Series Continues for 10^th Year on NBC

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 11, 2023) ― The Breeders’ Cup today announced the 2023 “Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In” television schedule. Consisting of six live programs across NBC, CNBC, and FOX, the series features key automatic qualifying races at premier racetracks on the road to the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.

Now in its 10th year with NBC Sports, the “Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In” spotlights North America’s top horses as they compete for an automatic starting position, and free entry, into a corresponding divisional race at the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. The 40th Breeders’ Cup World Championships will be held Nov. 3-4 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California.

“We are delighted to continue our strong partnership with NBC, who have helped showcase the Breeders’ Cup to millions of fans over the past decade,” said Drew Fleming, President and CEO of Breeders’ Cup Limited. “I am also pleased we will expand our reach this summer through our new initiative with FOX and NYRA. As we seek to bring the most comprehensive and innovative coverage of horse racing to viewers across the country leading to the World Championships, these vital networks have a proven track record of delivering on that goal.”

All Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series coverage on NBC and CNBC will be simul-streamed on Peacock. NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app will stream live coverage to desktops, mobile, tablets, and connected TVs via authentication.

“We are excited to continue our longtime partnership with Breeders’ Cup, showcasing the world’s best horses in Challenge Series racing on NBC, CNBC, and Peacock, and culminating at Santa Anita in November at the World Championships,” said Gary Quinn, NBC Sports Vice President, Programming & Owned Properties.

Coverage of the 2023 Challenge Series will be anchored by three NBC broadcasts, one FOX broadcast, and two CNBC programs.

NBC and Peacock kick off the action July 1 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky with the Stephen Foster Stakes (G1), a Win and You’re In race for the $6 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). Up next on NBC and Peacock is another Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic qualifier, the July 22 Haskell Stakes (G1) from Monmouth Park in Oceanport, New Jersey.

On Aug. 12, Breeders’ Cup and NYRA will partner to provide special coverage of the Fourstardave Stakes (G1) on FOX, a Win and You’re In race for the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile Presented by PDJF (G1). The Fourstardave will be broadcast live from Saratoga Race Course in its 160^th season of racing.

NBC and Peacock resume coverage of the Challenge Series Sept. 16 from Woodbine Racetrack where the Ricoh Woodbine Mile (G1) offers another spot in the starting gate for the Breeders’ Cup Mile. An automatic qualifying position for a Future Stars Friday turf race will also be on the line from the Ontario, Canada track.

A blockbuster day of racing will be presented Oct. 7 on CNBC and Peacock, with coverage from Santa Anita Park and Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky. Among the Santa Anita races, the American Pharoah Stakes (G1) offers a free starting spot in the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1). From Keeneland, the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) awards a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, the Coolmore Turf Mile (G1) presents automatic entry to the Breeders’ Cup Mile, and the Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (G1) offers a spot in the gate for the $1 million PNC Bank Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1).  On Oct. 8 at Keeneland, the CNBC and Peacock presentation will feature the Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (G1) and the Castle & Key Bourbon Stakes (G2). The Spinster offers an automatic starting position in the $2 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) and the Bourbon Stakes will give the winner a free spot into the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.

Horses from around the globe will participate in the full Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series, featuring 80 qualifying races in 11 countries. Many of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge races will also be televised on FanDuel TV, which will provide extensive special programming in the run-up to the World Championships. FanDuel, the Official ADW Partner, Official Sports Wagering Partner, Official Fantasy Sports Partner, and Official Mobile Casino Partner of the Breeders’ Cup, continues to serve as title partner of the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) and the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1).

“Thanks to our strategic partner FanDuel, extensive coverage on FanDuel TV will bring even more exciting action to fans in the run-up to the World Championships,” Fleming said.

The complete Challenge Series television schedule can be viewed at BreedersCup.com/races/challenge-series.

ABOUT NBC SPORTS

NBC Sports connects people to the moments that matter most and serves sports fans 24/7 with premier live events, insightful studio shows, and compelling original programming. As the sports division of NBCUniversal, NBC Sports presents premier content across linear platforms NBC, USA Network, Golf Channel, as well numerous digital sites, including Peacock. NBC Sports possesses an unparalleled collection of media rights agreements, partnering with some of the most prestigious sports properties in the world: the International Olympic Committee and United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, the NFL, Big Ten Conference, NASCAR, INDYCAR, PGA TOUR, Notre Dame, The R&A, PGA of America, USGA, Churchill Downs, Premier League, MLB, Tour de France, Roland-Garros, and many more. It also consists of NBC Sports Next, a subdivision of NBC Sports and home to all NBCUniversal digital applications in sports and technology within its three groups: Youth & Recreational Sports, Golf, and Betting & Gaming.

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 an 80-race series hosted by 11 countries, and the U.S.-based Dirt Dozen Bonus Series. The Breeders’ Cup supports and operates under the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA), which, for the first time, establishes a national, uniform set of rules applicable to every Thoroughbred racing participant and racetrack. HISA seeks to enhance the safety of both horse and rider and to protect the integrity of the sport to the benefit of all racing participants, fans, and bettors.

The 2023 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, consisting of 14 Grade 1 Championship races, and $31 million in purses and awards, is scheduled to be held Nov. 3-4 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The Championships will return to the West Coast in 2024 with Del Mar in Del Mar, California, set to host Nov. 1-2. The Championships will be televised live by NBC Sports. Press releases appear on the Breeders’ Cup website, BreedersCup.com. You can also follow the Breeders’ Cup on social media.

NBC Sports and Peacock Present Nine Hours of Live Coverage of the 2022 Breeders’ Cup World Championships from Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky

Live Coverage of the Richest Two Days in Horse Racing Begins This Friday at 2 p.m. ET on USA Network & Saturday at 1 p.m. ET on USA Network; Saturday Coverage on NBC and Peacock Begins at 3:30 p.m. ET

STAMFORD, Conn. – Nov. 1, 2022 – NBC Sports and Peacock present nine hours of live coverage of the 2022 Breeders’ Cup World Championships this weekend — the richest two days in horse racing — with a total of $31 million in prize money at stake in 14 races. Headlining the weekend’s coverage is the $6 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic this Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock live from Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky.

Highlighting Saturday’s star-studded Breeders’ Cup Classic field is:

• Flightline: undefeated in five starts by a combined margin of 62 ¾ lengths, including a 19 ¼ length victory in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic, his most recent race;
• Epicenter: runner-up in the first two legs of this year’s Triple Crown who won the Grade 1 Travers in his most recent race and has finished second-or-better in every race since his debut 10 starts ago;
• Rich Strike: this year’s 80-1 longshot Kentucky Derby winner who is trained by Eric Reed and ridden by jockey Sonny Leon;
• Taiba: three-year-old who is a two-time Grade 1 winner and is trained by four-time Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Bob Baffert;
• Life is Good: four-time Grade 1 winner who was victorious in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.

Live racing coverage of the 39^th Breeders’ Cup World Championships begins this Friday featuring the Juveniles in action at 2 p.m. ET on USA Network. Five hours of live coverage on Saturday begins at 1 p.m. ET on USA Network and continues on NBC and Peacock at 3:30 p.m. ET. The Breeders’ Cup Classic has a post time of 5:40 p.m. ET. In addition to the Classic, the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (3:55 p.m. ET post time) and Breeders’ Cup Turf (4:40 p.m. ET post time) will be presented live Saturday on NBC and Peacock.

COMMENTATORS: Ahmed Fareed hosts coverage on Friday and Saturday alongside analyst and Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey, who owns 15 Breeders’ Cup wins; analyst Randy Moss; reporters Britney Eurton, Kenny Rice, and Nick Luck; handicappers Eddie Olczyk and Matt Bernier; insights analyst Steve Kornacki; and Donna Brothers, who will report on horseback. Larry Collmus will call all of the Breeders’ Cup races.

