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The 2026 Breeders' Cup Challenge Series, better known as Win & You're In, gives horses around the world a direct path to the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Keeneland on October 30-31.
Challenge races are held across major racing jurisdictions and cover every Breeders' Cup Championship division, from the Classic and Turf to the juvenile, sprint and fillies-and-mares divisions.
A Breeders' Cup-nominated horse that wins an official Challenge race earns an automatic starting position in the corresponding Championship race.
For eligible nominated winners, Breeders' Cup also covers the pre-entry and entry fees for that Championship division.
The Challenge Series runs throughout the racing season, with qualifying races held in the United States and around the world.
| Date | Race | Grade | Division | Track | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec. 13, 2025 | Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini Internacional Stakes | G1 | Turf | San Isidro | Obataye (BRZ) |
| Jan. 6 | Gran Premio Pedro Pineyrua | G3 | Dirt Mile | Maroñas | Herr Kitten (BRZ) |
| Jan. 10 | Cartier Paddock Stakes | G1 | Filly & Mare Turf | Kenilworth | Wish List (SAF) |
| Jan. 10 | L'Ormarins King's Plate | G1 | Mile | Kenilworth | The Real Prince (SAF) |
| Jan. 10 | World Pool Cape Flying Championship | G1 | Turf Sprint | Kenilworth | Kingdundee (SAF) |
| Jan. 24 | Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes | G1 | Classic | Gulfstream Park | Skippylongstocking |
| Feb. 14 | Riyadh Dirt Sprint | G2 | Sprint | King Abdulaziz | Imagination |
| Feb. 14 | Saudi Cup | G1 | Classic | King Abdulaziz | Forever Young (JPN) |
| Feb. 22 | February Stakes | G1 | Classic | Tokyo | Costa Nova (JPN) |
| Mar. 28 | Dubai Golden Shaheen | G1 | Sprint | Meydan | Dark Saffron |
| Mar. 28 | Dubai Turf | G1 | Mile | Meydan | Ombudsman (IRE) |
| Mar. 28 | Dubai World Cup | G1 | Classic | Meydan | Magnitude |
| Mar. 28 | Longines Dubai Sheema Classic | G1 | Turf | Meydan | Calandagan (IRE) |
| Apr. 11 | Apple Blossom Handicap | G1 | Distaff | Oaklawn Park | Claret Beret |
| Apr. 26 | Gran Premio Pamplona | G1 | Filly & Mare Turf | Monterrico | Se Va Colando (ARG) |
| May 1 | Gran Premio Criadores | G1 | Distaff | Palermo | Herd Immunity (ARG) |
| May 17 | Victoria Mile | G1 | Filly & Mare Turf | Tokyo | Embroidery (JPN) |
| May 31 | Gran Premio Club Hípico Falabella | G1 | Turf | Club Hípico de Santiago | Eccentric (CHI) |
| Jun. 5 | Ogden Phipps Presented by Ford | G1 | Distaff | Saratoga | Nitrogen |
| Jun. 6 | Hill 'N' Dale Metropolitan Handicap | G1 | Dirt Mile | Saratoga | Nysos |
| Jun. 6 | Jaipur | G1 | Turf Sprint | Saratoga | Reef Runner |
| Jun. 7 | Yasuda Kinen | G1 | Mile | Tokyo | Sixpence (JPN) |
| Jun. 14 | Takarazuka Kinen | G1 | Turf | Hanshin | Meisho Tabaru (JPN) |
| Jun. 16 | King Charles III Stakes | G1 | Turf Sprint | Ascot | Mission Central (IRE) |
| Jun. 16 | Queen Anne Stakes | G1 | Mile | Ascot | Ten Bob Tony (IRE) |
| Jun. 17 | Prince of Wales's Stakes | G1 | Turf | Ascot | Ombudsman (IRE) |
| Jun. 20 | Norfolk Stakes | G2 | Juvenile Turf Sprint | Ascot | Orthodox (GB) |
| Jun. 27 | Fasig-Tipton Fleur de Lis | G2 | Distaff | Churchill Downs | Immersive |
| Jun. 27 | Stephen Foster | G1 | Classic | Churchill Downs | Magnitude |
| Jul. 18 | Haskell Stakes | G1 | Classic | Monmouth Park | Baby Vino |
| Jul. 25 | King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes | G1 | Turf | Ascot | Kalpana (GB) |
| Jul. 25 | Princess Margaret Japan Cup Stakes | G3 | Juvenile Fillies Turf | Ascot | Moonrise (IRE) |
| Jul. 25 | Bing Crosby Stakes | G1 | Sprint | Del Mar | Listenupshance |
| Jul. 29 | Veuve Clicquot Molecomb Stakes | G3 | Juvenile Turf Sprint | Goodwood | Pershaada (IRE) |
| Jul. 29 | Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes | G1 | Mile | Goodwood | Bow Echo (IRE) |
