Contenders
Contenders for the Breeders' Cup are first chosen through guaranteed starts from wins in a Breeders' Cup Challenge race. Those hopefuls who have not had the fortune of winning such secured starts will obtain opportunities for entry by a points system based from major race performances throughout the year. These point factors include graded race quality and how much money is won in purses.
A panel will then examine entries and prune, in ranking order, noting race preferences for each possible contender. Pre-entries are typically released by Friday the week preceeding Breeders' Cup week. The pre-entries will then be further truncated as the official Breeders' Cup draw occurrs on Tuesday of Breeders' Cup week. Often there will be several also elligables allowed. The panel has the power to decide which horse has preference to enter a race should a tie exist.
Breeders' Cup Challenge Series Schedule
The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series features 81 Win and You’re In (TM) races that provide the winners automatic berths into the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.
January |
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| Date | Race Name | Track | Division | Winner |
| 6-Jan | Cartier Paddock Stakes | Kenilworth | Filly & Mare Turf | Oh Susanna (AUS) |
| 6-Jan | L'Ormarins Queen's Plate | Kenilworth | Mile | Legal Eagle (SAF) |
February |
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| Date | Race Name | Track | Division | Winner |
| 19-Feb | February Stakes | Tokyo Racecourse | Classic | Nonkono Yume (JPN) |
April |
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| Date | Race Name | Track | Division | Winner |
| 7-Apr | The Star Doncaster Mile | Randwick | Mile | Happy Clapper |
| 14-Apr | Coolmore Legacy Stakes | Randwick | Turf Sprint | Alizee (AUS) |
May |
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| Date | Race Name | Track | Division | Winner |
| 1-May | Gran Premio Criadores | Palermo | Longines Distaff | Sinfonia Fantastica (ARG) |
| 25-May | Gran Premio 25 de Mayo | San Isidro | Longines Turf | La Extrana Dama (ARG) |
| 21-May | Gran Premio Club Hipico Falabella | Club Hípico de Santiago | Mile | Nuevo Maestro (CHI) |
| 28-May | Shoemaker Mile S. | Santa Anita | Mile | Hunt (IRE) |
June |
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| Date | Race Name | Track | Division | Winner |
| 3-Jun | Yasuda Kinen | Tokyo Racecourse | Mile | Mozu Ascot |
| 9-Jun | Ogden Phipps Stakes | Belmont Park | Longines Distaff | Abel Tasman |
| 9-Jun | Jaipur Invitational Stakes | Belmont Park | Turf Sprint | Disco Partner |
| 9-Jun | Runhappy Metropolitan Handicap | Belmont Park | Dirt Mile | Bee Jersey |
| 10-Jun | Gran Premio Brasil | Hipódromo da Gávea | Longines Turf | Quarteto De Cordas (BRZ) |
| 16-Jun | Stephen Foster H. | Churchill Downs | Classic | Pavel |
| 16-Jun | Fleur de Lis Handicap | Churchill Downs | Longines Distaff | Blue Prize (ARG) |
| 19-Jun | Queen Anne S. | Ascot | Mile | Accidental Agent |
| 20-Jun | Prince of Wales's S. | Ascot | Longines Turf | Poet's Word (IRE) |
| 21-Jun | Norfolk S. | Ascot | Juvenile Turf Sprint | Shang Shang Shang |
| 23-Jun | Diamond Jubilee S. | Ascot | Turf Sprint | Merchant navy (AUS) |
| 24-Jun | Gran Premio Pamplona | Hipódromo de Monterrico | Filly & Mare Turf | Smart Choice |
| 24-Jun | Takarazuka Kinen | Hanshin Racecourse | Longines Turf | Mikki Rocket (JPN) |
| 30-Jun | Higlander Stakes | Woodbine Ractrack | Turf Sprint | Long On Value |
| 30-June | Princess Rooney H. | Gulfstream | Filly & Mare Sprint | Stormy Embrace |
July |
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| Date | Race Name | Track | Division | Winner |
| 7-Jul | Belmont Sprint Championship | Belmont Park | TwinSpires Sprint | Limousine Liberal |
| 28-Jul | Bing Crosby Stakes | Del Mar | TwinSpires Sprint | Ransom the Moon |
| 28-Jul | King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes sponsored by QIPCO | Ascot | Longines Turf | Poet's Word |
| 29-Jul | Haskell Invitational | Monmouth Park | Classic | Good Magic |
| 29-Jul | Clement L. Hirsch Handicap | Del Mar | Longines Distaff | Unique Bella |
August |
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| Date | Race Name | Track | Division | Winner |
| 1-Aug | Qatar Sussex Stakes | Goodwood | Mile | Lightning Spear (GB) |
| 4-Aug | Whitney Stakes | Saratoga | Classic | Diversify |
| 11-Aug | Beverly D. Stakes | Arlington Park | Filly & Mare Turf | Sistercharlie (IRE) |
| 11-Aug | Arlington Million | Arlington Park | Longines Turf | Robert Bruce (CHI) |
| 12-Aug | Prix du Haras de Fresnay-Le-Buffard Jacques le Marois | Deauville | Mile | Alpha Centauri (IRE) |