NBC Sports’ handicapping “Betting the Breeders’ Cup” series previewing each of the 14 World Championship races will be presented across NBC Sports digital platforms beginning on Thursday. Eurton, Luck, Olczyk, Bernier, and Kornacki will be featured in the digital series.

NBC Sports’ weekend presentation will also feature:

• Breeders’ Cup “Contender Cam” footage. Each Breeders’ Cup horse will have a camera following them from the paddock out onto the track to allow viewers unique, one-of-a-kind access. Comprehensive coverage will be available to stream here
• A pair of jockey cam systems with audio
• A megalodon camera to share live-action footage of the fashion and flavors surrounding the Breeders’ Cup World Championships
• An outrider camera capturing intimate moments with the winning jockey immediately following races
• Backstretch cam on the Keeneland track
• An essay narrated by Tim Layden on the uniqueness surrounding Flightline and his relatively unheralded historic success throughout 2022
• A feature on Dirt Mile morning-line favorite Cody’s Wish and the story between human and horse connections
• Britney Eurton interviewing Lisa Lazarus, the CEO of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority

• Celebrities making their Breeders’ Cup Classic picks

• Access to approximately 75 video sources, including cameras and feeds

NBC Sports’ coverage of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships is produced by Lindsay Schanzer on Saturday, Billy Matthews on Friday, and directed by Kaare Numme. Executive producer and president, NBC Sports Production is Sam Flood.

Date	Event	Platform	Time (ET)
Fri., Nov. 4	Breeders’ Cup World Championships	USA Network	2 p.m.
Sat., Nov. 5	Breeders’ Cup World Championships	USA Network	1 p.m.
	Breeders’ Cup Classic	NBC, Peacock	3:30 p.m.

The Breeders’ Cup Classic is part of NBCUniversal’s “Big Event Weekend” featuring numerous high-profile events across NBC and Peacock this Saturday and Sunday (programming details below). For more on “Big Event Weekend,” click here.

Date	Event	Platform	Time (ET)
Sat., Nov. 5	Breeders’ Cup Classic	NBC, Peacock	3:30 p.m.
	No. 5 Clemson vs. Notre Dame	NBC, Peacock	7:30 p.m.
	Saturday Night Live	NBC, Peacock	11:30 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 6	NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race	NBC, Peacock	3 p.m.
	Sunday Night Football: Titans vs. Chiefs	NBC, Peacock	8:20 p.m.

BREEDERS’ CUP COVERAGE ON NBCSPORTS.COM & THE NBC SPORTS APP
NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app will stream live coverage to desktops, mobile, tablets, and connected TVs via authentication, giving consumers additional value to their subscription service, and making high-quality content available to MVPD customers both in and out of the home and on multiple platforms. The full HD-quality video stream will come directly from NBC’s broadcasts. NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app are available on the iTunes App Store, Google Play, Windows Store, Roku Channel Store, Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Samsung Smart TVs, Xbox, and Chromecast.

ABOUT BREEDERS’ CUP

Breeders’ Cup Limited administers the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred horse racing’s year-end Championships, as well as the Breeders’ Cup Challenge qualifying series, which provides automatic starting positions into the Championships races. The Breeders’ Cup is also a founding member of the Thoroughbred Safety Coalition, an organization composed of industry leaders committed to advancing safety measures in Thoroughbred racing and improving the well-being of equine and human athletes. Breeders’ Cup press releases appear on the Breeders’ Cup website, breederscup.com. You can also follow the Breeders’ Cup on social media.

NBC SPORTS AND HORSE RACING

NBC Sports is the exclusive home to the most important and prestigious events in horse racing, including the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Royal Ascot, and Pegasus World Cup Invitational Series.

 –NBC SPORTS–

Pair of One-Hour Programs on CNBC to be Headlined by the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series Win and You’re In Coolmore Turf Mile (G1) on Saturday and Juddmonte Spinster (G1) on Sunday

STAMFORD, Conn. – Oct. 7, 2022 – Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., hosts two days of Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series Win and You’re In live horse racing coverage this weekend, headlined by the $1 million Coolmore Turf Mile (G1) on Saturday and $600,000 Juddmonte Spinster (G1) on Sunday, at 5 p.m. ET both days on CNBC. Keeneland will also serve as host of the 39^th Breeders’ Cup World Championships on Nov. 4-5 presented across NBC Sports.

Saturday and Sunday’s coverage on CNBC mark the final two programs in this year’s “Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In – presented by America’s Best Racing” on NBC, Peacock, and CNBC from some of North America’s most iconic racetracks. The complete series TV schedule can be accessed here and the NBC Sports programming schedule can be found here.

NBC Sports’ coverage will be led by host Ahmed Fareed, analyst Randy Moss, handicapper Matt Bernier, and reporters Britney Eurton and Nick Luck.

Godolphin’s 4-year-old Santin leads the 12-horse field with four also-eligibles in the Coolmore Turf Mile, which gives the winner a free berth into the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1). Trained by Brendan Walsh, Santin has won two Grade 1 stakes races this year, taking the Old Forester Turf Classic in May at Churchill Downs, and after a sixth-place finish in the Resorts World Casino Manhattan Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park in June, came back to win the Arlington Million at Churchill on Aug. 13. Tyler Gaffalione has the mount, breaking from post 7. The Bill Mott-trained Casa Creed has earned invitations into two World Championships races this year. Owned by LRE Racing LLC and JEH Racing Stable LLC, Casa Creed gained a free berth into the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) when he captured the 6-furlong Jaipur Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park in June and then won the 1-mile Fourstardave Handicap (G1) at Saratoga on Aug. 13 and gained an automatic starting position into the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile. Casa Creed will be ridden by Luis Saez from post nine.

From California, Cannon Thoroughbreds’ 5-year-old Smooth Like Strait led last year’s FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar until the final furlong before being overtaken by Modern Games (IRE) and finished a half-length behind in second. Trained by Michael McCarthy, Smooth Like Strait was second to Santin in the Arlington Million. John Velazquez rides Smooth Like Straight from post two.

Returning from Ireland to the scene of his greatest win is the Aidan O’Brien-trained Order of Australia (IRE), who came off the also-eligible list before the 2020 FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) at Keeneland and won it by a neck at odds of 73-1. Owned by Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Anne-Marie O’Brien, Order of Australia captured this year’s Romanised Minstrel Stakes (G2) at The Curragh in Ireland on July 17. Christophe Soumillon has the mount, breaking from post three.

One race prior to the Coolmore Turf Mile, a Win and You’re In berth in the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1) will be up for grabs in the $600,000 Keeneland Breeders’ Futurity (G1) for 2-year-olds. A full field of 14 plus two also-eligibles has been entered, led by 3-1 morning line favorite Forte. Owned by Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable, Forte won the Hopeful Stakes (G1) at Saratoga on Sept. 5, splashing home in the mud to a 3-length victory under Irad Ortiz Jr., who retains the mount, breaking from post seven.

Two-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox won the Breeders’ Futurity and the TVG Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in 2020 with Essential Quality, one of five horses to capture both races. On Saturday, Cox sends out impressive maiden winner Loggins for Spendthrift Farm LLC, Steve Landers Racing LLC, Martin Schwartz, Michael Dubb, Ten Strike Racing, Jim Bakke, Titletown Racing Stables, Kueber Racing, Big Easy Racing, and Winners Win. On Sept. 17 at Churchill Downs, Loggins won a 6 ½-furlong maiden special weight by a widening 8 ½ lengths. Florent Geroux has the mount, breaking from post two.

