Bring on the heat. Horse racing’s summer season arrives in full force this week and next with the opening Thursday (July 10) of the 40-day meet at Saratoga in upstate New York and the start of the 31-day Del Mar meet in California on July 18.
While many of the top horses are being primed for the second half of the year – among them Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Sovereignty, Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Journalism, and reigning Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna – the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series starts warming up as well.
Saratoga, aka the Summer Place to Be, has nine BC “Win and You’re In’’ challenge races. Del Mar -- Where the Turf Meets the Surf – has six BC “Win and You’re In’’ races before hosting the Breeders’ Cup on Oct. 31-Nov. 1.
This year, the BC chose 93 races in 15 countries as automatic qualifiers for a spot in one of the 14 corresponding races that award $34 million in prize money.
In addition to automatic entry, the Breeders’ Cup covers pre-entry and entry fees as well as $10,000 for nominating the foal or racehorse. All starters will receive a travel award if based outside California -- $10,000 for North America, $40,000 for international.
So far, 27 of the 93 “Win and You’re In’’ races have been contested from late December through June 29. Among the winners who have earned berths in the $7 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) are Forever Young (Saudi Cup), Costa Nova (February Stakes), Hit Show (Dubai World Cup), and Mindframe (Stephen Foster).
In July, the $1 million Haskell Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park on July 19 is the first of six “Win and You’re In’’ races – the winner gets a spot in the Breeders' Cup Classic. Gosger, the Preakness runner-up and Blue Grass (G1) winner Burhnam Square (sixth in the Kentucky Derby) are among the probables.
The other BC Challenge races are the Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) at Del Mar on July 26 (Breeders' Cup Sprint qualifier), and four in Europe – the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) at Ascot on July 26 (Breeders' Cup Turf); the Sussex Stakes (G1) at Goodwood on July 30 (BC Mile); the Molecomb Stakes (G3) at Goodwood on July 30 (BC Juvenile Turf Sprint); and the Nassau Stakes (G1) at Goodwood on July 31 (Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf).
August features 21 “Win and You’re In’’ berths, kicking off on Aug. 2 at Saratoga with the Fourstardave (G1) and the Whitney Stakes (G1), and the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (G1) on Aug. 3 at Del Mar. The Whitney Stakes will likely feature the last two BC Classic winners -- Sierra Leone (2024) and White Abarrio (2023), as well as Fierceness, last year’s Travers Stakes winner and Classic runner-up.
The biggest race of the summer is shaping up to be the $1.25 million Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga on Aug. 23. Possibles include Sovereignty, Journalism, Baeza (1-2-3 finishers in the Belmont Stakes), Sandman, and Magnitude, back in form after a massive win in the Iowa Derby on Saturday (July 5) after missing the Triple Crown races with an injury.