| Jul. 30 | Qatar Nassau Stakes | G1 | Filly & Mare Turf | Goodwood | Diamond Necklace (IRE) |
| Aug. 1 | Clement L. Hirsch Stakes | G1 | Distaff | Del Mar | Eunomia |
| Aug. 8 | Fourstardave | G1 | Mile | Saratoga | Deterministic |
| Aug. 8 | Whitney Stakes | G1 | Classic | Saratoga | Sovereignty |
| Aug. 15 | Christophe Clement Turf | G1 | Turf | Saratoga | Survie (IRE) |
| Aug. 19 | Juddmonte International Stakes | G1 | Classic | York | Item (GB) |
| Aug. 19 | Tattersalls Acomb Stakes | G3 | Juvenile Turf | York | Haffner |
| Aug. 20 | Legends Global Yorkshire Oaks | G1 | Filly & Mare Turf | York | Kalpana (GB) |
| Aug. 21 | Coolmore City of Troy Nunthorpe Stakes | G1 | Turf Sprint | York | Bacio |
| Aug. 22 | Green Flash Handicap | G2 | Turf Sprint | Del Mar | Sorrento Sky (IRE) |
| Aug. 22 | Pacific Classic | G1 | Classic | Del Mar | Knightsbridge |
| Aug. 29 | Del Mar Handicap | G2 | Turf | Del Mar | Test Score |
| Aug. 29 | Pat O'Brien Stakes | G2 | Dirt Mile | Del Mar | Iron Man Cal |
| Aug. 29 | Forego | G1 | Dirt Mile | Saratoga | Hymn |
| Aug. 29 | Personal Ensign | G1 | Distaff | Saratoga | Fully Subscribed |
| Aug. 29 | Ballerina Stakes | G1 | Filly & Mare Sprint | Saratoga | Ways and Means |
| Sep. 5 | Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint | G2 | Turf Sprint | Kentucky Downs | Possiblemente |
| Sep. 5 | Kentucky Turf Cup Invitational | G2 | Turf | Kentucky Downs | Tiffany (IRE) |
| Sep. 5 | Spinaway | G1 | Juvenile Fillies | Saratoga | Summer Starlet |
| Sep. 6 | Korea Cup | G2 | Dirt Mile | Seoul | Diktaean (JPN) |
| Sep. 6 | Korea Sprint | G3 | Sprint | Seoul | Dragon Welds |
| Sep. 12 | Princess Rooney Stakes | G3 | Filly & Mare Sprint | Gulfstream Park | Kerry's Kiss |
| Sep. 12 | Coolmore America 'Justify' Matron Stakes | G1 | Filly & Mare Turf | Leopardstown | Blue Bolt (IRE) |
| Sep. 12 | Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes | G1 | Turf | Leopardstown | Hotazhell (GB) |
| Sep. 12 | Summer Stakes | G1 | Juvenile Turf | Woodbine | Al Hudaiba (GB) |
| Sep. 12 | E.P. Taylor Stakes | G1 | Filly & Mare Turf | Woodbine | Gimme a Nother (SAF) |
| Sep. 12 | Natalma Stakes | G1 | Juvenile Fillies Turf | Woodbine | Voyager |
| Sep. 12 | Woodbine Mile | G1 | Mile | Woodbine | Notable Speech (GB) |
| Sep. 13 | Bar 1 Betting Flying Five Stakes | G1 | Turf Sprint | Curragh | Comanche Brave (IRE) |
| Sep. 13 | Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes | G1 | Juvenile Turf | Curragh | Folsom Blues (IRE) |
| Sep. 13 | Moyglare Stud Stakes | G1 | Juvenile Fillies Turf | Curragh | Sun Goddess (IRE) |
| Sep. 18 | Jockey Club Gold Cup | G1 | Classic | Belmont Park | Forever Young |
| Sep. 26 | Flower Bowl | G2 | Filly & Mare Turf | Belmont Park | — |
| Sep. 26 | Vosburgh | G3 | Sprint | Belmont Park | — |
| Sep. 26 | City of Hope Mile | G2 | Mile | Santa Anita Park | — |
| Sep. 26 | Goodwood Stakes | G1 | Classic | Santa Anita Park | — |
| Sep. 27 | Santa Anita Sprint Championship | G2 | Sprint | Santa Anita Park | — |
| Sep. 27 | Zenyatta Stakes | G2 | Distaff | Santa Anita Park | — |
| Oct. 2 | Darley Alcibiades | G1 | Juvenile Fillies | Keeneland | — |
| Oct. 2 | Jessamine Presented by Keeneland Sales | G2 | Juvenile Fillies Turf | Keeneland | — |
| Oct. 2 | Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix | G2 | Sprint | Keeneland | — |
| Oct. 3 | Champagne | G1 | Juvenile | Belmont Park | — |
| Oct. 3 | Futurity | G3 | Juvenile Turf Sprint | Belmont Park | — |
| Oct. 3 | Miss Grillo | G2 | Juvenile Fillies Turf | Belmont Park | — |
| Oct. 3 | Pilgrim | G2 | Juvenile Turf | Belmont Park | — |
| Oct. 3 | Claiborne Breeders' Futurity | G1 | Juvenile | Keeneland | — |
| Oct. 3 | Coolmore Turf Mile | G1 | Mile | Keeneland | — |
| Oct. 3 | Thoroughbred Club of America | G2 | Filly & Mare Sprint | Keeneland | — |
| Oct. 3 | American Pharoah | G1 | Juvenile | Santa Anita Park | — |