Sunday’s $600,000 Juddmonte Spinster for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles, gives the winner a free starting position into the $2 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1). St. George Stable’s Letruska won last year’s Spinster before finishing a disappointing 10^th in the Distaff at Del Mar. Still, she had a marvelous season of six wins, four of them Grade 1 scores, which lifted her to the Older Dirt Female Eclipse Award. Trained by Fausto Gutierrez, the 6-year-old Letruska has two wins in four starts this year, including the Grade 1 Apple Blossom in April at Oaklawn Park. Letruska will be ridden by Tyler Gaffalione from post 3.

Shadwell Stable’s Malathaat, trained by Todd Pletcher, won last year’s Central Bank Ashland at Keeneland (G1), the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1), and the Alabama Stakes (G1) to propel her to the 3-year-old filly Championship. This year, the daughter of 2007 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner Curlin has won the Baird Doubledogdare Stakes (G3) at Keeneland’s spring meeting, and most recently, the Grade 1 Personal Ensign Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 27. John Velazquez will ride Malathaat, breaking from post one.

The $350,000 Bourbon Stakes (G2), for 2-year-olds on the grass course, precedes the Spinster. The winner receives an invitation to the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1). The field of 12 and four also-eligibles is led by Breeze Easy and John Oxley’s Boppy O. Trained by Mark Casse, Boppy O started twice in dirt races before making his turf debut in the With Anticipation Stakes (G3) at Saratoga on Aug. 31, and won it by a neck at 23-1. The Florida-bred son of Bolt d’Oro will be ridden from post six by Dylan Davis.

Reckoning Force, owned by Fergus Galvin, Marc Detampel, and Magnolia Racing Syndicate, and trained by Brendan Walsh, broke his maiden in his fourth start, winning the listed Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile Stakes on Sept. 14. Joel Rosario will ride, breaking from post three. The Steve Asmussen-trained Gigante is also a stakes winner. Owned by Iapetus Racing and Diamond T Racing, Gigante won the black-type Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Kitten’s Joy Stakes at Colonial Downs on Sept. 6 by 6 ¾ lengths. Vincent Cheminaud has the mount on Gigante, starting from post nine.

As part of the benefits, Breeders’ Cup will pay the entry fees for all Challenge Series winners to start in the World Championships. Breeders’ Cup will also provide a $10,000 travel allowance for all starters based outside of Kentucky to compete in the World Championships.

NBC SPORTS AND HORSE RACING

NBC Sports is the exclusive home to the most important and prestigious events in horse racing, including the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Royal Ascot, and Pegasus World Cup Invitational Series.

ABOUT AMERICA’S BEST RACING

America’s Best Racing is a multimedia fan development and awareness-building platform, initiated by The Jockey Club, designed to increase the profile and visibility of North America’s best Thoroughbred racing events with a primary focus on the sport’s lifestyle and competition. You can follow America’s Best Racing at AmericasBestRacing.net as well as on social media platforms Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram, and Snapchat.

ABOUT BREEDERS’ CUP

Breeders’ Cup Limited administers the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred horse racing’s year-end Championships, as well as the Breeders’ Cup Challenge qualifying series, which provides automatic starting positions into the Championships races. The Breeders’ Cup is also a founding member of the Thoroughbred Safety Coalition, an organization composed of industry leaders committed to advancing safety measures in Thoroughbred racing and improving the well-being of equine and human athletes.

The 2022 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, consisting of 14 Championship races, is scheduled to be held on November 4-5 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky. The Championships will be televised live by NBC Sports. Breeders’ Cup press releases appear on the Breeders’ Cup website, breederscup.com. You can also follow the Breeders’ Cup on social media.

–NBC SPORTS–

Two-Hour Broadcast to Feature Four Races, Including the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series Win and You’re In Champagne (G1) and Miss Grillo (G2)

STAMFORD, Conn. – Sept. 29, 2022 – Two-year-olds take center stage in the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series Win and You’re In $500,000 Champagne (G1) and $200,000 Miss Grillo (G2) this Saturday headlining NBC Sports’ live horse racing coverage from Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, N.Y., live on NBC and Peacock at 4 p.m. ET.

The two-hour broadcast, also featuring the $500,000 Woodward (G1) and $200,000 Belmont Turf Sprint (G3), is the seventh program this year in the “Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In – presented by America’s Best Racing” on NBC, Peacock, and CNBC from some of North America’s most iconic racetracks. The series leads to the 39^th Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky, on Nov. 4-5. The complete series TV schedule can be accessed here and the NBC Sports programming schedule can be found here.

NBC Sports’ coverage will be led by host Ahmed Fareed, analysts Randy Moss and Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey, winner of 15 Breeders’ Cup races, including five victories in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, and reporters Britney Eurton and Nick Luck.

Breeders’ Cup champion Life Is Good, owned by CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm, and trained by seven-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Todd Pletcher, will be the prohibitive favorite in the 1 1/8-mile Woodward on the strength of his previous Grade 1 victories this year in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park, and in the Whitney Stakes at Saratoga, in which he earned an automatic berth into the $6 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). An eight-time winner in 10 starts, the four-year-old son of Tapit captured last year’s Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) at Del Mar. Pletcher is also starting Cypress Creek Equine, Arnold Bennewith, and Spendthrift Farm’s 4-year-old Keepmeinmind, who finished fifth in The Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga on Sept. 3.

Informative, a five-year-old owned and trained by Uriah St. Lewis, comes into the race after a hard-fought 1 ½-length win in the Philip H. Iselin Stakes at Monmouth Park (G3) on Aug. 30. Twin Creeks Racing Stables LLC’s Law Professor also comes into the Woodward off a victory. Trained by Rob Atras, the four-year-old Law Professor won the listed FanDuel Tapit Stakes at Kentucky Downs on turf on Sept. 1.

The 1-mile Champagne Stakes for two-year-olds will give the winner a free berth into the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1). The Brad Cox-trained Verifying figures to draw great interest after an impressive, frontrunning 6-furlong maiden special weight victory at Saratoga on Aug. 27 for owners Jonathan Poulin, Westerberg, Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith, and Michael Tabor. Mr. Amore Stables’ Andiamo a Firenze has won two of three starts for trainer Kelly Breen. In his previous race, Andiamo a Firenze captured the black type, 6 ½-furlong Funny Cide Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 26 by 5 ½ lengths over a muddy track.

William and Corinne Heiligbrodt, Jackpot Farm, Whispering Oaks Farm LLC, and Coolmore Stud’s Gulfport finished second in the 7-furlong Hopeful Stakes (G1) over a sloppy track at Saratoga on Sept. 5 as the even-money favorite. Trained by Steve Asmussen, Gulfport, a son of 2010 Champagne Stakes (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) winner Uncle Mo, has won two of his four starts including the listed Bashford Manor Stakes at Churchill Downs in July.

Michael J. Ryan’s Be Your Best (IRE) leads the field of two-year-old fillies in the Miss Grillo Stakes on turf, which gives the winner an invitation to the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1). Unbeaten in two starts at Saratoga, Be Your Best, trained by Horacio De Paz, captured the listed, 1 1/16-mile P.G. Johnson Stakes on Sept. 1 by a widening 3 ¾ lengths as the 7-5 favorite.  Trainer Chad Brown has saddled seven winners of the Miss Grillo, and three of those winners — Maram, New Money Honey, and Newspaperofrecord (IRE) — went on to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. This year, Brown has entered Klaravich Stables’ Free Look, who finished third behind Be Your Best on debut in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight at Saratoga on July 31. Free Look broke her maiden at 1 1/16 miles at Saratoga in her next start on Sept. 4.

As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders’ Cup will pay the entry fees for the winners of the Champagne and the Miss Grillo to start in the World Championships. Breeders’ Cup will also provide a $10,000 travel allowance for all starters based outside of Kentucky to compete in the World Championships.

