup nominator (when applicable). All Championship starters based outside of Kentucky receive a travel allowance.
Recent Winner Highlights
| Horse Name | Year of Win | Breeders’ Cup Starter | BCWC Finish Position |
| Rhetorical | 2025 | Breeders’ Cup Mile | 4 (2025) |
| Carl Spackler (IRE) | 2024 | Breeders’ Cup Mile | 6 (2024) |
| Up to the Mark | 2023 | Breeders’ Cup Turf | 2 (2023) |
| Suedois (FR) | 2017 | Breeders’ Cup Mile | 4 (2017) |
Winner Highlights: Wise Dan (2012, 2014) won the 2012 Breeders’ Cup Mile. He finished second in the 2013 Shadwell Turf Mile and won the 2013 Breeders’ Cup Mile. He was voted Champion Male Turf Horse, Champion Older Horse, and Horse of the Year in 2012 and 2013.
2026 FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile Division – Challenge Series Races
| Date | Track | Race | Distance | Age | Winner |
| 1/10/2026 | KEN | King’s Plate (G1) | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | The Real Prince (SAF) |
| 3/28/2026 | MEY | Dubai Turf (G1) | 1 1/8 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | Ombudsman (IRE) |
| 6/7/2026 | TOK | Yasuda Kinen (G!) | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | Sixpence (JPN) |
| 6/16/2026 | ASC | The Queen Anne Stakes (G1) | 1 Mile (T) | 4 YO & UP | Ten Bob Tony (IRE) |
| 7/29/2026 | GOO | Qatar Sussex Stakes (G1) | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | Bow Echo (IRE) |
| 8/8/2026 | SAR | Fourstardave (G1) | 1 Mile (T) | 4 YO & UP | Deterministic |
| 9/12/2026 | WO | Woodbine Mile (G1) | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | Notable Speech (GB) |
| 9/26/2026 | SA | City of Hope Mile (G2) | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | Cabo Spirit |
| 10/3/2026 | KEE | Coolmore Turf Mile (G1) | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | |
| 10/4/2026 | LCH | Qatar Prix de la Foret (G1) | 7 Furlongs (T) | 3 YO & UP |
Sunday, Oct. 4
$650,000 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (G1) 1 1/8 Miles, 3YO & Up F&M
Race #9 – Post Time: 5:45 p.m. ET
Winner Receives: Automatic starting position in $2 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1); $60,000 entry fee waived, $10,000 awarded to Breeders’ Cup nominator (when applicable). All Championship starters based outside of Kentucky receive a travel allowance.
Recent Winner Highlights
| Horse Name | Year of Win | Breeders’ Cup Starter | BCWC Finish Position | Awards |
| Idiomatic | 2023
2024 |
Breeders’ Cup Distaff (2023) | 1 (2023) | Champion Older Dirt Female in 2023 and 2024 |
| Malathaat | 2022 | Breeders’ Cup Distaff | 1 (2022) | 2022 Champion Older Dirt Female |
| Valiance | 2020 | Breeders’ Cup Distaff | 2 (2020) | |
| Blue Prize (ARG) | 2019
2018 |
Breeders’ Cup Distaff | 1 (2019)
4 (2018) |
2026 Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff Division – Challenge Series Races
| Race Date | Track | Race Name | Distance | Age | Winner |
| 4/11/2026 | OAK | Apple Blossom | 1 1/16 Miles | 4 YO & Up | Claret Beret |
| 5/1/2026 | PAL | Gran Premio Criadores (G1) | 1 1/4 Miles | 3 YO & UP | Herd Immunity |
| 6/5/2026 | SAR | Ogden Phipps Presented by Ford (G1) | 1 1/8 Miles | 4 YO & UP | Nitrogen |
| 6/27/2026 | CD | Fasig-Tipton Fleur de Lis Stakes (G2) | 1 1/8 Miles | 4 YO & UP | Immersive |
| 8/1/2026 | DMR | Clement L. Hirsch Stakes presented by Oak Tree Racing Association (G1) | 1 1/16 Miles | 3 YO & UP | Eunomia |
| 8/29/2026 | SAR | Personal Ensign (G1) | 1 1/8 Miles | 4 YO & UP | Fully Subscribed |
| 9/27/2026 | SA | Zenyatta Stakes (G2) | 1 1/16 Miles | 3 YO & UP | Super Corredora |
| 10/4/2026 | KEE | Juddmonte Spinster (G1) | 1 1/8 Miles | 3 YO & UP |
$400,000 Castle & Key Bourbon Stakes (G2) 1 1/16 Miles (Turf), 2YO
Race #10 – Post Time: 6:20 p.m. ET
Winner Receives: Automatic starting position in $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1); $30,000 entry fee waived, $10,000 awarded to Breeders’ Cup nominator (when applicable). All Championship starters based outside of Kentucky receive a travel allowance.
Recent Winner Highlights
| Horse Name | Year of Win | Breeders’ Cup Starter | BCWC Finish Position |
| Can Group | 2023 | Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf | 4 (2023) |
| Andthewinneris | 2022 | Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf | 7 (2022) |
| Tiz the Bomb | 2021 | Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf | 2 (2021) |
2026 Brown Advisory Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Division – Challenge Series Races
| Date | Track | Name | Distance | Winner |
| 8/20/2026 | YOR | Tattersalls Acomb Stakes (G3) | 7 Furlongs (T) | Haffner |
| 09/13/2026 | Cur | Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes (G1) | 7 Furlongs (T) | Folsom Blues (IRE) |
| 9/12/2026 | WO | Summer Stakes (G1) | 1 Mile (T) | Al Hudaiba (GB) |
| 10/3/2026 | AQU | Pilgrim (G2) | 1 1/16 Miles (T) | |
| 10/4/2026 | KEE | Castle & Key Bourbon (G2) | 1 1/16 Miles (T) | |
| 10/4/2026 | LCH | Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (G1) | 7 Furlongs (T) |
ABOUT BREEDERS’ CUP
Breeders’ Cup Limited administers the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred racing’s year-end Championships, as well as the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In, which provides automatic starting positions into the Championships races through partnerships with host countries around the globe, and the U.S.-based Dirt Dozen Bonus Series.
The 2026 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, featuring 14 Grade 1 Championship races run during a two-day festival worth more than $34 million in purses and awards, will be held Oct. 30-31 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., and the 2027 World Championships will be held Oct. 29-30 at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y. The Championships will be televised live by NBC Sports and FanDuel TV. Press releases appear on the Breeders’ Cup website, BreedersCup.com. You can also follow the Breeders’ Cup on social media.
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