| Oct. 3 | Oak Leaf Stakes | G2 | Juvenile Fillies | Santa Anita Park | — |
| Oct. 3 | Rodeo Drive Stakes | G2 | Filly & Mare Turf | Santa Anita Park | — |
| Oct. 4 | Castle & Key Bourbon | G2 | Juvenile Turf | Keeneland | — |
| Oct. 4 | Juddmonte Spinster | G1 | Distaff | Keeneland | — |
| Oct. 4 | Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp Longines | G1 | Turf Sprint | ParisLongchamp | — |
| Oct. 4 | Prix de l'Opera Longines | G1 | Filly & Mare Turf | ParisLongchamp | — |
| Oct. 4 | Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe | G1 | Turf | ParisLongchamp | — |
| Oct. 4 | Qatar Prix de la Foret | G1 | Mile | ParisLongchamp | — |
| Oct. 4 | Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere | G1 | Juvenile Turf | ParisLongchamp | — |
| Oct. 4 | Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac | G1 | Juvenile Fillies Turf | ParisLongchamp | — |
| Oct. 17 | Qatar Racing Champion Stakes | G1 | Turf | Ascot | — |
Last Updated on 09/22/2026
Challenge races are tied to specific Breeders' Cup divisions, so a qualifying victory earns an automatic berth in the corresponding Championship race.
Winning a Challenge race secures an automatic position in the corresponding Breeders' Cup division, provided the horse meets the Breeders' Cup nomination requirements.
If the connections instead pre-enter the horse in a different Championship division, the automatic berth does not transfer to that race, and additional starting fees may apply.
Breeders' Cup Championship starters based outside Kentucky can also receive travel assistance.
The Challenge Series provides one of the clearest ways to follow which horses are securing positions for championship weekend. As qualifying races are completed, the picture for each division becomes clearer.
Follow the Qualifiers. Track the Contenders. Bet the Championship.
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The Breeders' Cup Challenge Series is a worldwide series of qualifying races commonly known as Win & You're In. Winners can earn an automatic starting position in the corresponding Breeders' Cup Championship race.
Win & You're In means an eligible Breeders' Cup-nominated horse that wins a designated Challenge race receives automatic selection into the corresponding Championship division.
Yes, provided the horse meets the Breeders' Cup nomination and eligibility requirements, a Challenge victory earns an automatic starting position in the corresponding Championship race.
Eligible Breeders' Cup-nominated Challenge winners receive a credit covering the pre-entry and entry fees for the corresponding Championship race.
In 2026, the person who nominated an eligible Challenge-winning foal or racehorse receives a $10,000 nominator award.
Yes. Eligible Championship starters based outside Kentucky can receive travel awards, including $10,000 for North American starters and $40,000 for international starters.
Yes. The Breeders' Cup Challenge Series is international, with qualifying races staged across North America, Europe, Asia, South America, the Middle East and other major racing regions.
The 2026 Challenge Series includes qualifying races across all Breeders' Cup Championship divisions, including the Classic, Turf, Distaff, Mile, Sprint, Dirt Mile and juvenile divisions.
A horse may pre-enter another Championship division, but the automatic starting position earned through the Challenge Series applies only to the corresponding division of the qualifying race.
The 2026 Breeders' Cup World Championships will be held October 30-31 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky.
The 2026 Breeders' Cup Challenge races are listed in the schedule above and will be updated as qualifying races are completed throughout the season.
You can bet the 2026 Breeders' Cup online at BUSR. New members can also claim the current welcome offer and watch eligible races live after placing a bet.
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