Trainer David Donk has entered two runners for the 6-furlong Belmont Turf Sprint in Thin White Duke and Yes and Yes. Owned by Phil Gleaves, Steven Crist, Ken deRegt, and Bryan Hilliard, Thin White Duke won the listed 5 ½-furlong Lucky Coin Stakes by a nose on Sept. 2 at Saratoga. Gleaves, Joseph R. Strauss, and Hugh Fitzsimmons’ Yes and Yes finished third, but was moved up to second due to interference by the runner-up in the black type 5 ½-furlong Woodford Reserve Da Hoss Stakes at Colonial Downs on Sept. 6.

NBC SPORTS AND HORSE RACING

NBC Sports is the exclusive home to the most important and prestigious events in horse racing, including the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Royal Ascot, and Pegasus World Cup Invitational Series.

ABOUT AMERICA’S BEST RACING

America’s Best Racing is a multimedia fan development and awareness-building platform, initiated by The Jockey Club, designed to increase the profile and visibility of North America’s best Thoroughbred racing events with a primary focus on the sport’s lifestyle and competition. You can follow America’s Best Racing at AmericasBestRacing.net as well as on social media platforms Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram, and Snapchat.

ABOUT BREEDERS’ CUP

Breeders’ Cup Limited administers the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred horse racing’s year-end Championships, as well as the Breeders’ Cup Challenge qualifying series, which provides automatic starting positions into the Championships races. The Breeders’ Cup is also a founding member of the Thoroughbred Safety Coalition, an organization composed of industry leaders committed to advancing safety measures in Thoroughbred racing and improving the well-being of equine and human athletes.

The 2022 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, consisting of 14 Championship races, is scheduled to be held on November 4-5 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky. The Championships will be televised live by NBC Sports. Breeders’ Cup press releases appear on the Breeders’ Cup website, breederscup.com. You can also follow the Breeders’ Cup on social media.

–NBC SPORTS–

Hour-Long Program to Feature the Kentucky Turf Cup (G2) and FanDuel Turf Sprint (G2)

STAMFORD, Conn. – Sept. 9, 2022 – The $1 million Kentucky Turf Cup (G2) and $1 million FanDuel Turf Sprint (G2) headline NBC Sports’ Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series coverage this Saturday at Kentucky Downs in Franklin, Ky., live on CNBC at 5 p.m. ET.

The hour-long telecast is the sixth program this year in the “Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In – presented by America’s Best Racing” on NBC, Peacock, and CNBC from some of North America’s most iconic racetracks. The series leads to the 39^th Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky, on Nov. 4-5. The complete series TV schedule can be accessed here and the NBC Sports programming schedule can be found here.

NBC Sports’ coverage will be led by host Ahmed Fareed, analyst and handicapper Matt Bernier, and reporter Nick Luck.

The remarkable 8-year-old Arklow, who has earned more than $3 million in career earnings, will be running in his fifth consecutive Kentucky Turf Cup, which gives the winner an automatic starting position into the $4 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1). Owned by Donegal Racing and Joseph Bulger, and trained by Brad Cox, Arklow won the 1 ½-mile Turf Cup in 2018 and in 2020 and finished second in 2019 and in 2021. Arklow has run in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf three times, with his best finish being a fourth-place effort in 2018. He made his 2022 debut in the Bowling Green Stakes (G2) at Saratoga on July 31, finishing second, a half-length behind Rockemperor (IRE).

Otter Bend Stable’s Gufo, the 7-5 morning line favorite, earned a free berth into the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf when he captured the Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer Stakes (G1) at Saratoga, coming from seventh place at the top of the stretch to win by a half-length. Trained by Christophe Clement, Gufo has won nine races in 19 starts, including this year’s Pan American Stakes presented by Rood & Riddle (G2) at Gulfstream Park. Another veteran in the field is Paradise Farms Corp. and David Staudacher’s 6-year-old gelding Temple. Trained by Mike Maker, Temple finished third, less than a length behind the winner, in the 1 3/8-mile United Nations Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park on July 23. In March, Temple won his seventh career race, taking the Mac Diarmida Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park. Maker is also starting Trinity Farm’s 6-year-old New York-bred gelding Red Knight, who won his 2022 debut after an 11-month layoff, capturing the black type 1 ½-mile Colonial Downs Stakes on July 27.

The 6-furlong FanDuel Turf Sprint, which will be run prior to the Turf Cup, drew a full field of 12 starters and three also-eligibles. The race winner will receive an invitation into the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1). Trainer Wesley Ward, who won last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint with Golden Pal, is saddling Lael Stables’ 4-year-old Arrest Me Red, the 9-5 morning line favorite. A six-time winner in 10 starts, Arrest Me Red took the Twin Spires Turf Sprint (G2) in May at Churchill Downs and finished second by a half-length to Casa Creed in the Jaipur Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park on June 11, which was also a Win and You’re In for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.

The well-traveled Sonata Stable’s 4-year-old Arzak, who has raced at 11 tracks, will be making his Kentucky Downs debut on Saturday. Trained by Michael Trombetta, Arzak has won two of four starts this year, both at Woodbine in Canada, taking the black type Thornhill Stakes and the Grade 3 Jacques Cartier Stakes. He comes into the race off a fourth-place finish in the Troy Stakes (G3) at Saratoga on Aug. 5, less than a length behind winner Golden Pal.

Pantofel Stable, Wachtel Stable, and Jerry Zaro’s 7-year-old gelding Chewing Gum started the year off right with a victory on Jan. 1 in the Joe Hernandez Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park for trainer Bill Mott. He did not race again until July 23 in the Connaught Cup Stakes (G2) at Woodbine, where he finished fourth.

As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders’ Cup will pay the entry fees for the winners of the Kentucky Turf Cup and the FanDuel Turf Sprint to start in the World Championships. Breeders’ Cup will also provide a $10,000 travel allowance for all starters based outside of Kentucky to compete in the World Championships.

NBC SPORTS AND HORSE RACING

NBC Sports is the exclusive home to the most important and prestigious events in horse racing, including the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Royal Ascot, and Pegasus World Cup Invitational Series.

ABOUT AMERICA’S BEST RACING

America’s Best Racing is a multimedia fan development and awareness-building platform, initiated by The Jockey Club, designed to increase the profile and visibility of North America’s best Thoroughbred racing events with a primary focus on the sport’s lifestyle and competition. You can follow America’s Best Racing at AmericasBestRacing.net as well as on social media platforms Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram, and Snapchat.

ABOUT BREEDERS’ CUP

Breeders’ Cup Limited administers the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred horse racing’s year-end Championships, as well as the Breeders’ Cup Challenge qualifying series, which provides automatic starting positions into the Championships races. The Breeders’ Cup is also a founding member of the Thoroughbred Safety Coalition, an organization composed of industry leaders committed to advancing safety measures in Thoroughbred racing and improving the well-being of equine and human athletes.

The 2022 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, consisting of 14 Championship races, is scheduled to be held on November 4-5 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky. The Championships will be televised live by NBC Sports. Breeders’ Cup press releases appear on the Breeders’ Cup website, breederscup.com. You can also follow the Breeders’ Cup on social media.

–NBC SPORTS–

Live 90-Minute Program to Also Feature the Flower Bowl (G2)

STAMFORD, Conn. – Sept. 1, 2022 – Suburban Stakes (G2) winner Dynamic One headlines the 1 1/4-mile, $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at historic Saratoga Race Course, as the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series continues this Saturday live on NBC and Peacock at 4:30 p.m. ET, with automatic starting position into the $6 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) on the line.

The Jockey Club Gold Cup broadcast is the fifth program this year in the “Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In – presented by America’s Best Racing” on NBC, Peacock, and CNBC from some of North America’s most iconic racetracks. The series leads to the 39^th Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky, on Nov. 4-5. The complete series TV schedule can be accessed here and the NBC Sports programming schedule can be found here.