| 18-Aug | Del Mar Handicap Presented by the Japan Racing Association | Del Mar | Longines Turf | Fashion Business (GB) |
| 18-Aug | TVG Pacific Classic | Del Mar | Classic | Accelerate |
| 22-Aug | Juddmonte International Stakes | York | Longines Turf | Roaring Lion |
| 23-Aug | Darley Yorkshire Oaks | York | Filly & Mare Turf | Sea of Class |
| 24-Aug | Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes | York | Turf Sprint | Alpha Delphini (GB) |
| 25-Aug | Personal Ensign H. | Saratoga | Longines Distaff | Abel Tasman |
| 25-Aug | Ballerina | Saratoga | Filly & Mare Sprint | Marley's Freedom |
| 25-Aug | Forego | Saratoga | Dirt Mile | Whitmore |
| 25-Aug | Sword Dancer | Saratoga | Longines Turf | Glorious Empire (IRE) |
| 25-Aug | Pat O'Brien Stakes | Del Mar | Dirt Mile | Catalina Cruiser |
September |
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| Date | Race Name | Track | Division | Winner |
| 1-Sep | Spinaway | Saratoga | Juvenile Fillies | Sippican Harbor |
| 15-Sep | KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes | Leopardstown | Juvenile Turf | Madhmoon |
| 15-Sep | Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron Stakes | Leopardstown | Filly & Mare Turf | Laurens (FR) |
| 15-Sep | QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes | Leopardstown | Longines Turf | Roaring Lion |
| 15-Sep | Iroquois Stakes | Churchill Downs | Sentient Jet Juvenile | Cairo Cat |
| 15-Sep | Ricoh Woodbine Mile | Woodbine | Mile | Oscar Performance |
| 15-Sep | Pocahontas Stakes | Churchill Downs | Juvenile Fillies | Serengeti Empress |
| 16-Sep | Natalma Stakes | Woodbine | Juvenile Fillies Turf | La Pelosa (IRE) |
| 16-Sep | Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes | Curragh | Turf Sprint | Havana Grey (GB) |
| 16-Sep | Moyglare Stud Stakes | Curragh | Juvenile Fillies Turf | Skitter Scatter |
| 16-Sep | Summer Stakes | Woodbine | Juvenile Turf | Fog of War |
| 28-Sep | Shadwell Rockfel | Newmarket | Juvenile Fillies Turf | Just Wonderful |
| 29-Sep | Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes | Newmarket | Juvenile Turf | Mohawk (IRE) |
| 29-Sep | The Vosburgh | Belmont Park | TwinSpires Sprint | Imperial Hint |
| 29-Sep | FrontRunner Stakes | Santa Anita Park | Sentient Jet Juvenile | Game Winner |
| 30-Sep | Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational | Belmont Park | Longines Turf | Channel Maker |
| 29-Sep | Zenyatta Stakes | Santa Anita Park | Longines Distaff | Vale Dori (ARG) |
| 29-Sep | Chandelier Stakes | Santa Anita Park | Juvenile Fillies | Bellafina |
| 29-Sep | Rodeo Drive Stakes | Santa Anita Park | Filly & Mare Turf | Vasilika |
| 29-Sep | Awesome Again Stakes | Santa Anita Park | Classic | Accelerate |
| 29-Sep | Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes | Belmont Park | Classic | Discreet Lover |
| 30-Sep | Sprinters S. | Nakayama | Turf Sprint | Fine Needle (JPN) |
October |
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| Date | Race Name | Track | Division | Winner |
| 5-Oct | Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes | Keeneland | TwinSpires Sprint | Promises Fulfilled |
| 5-Oct | Darley Alcibiades Stakes | Keeneland | Juvenile Fillies | Restless Rider |
| 6-Oct | First Lady Stakes | Keeneland | Filly & Mare Turf | A Raving Beauty (GER) |
| 6-Oct | Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes | Keeneland | Filly & Mare Sprint | Golden Mischief |
| 6-Oct | Claiborne Breeders' Futurity | Keeneland | Sentient Jet Juvenile | Knicks Go |
| 6-Oct | Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes | Keeneland | Mile | Next Shares |
| 6- Oct | Speakeasy Stakes | Santa Anita | Juvenile Turf Sprint | Complexity |
| 6-Oct | Santa Anita Sprint Championship | Santa Anita | TwinSpires Sprint | Roy H |
| 7-Oct | Total Prix Marcel Boussac | Chantilly | Juvenile Fillies Turf | Lily's Candle |
| 7-Oct | Qatar Prix Jean-Lu Lagardere | Chantilly | Juvenile Turf | Royal Marine |
| 7-Oct | Flower Bowl Stakes | Belmont Park | Filly & Mare Turf | Fourstar Crook |
| 7-Oct | The Futurity | Belmont Park | Juvenile Turf Sprint | Uncle Benny |
| 6-Oct | Champagne Stakes | Belmont Park | Sentient Jet Juvenile | Complexity |
| 7-Oct | Indian Summer Stakes | Keeneland | Juvenile Turf Sprint | Strike Silver |
| 7-Oct | Frizette Stakes | Belmont Park | Juvenile Fillies | Jaywalk |
| 7-Oct | Juddmonte Spinster Stakes | Keeneland | Longines Distaff | Blue Prize |
| 7-Oct | Dixiana Bourbon S. | Keeneland | Juvenile Turf | Current |
| 10-Oct | JP Morgan Chase Jessamine Stakes | Keeneland | Juvenile Fillies Turf | Concrete Rose |
Please visit Breederscup.com for a full list of races and contenders.