Saturday’s 90-minute program will also include coverage of the $600,000 Flower Bowl Stakes (G2), which will provide the winner an automatic berth into the $2 million Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1).

NBC Sports’ coverage will feature commentary and discussion led by Randy Moss and Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey, winner of 15 Breeders’ Cup races including five victories in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, reporter Kenny Rice, and handicapper Matt Bernier.

Dynamic One, a 4-year-old colt owned by Repole Stable, Phipps Stable, and St. Elias Stable, has won his last two starts. He captured the 1 1/8-mile listed Blame Stakes at Churchill Downs on June 4. He started next in the 1 1/4-mile Suburban at Belmont Park on July 9, and in a furious stretch drive defeated First Captain by a nose, with stablemate Untreated finishing three-quarters of a length back in third.

Commenting on the improvement of Dynamic One, trainer Todd Pletcher said: “He’s made steady progress throughout this year. I think each race has been better than the previous one, culminating with a win in the Suburban. We’ve been pointing for The Jockey Club since then and has had a good schedule. The horse has trained well and we’re happy with the way he’s coming into the race.”

Pletcher’s Grade 1-winning starter in the Gold Cup is CHC Inc and WinStar Farm LLC’s 4-year-old Americanrevolution, who won last year’s Cigar Mile (G1) at Aqueduct. This year, the son of Constitution finished fourth in the Blame Stakes and was second to Olympiad in the Stephen Foster Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs on July 2.

The fourth Pletcher starter is Cypress Creek Equine, Arnold Bennewith, and Spendthrift Farm LLC’s 4-year-old Keepmeinmind, who returned from an 11-month layoff and won his first race for the seven-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer, taking a 1 1/8-mile allowance race by 2 ¾ lengths at Saratoga on July 22. Keepmeinmind finished second by a half-length to eventual 3-year-old champion Essential Quality in last year’s Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) at Saratoga.

Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey has four career Jockey Club Gold Cup winners. On Saturday, he sends out West Point Thoroughbreds, Siena Farm LLC, Bobby Flay, and Woodford Racing, LLC’s First Captain, who has two wins in four starts this year. Prior to his second-place finish in the Suburban, First Captain, a son of 2007 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner Curlin, captured the 1 3/16-mile Pimlico Special (G3) at Pimlico Race Course on May 20.

Olympiad, trained by Bill Mott, earned an automatic berth in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic when he won the Stephen Foster Stakes, which was his fifth consecutive win of the year. Owned by Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stable LLC, and LNJ Foxwoods, Olympiad’s winning streak ended when he finished fourth in the Whitney Stakes on Aug. 6.

In the 1 3/16-mile Flower Bowl, George Krikorian’s five-year-old mare War Like Goddess will be a prohibitive favorite against six rivals. The defending Flower Bowl champion, War Like Goddess has won both her starts this year for trainer Bill Mott, taking the Bewitch Stakes (G3) at Keeneland in April and the Glens Falls Stakes (G2) at Saratoga on Aug. 6. Peter Brant’s Virginia Joy (GER), won the Sheepshead Bay Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park in May, and finished third in the Glens Falls for trainer Chad Brown.

As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders’ Cup will pay the entry fees for the winners of The Jockey Club Gold Cup winner and The Flower Bowl to start in the World Championships. Breeders’ Cup will also provide a $10,000 travel allowance for all starters based outside of Kentucky to compete in the World Championships.

NBC SPORTS AND HORSE RACING

NBC Sports is the exclusive home to the most important and prestigious events in horse racing, including the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Royal Ascot, and Pegasus World Cup Invitational Series.

ABOUT AMERICA’S BEST RACING

America’s Best Racing is a multimedia fan development and awareness-building platform, initiated by The Jockey Club, designed to increase the profile and visibility of North America’s best Thoroughbred racing events with a primary focus on the sport’s lifestyle and competition. You can follow America’s Best Racing at AmericasBestRacing.net as well as on social media platforms Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram, and Snapchat.

 ABOUT BREEDERS’ CUP

Breeders’ Cup Limited administers the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred horse racing’s year-end Championships, as well as the Breeders’ Cup Challenge qualifying series, which provides automatic starting positions into the Championships races. The Breeders’ Cup is also a founding member of the Thoroughbred Safety Coalition, an organization composed of industry leaders committed to advancing safety measures in Thoroughbred racing and improving the well-being of equine and human athletes.

The 2022 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, consisting of 14 Championship races, is scheduled to be held on November 4-5 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky. The Championships will be televised live by NBC Sports. Breeders’ Cup press releases appear on the Breeders’ Cup website, breederscup.com. You can also follow the Breeders’ Cup on social media.

–NBC SPORTS–

Live Coverage to Also Feature the Longines Test (G1)

STAMFORD, Conn. – Aug. 4, 2022 – Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) winner Life Is Good and Stephen Foster Stakes (G2) winner Olympiad headline the 1 1/8-mile, $1 million Whitney Stakes (G1) at historic Saratoga Race Course, as the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series continues this Saturday live on NBC and Peacock at 5 p.m. ET, with an automatic starting position into the $6 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) on the line.

The Whitney Stakes is the fourth program this year in the “Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In – presented by America’s Best Racing” on NBC, Peacock, and CNBC from some of North America’s most iconic racetracks. The series leads to the 39^th Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky, on Nov. 4-5. The complete series TV schedule can be accessed here and the NBC Sports programming schedule can be found here.

Saturday’s live coverage from Saratoga Springs, N.Y. will also include the $500,000 Longines Test Stakes (G1) for 3-year-old fillies.

NBC Sports’ coverage will feature commentary and discussion led by host Britney Eurton, analysts Randy Moss and Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey, winner of 15 Breeders’ Cup races including five victories in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, reporter Nick Luck, and handicapper Eddie Olczyk.

The morning line favorite Life Is Good, a 4-year-old colt owned by CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm LLC, and trained by Todd Pletcher, has won seven of nine starts. He won last year’s Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Del Mar and opened this year defeating Knicks Go, last year’s Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic winner, by 3 ¼ lengths in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park in January. Following a fourth-place finish in the Dubai World Cup (G1) in March, Life Is Good captured the 7-furlong John A. Nerud Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park on July 2 by 5 lengths. Life Is Good will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. from post six.

Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stable, LLC, and LNJ Foxwoods’ Olympiad, the 2-1 second choice, is undefeated this year in five starts. He won his last two races at Churchill Downs, taking the Alysheba Stakes (G2) over Happy Saver, and then earned an automatic berth into the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic on July 2 when he won the 1/8-mile Stephen Foster Stakes by 2 ¼ lengths over Americanrevolution.

Olympiad is trained by Bill Mott, who campaigned Cigar to an undefeated season of 10 victories in 1995, which culminated with a win in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Mott also won the Breeders’ Cup Classic with Drosselmeyer in 2011. Olympiad will be ridden by Junior Alvarado from post four.

Boat Racing, LLC, Gainesway Stable, Roadrunner Racing and William Strauss’ 4-year-old Hot Rod Charlie will be making his Saratoga debut. Trained by Doug O’Neill, Hot Rod Charlie, who won last year’s Pennsylvania Derby (G1), finished second in this year’s Dubai World Cup and was second in the Salvator Mile (G2) at Monmouth Park on June 18. Seeking his fifth career win, Hot Rod Charlie will be ridden by Flavien Prat from post two.

Pletcher has two other starters for the Whitney in CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm LLC’s Americanrevolution, and Wertheimer and Frere’s Happy Saver. The 4-year-old Americanrevolution, winner of last year’s Cigar Mile (G1), has won five of nine starts. Americanrevolution finished fourth in the listed Blame Stakes at Churchill Downs on June 4 prior to his runner-up finish in the Stephen Foster. Luis Saez has the mount, breaking from post one.

Happy Saver, the 2020 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) winner, is seeking his first win this year. After his runner-up finish in the Alysheba, the 5-year-old ran second behind Flightline, the top-rated horse in the latest Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings, in the Hill ‘N’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap (G1) at Belmont Park on June 11. John Velazquez has the mount on Happy Saver, breaking from post two.

Gary Barber’s 6-year-old gelding Zoomer steps into Grade 1 company for the first time. A son of 2007 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner Curlin, Zoomer captured a 1 1/8-mile claiming race at Saratoga by 7 lengths on July 17. Trained by Mark Casse, Zoomer will be ridden from post three by Joel Rosario.

As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders’ Cup will pay the entry fees for the Whitney winner to start in the World Championships. Breeders’ Cup will also provide a $10,000 travel allowance for all starters based outside of Kentucky to compete in the World Championships.

Over the years, the Whitney and the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic have had a strong connection. Six Whitney winners also captured the Classic in the same year: Awesome Again (1998), Invasor (ARG) (2006), Blame (2010), Fort Larned (2012), Gun Runner (2017), and Knicks Go (2021).

In the 7-furlong Longines Test Stakes, Godolphin’s Matareya is the prohibitive favorite based upon her four wins in four starts this year. Trained by Brad Cox, Matareya comes into the Test off a 6 ¼-length victory in the 1-mile Acorn Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park on June 11. Michael Dubb and Michael J. Caruso’s Hot Peppers has won five of six starts this year, including the Victory Ride (G3) at Belmont on July 9 for trainer Rudy Rodriguez.

NBC SPORTS AND HORSE RACING

NBC Sports is the exclusive home to the most important and prestigious events in horse racing, including the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Royal Ascot, and Pegasus World Cup Invitational Series.

ABOUT AMERICA’S BEST RACING

America’s Best Racing is a multimedia fan development and awareness-building platform, initiated by The Jockey Club, designed to increase the profile and visibility of North America’s best Thoroughbred racing events with a primary focus on the sport’s lifestyle and competition. You can follow America’s Best Racing at AmericasBestRacing.net as well as on social media platforms Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram, and Snapchat.

ABOUT BREEDERS’ CUP

Breeders’ Cup Limited administers the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred horse racing’s year-end Championships, as well as the Breeders’ Cup Challenge qualifying series, which provides automatic starting positions into the Championships races. The Breeders’ Cup is also a founding member of the Thoroughbred Safety Coalition, an organization composed of industry leaders committed to advancing safety measures in Thoroughbred racing and improving the well-being of equine and human athletes.

The 2022 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, consisting of 14 Championship races, is scheduled to be held on November 4-5 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky. The Championships will be televised live by NBC Sports. Breeders’ Cup press releases appear on the Breeders’ Cup website, breederscup.com. You can also follow the Breeders’ Cup on social media.

–NBC SPORTS–

Live Coverage to Also Feature the United Nations Stakes (G1)

STAMFORD, Conn. – July 22, 2022 – Undefeated Jack Christopher and morning line favorite Taiba headline NBC Sports’ live coverage of the “Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In – presented by America’s Best Racing” $1 million TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1) this Saturday at 5 p.m. ET on CNBC from Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J. The winner of the eight-horse field will earn an automatic berth into this year’s $6 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).

The TVG.com Haskell Stakes is the third program this year in the “Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In – presented by America’s Best Racing” on NBC, Peacock, and CNBC from some of North America’s most iconic racetracks. The series leads to the 39^th Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky, on Nov. 4-5. The complete series TV schedule can be accessed here and the NBC Sports programming schedule can be found here.

Saturday’s live coverage will also include the 1 3/8-mile, $600,000 United Nations Stakes (G1) on turf.

NBC Sports’ coverage will feature commentary and discussion led by host Ahmed Fareed, analysts Randy Moss and Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey, winner of 15 Breeders’ Cup races including five victories in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, reporter Britney Eurton, and handicapper Matt Bernier.

Among Haskell contenders, Jack Christopher, owned by Jim Bakke, Gerald Isbister, Coolmore Stud and Peter Brant, has won all four of his starts, including two dominant wins this year in one-turn races. Trained by Chad Brown, Jack Christopher captured the Pat Day Mile (G2) at Churchill Downs on May 7 by 3 ¾ lengths and followed up that performance with a stunning 10-length victory in the 7-furlong Woody Stephens Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park on June 11.

Zedan Racing Stables, Inc’s Taiba, the 7-5 morning line favorite, has raced just three times. After breaking his maiden by 7 ½ lengths in March, he defeated highly regarded stablemate Messier in the Santa Anita Derby (G1). A son of 2017 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Gun Runner, Taiba will look to rebound from his 12th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby (G1) presented by Woodford Reserve. Trainer Bob Baffert has saddled nine winners of the Haskell, including Authentic in 2020, who also won the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic and the Horse of the Year title.

C2 Racing Stable LLC and La Milagrosa Stable, LLC’s White Abarrio, trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., also had a disappointing Kentucky Derby, finishing 16th. However, he comes into the Haskell off a second-place finish in the Ohio Derby (G3) at Thistledown on June 25. White Abarrio was the top 3-year-old in Florida this winter, winning both the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) and the Florida Derby (G1).

Gold Square LLC’s Cyberknife defeated Howling Time by a nose in the 1 1/16-mile Matt Winn Stakes (G3) on June 12 at Churchill Downs. Trained by Brad Cox, Cyberknife has won three of five races this year, including the Arkansas Derby (G1). Cox also trained last year’s Haskell Stakes winner, Mandaloun, who was elevated from second place to first following the disqualification of Hot Rod Charlie.

The Albaugh Family Stables LLC’s Howling Time, trained by Dale Romans, won an allowance race at Churchill Downs on May 21 prior to the Matt Winn.

As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders’ Cup will pay the entry fees for the Haskell Stakes winner to start in the World Championships. Breeders’ Cup will also provide a $10,000 travel allowance for all starters based outside of Kentucky to compete in the World Championships.

In the United Nations Stakes, Chad Brown has entered Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables LLC, Wonder Stables, and Michael J. Caruso’s defending champion Tribhuvan (FR) and Madaket Stables, LLC, Michael Dubb and Louis Lazzinnaro LLC’s Adhamo (IRE). Tribhuvan defeated Adhamo by 3 ½ lengths in the Resorts World Casino Manhattan Stakes (G1) on June 11 at Belmont Park. The main challenge to the Brown duo should come from Otter Bend Stables, LLC’s Gufo, who has won eight races for trainer Christophe Clement, and finished third in the Manhattan Stakes as the 2-1 favorite.

NBC SPORTS AND HORSE RACING

NBC Sports is the exclusive home to the most important and prestigious events in horse racing, including the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Royal Ascot, and Pegasus World Cup Invitational Series.

ABOUT AMERICA’S BEST RACING

America’s Best Racing is a multimedia fan development and awareness-building platform, initiated by The Jockey Club, designed to increase the profile and visibility of North America’s best Thoroughbred racing events with a primary focus on the sport’s lifestyle and competition. You can follow America’s Best Racing at AmericasBestRacing.net as well as on social media platforms Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram, and Snapchat.

ABOUT BREEDERS’ CUP

Breeders’ Cup Limited administers the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred horse racing’s year-end Championships, as well as the Breeders’ Cup Challenge qualifying series, which provides automatic starting positions into the Championships races. The Breeders’ Cup is also a founding member of the Thoroughbred Safety Coalition, an organization composed of industry leaders committed to advancing safety measures in Thoroughbred racing and improving the well-being of equine and human athletes.

The 2022 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, consisting of 14 Championship races, is scheduled to be held on November 4-5 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky. The Championships will be televised live by NBC Sports. Breeders’ Cup press releases appear on the Breeders’ Cup website, breederscup.com. You can also follow the Breeders’ Cup on social media.

–NBC SPORTS–

Two Hours of Coverage to Feature Pair of “Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series – Win and You’re In” Races: Stephen Foster Stakes (G2) & Princess Rooney Invitational (G2) Plus the Fleur de Lis (G2) and Kelly’s Landing Overnight Stakes

Historic 80-1 Longshot Kentucky Derby Winner Rich Strike Connections to Take Part in Special Trophy Presentation at Churchill Downs

STAMFORD, Conn. – June 30, 2022 – 2021 Kentucky Derby winner Mandaloun headlines NBC Sports’ live coverage of the “Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In – presented by America’s Best Racing” $750,000 Stephen Foster Stakes (G2) this Saturday at 4 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock from Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. The winner of the Stephen Foster Stakes will earn the first automatic berth into this year’s $6 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).

The Stephen Foster Stakes headlines the second program this year in the “Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In – presented by America’s Best Racing” on NBC, Peacock, and CNBC from some of North America’s most iconic racetracks. The series leads to the 39^th Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky, on Nov. 4-5. The complete series TV schedule can be accessed here and the NBC Sports programming schedule can be found here.

Saturday’s two-hour broadcast will also include coverage of the 1 1/8-mile, $350,000 Fleur de Lis (G2), for fillies and mares, and the 6 ½-furlong, $160,000 Kelly’s Landing Overnight Stakes for 3-year-olds and up. The $300,000 Princess Rooney Invitational (G2) from Gulfstream Park, a Win and You’re In for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1), will also be featured during race coverage. Last year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint winner Ce Ce is expected to start in the Princess Rooney Invitational.

Also among the highlights, the connections of historic 80-1 longshot Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike will take part in a special trophy presentation at Churchill Downs.

NBC Sports’ coverage will feature commentary and discussion on-site at Churchill Downs led by host Britney Eurton, analysts Randy Moss and Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey, winner of 15 Breeders’ Cup races including five victories in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, and reporters/handicappers Matt Bernier and Eddie Olczyk.

The Stephen Foster Stakes, first run in 1982, has had a significant impact on the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, as five of its winners have gone on to win the Classic in the same year: Black Tie Affair (IRE) (1991), Awesome Again (1998), Saint Liam (2005), Blame (2010) and Gun Runner (2017).

Leading this year’s Stephen Foster, Mandaloun has won 6 races in 10 starts for trainer Brad Cox. A 4-year-old son of Into Mischief, Mandaloun won the Louisiana Stakes (G3) at Fair Grounds in New Orleans in January but finished ninth in the Saudi Cup (G1) at King Abdulaziz Racetrack on Feb. 26. Earlier this year, Mandaloun was declared the winner of the 2021 Kentucky Derby following the disqualification of Medina Spirit. Cox, a two-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer, saddled Knicks Go to victory in last year’s Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic. Mandaloun will be ridden by Florent Geroux from post six.

Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stable, LLC, and LNJ Foxwoods’ Olympiad is unbeaten in four starts this year. Trained by Bill Mott, who saddled Breeders’ Cup Classic winners Cigar (1995) and Drosselmeyer (2011), Olympiad captured the Mineshaft Stakes (G3) and the New Orleans Classic Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds before scoring a 2 ½-length win over the Churchill strip in the Alysheba Stakes (G2) on May 6. Junior Alvarado will ride Olympiad from post three.

Willis Horton Racing’s 4-year-old Last Samurai comes into the race off a 4-length victory in the Oaklawn Handicap (G1) on April 23. Last Samurai, who was transferred to the barn of trainer D. Wayne Lukas from previous trainer Dallas Stewart following the Oaklawn Handicap, will be ridden by Jon Court from post seven. Another graded stakes winner in the field is CHC, Inc. and WinStar Farm’s Americanrevolution. Winner of last year’s Cigar Mile (G1) in New York for trainer Todd Pletcher, Americanrevolution finished fourth at Churchill in the listed Blame Stakes on June 4 in his 2022 debut. Luis Saez has the mount on Americanrevolution, breaking from post two.

As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders’ Cup will pay the entry fees for the Stephen Foster winner to start in the World Championships. Breeders’ Cup will also provide a $10,000 travel allowance for all starters based outside of Kentucky to compete in the World Championships.

In the Fleur de Lis, Flurry Racing Stables LLC, Qatar Racing Limited, and Whisper Hill Farm, LLC’s 5-year-old mare Shedaresthedevil had won all five of her starts at Churchill Downs — including Grade 1 wins in the Longines Kentucky Oaks and the La Troienne — before suffering her first defeat under the Twin Spires when she finished second by a half-length to Pauline’s Pearl in defending her La Troienne title on May 6. Trained by Brad Cox, Shedaresthedevil has won nine of 19 starts. She will be ridden by Florent Geroux.

Stonestreet Stables LLC’s Pauline’s Pearl, trained by Steve Asmussen, has won two of four starts this year. In addition to the La Troienne, the 4-year-old daughter of Tapit won the Houston Ladies Classic Stakes (G3) at Sam Houston Race Park in January. Joel Rosario will ride Pauline’s Pearl from post four.

The Fleur de Lis is a part of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Dozen program. The first three finishers in the race will earn bonus credits applied toward entry fee costs into $2 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1).

Nine horses have been entered in the Kelly’s Landing Overnight Stakes, including last year’s $2 million Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) winner Aloha West. Trained by Wayne Catalano for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Aloha West will try to get back to the winner’s circle following two defeats this year, which includes a third-place finish in the Churchill Downs Stakes (G1) on May 7.

NBC SPORTS AND HORSE RACING

NBC Sports is the exclusive home to the most important and prestigious events in horse racing, including the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Royal Ascot, and Pegasus World Cup Invitational Series.

ABOUT AMERICA’S BEST RACING

America’s Best Racing is a multimedia fan development and awareness-building platform, initiated by The Jockey Club, designed to increase the profile and visibility of North America’s best Thoroughbred racing events with a primary focus on the sport’s lifestyle and competition. You can follow America’s Best Racing at AmericasBestRacing.net as well as on social media platforms Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram, and Snapchat.

ABOUT BREEDERS’ CUP

Breeders’ Cup Limited administers the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred horse racing’s year-end Championships, as well as the Breeders’ Cup Challenge qualifying series, which provides automatic starting positions into the Championships races. The Breeders’ Cup is also a founding member of the Thoroughbred Safety Coalition, an organization composed of industry leaders committed to advancing safety measures in Thoroughbred racing and improving the well-being of equine and human athletes.

The 2022 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, consisting of 14 Championship races, is scheduled to be held on November 4-5 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky. The Championships will be televised live by the NBC Sports Group. Breeders’ Cup press releases appear on the Breeders’ Cup website, breederscup.com. You can also follow the Breeders’ Cup on social media.

–NBC SPORTS–

Stephen Foster Stakes, TVG.com Haskell, Whitney and Jockey Club Gold Cup Headline $6 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic Automatic Qualifying Races

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 25, 2022) ― The Breeders’ Cup and NBC Sports today announced the 2022 “Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In – presented by America’s Best Racing” television schedule, consisting of nine live programs across NBC, CNBC and Peacock, featuring 18 automatic qualifying races from the nation’s premier racetracks on the road to the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.

Now in its ninth year on NBC Sports, the “Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In – presented by America’s Best Racing” spotlights the country’s top horses as they compete for an automatic starting position, and free entry, into a corresponding divisional race of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. The 39th Breeders’ Cup World Championships will be held at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., on Nov. 4-5.

“We are delighted again to partner with NBC Sports to bring the most comprehensive and innovative coverage of horse racing to viewers across the country leading up to the World Championships,” said Drew Fleming, Breeders’ Cup President and CEO. “We also thank our presenting partner, America’s Best Racing, for their support of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series and ongoing efforts to promote the excitement and entertainment of our sport in so many creative ways.”

“We are excited to work with our longtime partners at Breeders’ Cup on another compelling summer and fall of Challenge Series racing, culminating with the world’s best horses competing in the World Championships at Keeneland in November,” said Gary Quinn, NBC Sports Vice President, Programming & Owned Properties.

NBC Sports coverage of the 2022 Challenge Series begins on Saturday, June 11 during Belmont Stakes Day programming. Belmont Park will host three Win and You’re In races: the Hill ‘n’ Metropolitan Handicap (G1), which will provide the winner with an automatic starting position in the $1 million Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1), the Ogden Phipps (G1), which awards an invitation into the $2 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1), and the Jaipur Stakes (G1), which is a Win and You’re In for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1). NBC Sports Belmont Stakes Day coverage will begin at 3 p.m. ET on CNBC and move to NBC from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. ET. Post times for the three Breeders’ Cup Challenge races are still to be determined.

The series continues July 2 on NBC and Peacock at 4 p.m. ET from Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., with the Stephen Foster Stakes (G2), which is the first of four Win and You’re In races for the $6 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) to be televised during this year’s series. The July 2 program will also include live coverage of the Fleur de Lis Stakes (G2), for fillies and mares.

On July 23, CNBC (5 p.m. ET) will televise live the TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1) from Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J., where the nation’s top 3-year-olds will vie for a free qualifying position into the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Historic Saratoga Racecourse in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., will be the site for the  Whitney (G1) on NBC and Peacock on Aug. 6 (5 p.m. ET), which will give the winner an automatic spot into the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic. Last year, Knicks Go gained a Win and You’re In berth for the Classic when he won the Whitney going wire to wire. Knicks Go won the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar and was later crowned the 2021 Horse of the Year and 2021 Longines World’s Best Racehorse.

The series will be back in Saratoga on Sept. 3  on NBC and Peacock (4:30 p.m. ET) for  The Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) and The Flower Bowl (G1). The Jockey Club Gold Cup is a Win and You’re In for the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, while the Flower Bowl will provide the winner a free starting position in the $2 million Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1).

On Sept. 10 at Kentucky Downs in Franklin, Ky., CNBC (5 p.m. ET) will televise two automatic qualifiers into the World Championships. The Calumet Turf Cup (G2) offers an invitation into the $4 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) and the FanDuel Turf Sprint (G2) is a Win and You’re In for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1).

Two-year-olds will take center stage at Belmont Park on Oct. 1 when NBC and Peacock (4:00 p.m. ET) present The Champagne (G1) and the Miss Grillo Stakes (G2). The Champagne winner will receive a free starting spot in the $2 million TVG Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) and the Miss Grillo winner will gain an invitation into the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1).

The “Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In – presented by America’s Best Racing” schedule will conclude with two blockbuster CNBC telecasts on Oct. 8 and 9 from Keeneland. The Oct. 8 program will be highlighted by the Coolmore Turf Mile (G1), which is a Win and You’re In for the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1). The program will also include the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1), which gives the winner a free berth into the TVG Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, and the Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (G2), providing the winner with an invitation into the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1).

On Oct. 9 (5 p.m. ET), the CNBC telecast will feature the Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (G1), the Castle and Key Bourbon Stakes (G2) and the Indian Summer Stakes. The Spinster will offer an automatic starting position in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff, the Bourbon Stakes will give the winner a free spot into the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) and Indian Summer is a Win and You’re In for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1).

The complete Challenge Series television schedule can be viewed here.

The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series coverage on NBC and CNBC will be live-streamed on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app.

“Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In presented by America’s Best Racing”
(Television schedule subject to change)
Date	Platform	Time (ET)	Event	Track	Challenge Division
Saturday, June 11	NBC, Peacock	5:00 – 7:00 PM (TBD)	Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap	Belmont Park	Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile
		(TBD)	Ogden Phipps	Belmont Park	Longines Distaff
		(TBD)	Jaipur Stakes	Belmont Park	Turf Sprint
Saturday, July 2	NBC, Peacock	4:00 – 6:00 PM	Stephen Foster Stakes	Churchill Downs	Longines Classic
			Fleur de Lis Stakes*	Churchill Downs	Longines Distaff
Saturday, July 23	CNBC	5:00 – 6:00 PM	TVG.com Haskell Stakes	Monmouth Park	Longines Classic
Saturday, Aug. 6	NBC, Peacock	5:00 – 6:00 PM	The Whitney	Saratoga	Longines Classic
Saturday, Sept. 3	NBC, Peacock	4:30 – 6:00 PM	Jockey Club Gold Cup	Saratoga	Longines Classic
			Flower Bowl	Saratoga	Maker’s Mark Filly & Mare Turf
Saturday, Sept. 10	CNBC	5:00 – 6:00 PM	FanDuel Turf Sprint	Kentucky Downs	Turf Sprint
			Calumet Turf Cup	Kentucky Downs	Longines Turf
Saturday, Oct. 1	NBC, Peacock	4:00- 6:00 PM	The Champagne	Belmont Park	TVG Juvenile
			Miss Grillo	Belmont Park	Juvenile Fillies Turf
Saturday, Oct. 8	CNBC	5:00 – 6:00 PM	Thoroughbred Club of America	Keeneland	Filly & Mare Sprint
			Claiborne Breeders Futurity	Keeneland	TVG Juvenile
			Coolmore Turf Mile	Keeneland	FanDuel Mile
Sunday, Oct. 9	CNBC	5:00 – 6:00 PM	Juddmonte Spinster Stakes	Keeneland	Longines Distaff
			Castle and Key Bourbon Stakes	Keeneland	Juvenile Turf
			Indian Summer Stakes	Keeneland	Juvenile Turf Sprint

 

*Fleur de Lis is not a Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series race.

 

ABOUT NBC SPORTS

NBC Sports connects people to the moments that matter most and serves sports fans 24/7 with premier live events, insightful studio shows, and compelling original programming. The sports media company presents premier content across linear platforms NBC, USA Network, Golf Channel, and Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA, as well numerous digital sites, including Peacock. It also consists of NBC Sports Next, a subdivision of NBC Sports and home to all NBCUniversal digital applications in sports and technology within its three groups: Youth & Recreational Sports, Golf, and Betting & Gaming. NBC Sports possesses an unparalleled collection of media rights agreements, partnering with some of the most prestigious sports properties in the world: the International Olympic Committee and United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, the NFL, NASCAR, INDYCAR, PGA TOUR, Notre Dame, The R&A, PGA of America, USGA, Churchill Downs, Premier League, MLB, Tour de France, Roland-Garros, and many more.

 

ABOUT AMERICA’S BEST RACING

America’s Best Racing is a multimedia fan development and awareness-building platform, initiated by The Jockey Club, designed to increase the profile and visibility of North America’s best Thoroughbred racing events with a primary focus on the sport’s lifestyle and competition. You can follow America’s Best Racing at AmericasBestRacing.net as well as on social media platforms Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram, and Snapchat.

 

ABOUT BREEDERS’ CUP

Breeders’ Cup Limited administers the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred horse racing’s year-end Championships, as well as the Breeders’ Cup Challenge qualifying series, which provides automatic starting positions into the Championships races. The Breeders’ Cup is also a founding member of the Thoroughbred Safety Coalition, an organization composed of industry leaders committed to advancing safety measures in Thoroughbred racing and improving the well-being of equine and human athletes.

The 2022 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, consisting of 14 Championship races, is scheduled to be held on November 4-5 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky. The Championships will be televised live by the NBC Sports Group. Breeders’ Cup press releases appear on the Breeders’ Cup website, breederscup.com. You can also follow the Breeders’ Cup on social media.