
In 2024, six Breeders’ Cup World Championships winners earned automatic berths via the Breeders’ Cup Challenge series including Henri Matisse (IRE) in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
The domestic schedule of the 2025 series kicks off this Friday and Saturday, June 6-7, at Saratoga Race Course
Breeders’ Cup Release
The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In is an international series of 93 stakes races in 15 countries whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race at the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. The full schedule may be viewed at BreedersCup.com/races/challenge-series.
The domestic schedule of the 2025 series kicks off this Friday and Saturday, June 6-7, at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. during the Belmont Stakes Festival.
The $500,000 Ogden Phipps (G1) on Friday, June 6, and the $1 million Metropolitan Handicap (G1) and $500,000 Jaipur Stakes (G1), both on Saturday, June 7, are the first three of 44 domestic races in the 2025 Challenge Series.
The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series debuted in Saratoga on July 28, 2007.
In 2024, six Breeders’ Cup World Championships winners earned automatic berths via the Breeders’ Cup Challenge series: Henri Matisse (IRE) (Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf), Lake Victoria (IRE) (John Deere Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf), Citizen Bull (FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile), Immersive (NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies), Soul of an Angel (PNC Bank Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint), and Moira (ON) (Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf).
After the 2025 running at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club and the 2026 edition at Keeneland Race Course, the 2027 Breeders’ Cup World Championships will be held at the new Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.
$500,000 Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1), 1 1/8 Miles, 4YO & Up F&M
Winner Receives: Automatic starting position in the $2 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1), $60,000 entry fee waived, $10,000 awarded to Breeders’ Cup nominator. All Championship starters based outside of California receive a travel allowance.
Recent Winner Highlights: Randomized (2024) did not contest the 2024 World Championships but was second in the 2023 Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Clairiere (2022 & 2023) finished third in the 2022 Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff and fourth in the 2023 Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff; Letruska (2021) finished 10th in the 2021 Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff; Midnight Bisou (2019) finished second in the 2019 Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff.
2025 Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff Division – Challenge Series Races
Race Date | Track | Race Name | Distance | Age/Sex |
5/1/2025 | PAL | Gran Premio Criadores (G1) | 1 1/4 Miles | 3 YO & UP/ F&M |
6/6/2025 | SAR | Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) | 1 1/8 Miles | 4 YO & UP/ F&M |
6/28/2025 | CD | Fleur de Lis Stakes (G2) | 1 1/8 Miles | 4 YO & UP/ F&M |
8/2/2025 | DMR | Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (G1) | 1 1/16 Miles | 3 YO & UP/ F&M |
8/23/2025 | SAR | Personal Ensign Stakes (G1) | 1 1/8 Miles | 4 YO & UP/ F&M |
9/28/2025 | SA | Zenyatta Stakes (G2) | 1 1/16 Miles | 3 YO & UP/ F&M |
10/5/2025 | KEE | Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (G1) | 1 1/8 Miles | 3 YO & UP/ F&M |
$1 Million Hill ‘N’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap (G1), 1 Mile, 3YO & Up
Winner Receives: Automatic starting position in $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1), $30,000 entry fee waived, $10,000 awarded to Breeders’ Cup nominator. All Championship starters based outside of California receive a travel allowance.
Recent Winner Highlights: National Treasure (2024) did not contest the 2024 World Championships but was runner-up in the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and third in the 2022 FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1). Cody’s Wish (2023) won the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and was later voted Champion Older Dirt Male and Horse of the Year; Flightline (2022) won the 2022 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) and was voted Champion Older Dirt Male and Horse of the Year; Mitole (2019) won the 2019 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) and was later voted Champion Male Sprinter.
2025 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile Division – Challenge Series Races
Race Date | Track | Race Name | Distance | Age |
6/7/2025 | SAR | The Hill ‘N’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap (G1) | 1 Mile | 3 YO & UP |
6/29/2025 | MAR | Asociación Uruguaya de Propietarios de Caballos de Carrera (G3) | 1 Mile | 3 YO & UP |
8/23/2025 | DMR | Pat O’Brien Stakes (G2) | 7 Furlongs | 3 YO & UP |
8/23/2025 | SAR | The Forego (G1) | 7 Furlongs | 4 YO & UP |
9/7/2025 | SEO | Korea Cup (G3) | 1 1/8 Miles | 3 YO & UP |
$500,000 Jaipur Stakes (G1), 5 1/2 furlongs (turf), 3YO & Up
Winner Receives: Automatic starting position in $1 million Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1), $30,000 entry fee waived, $10,000 awarded to Breeders’ Cup nominator. All Championship starters based outside of California receive a travel allowance.
Recent Winner Highlights: Cogburn (2024) finished fifth in the 2024 Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint; Caravel (2023) finished 10th in the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint after winning the Turf Sprint in 2022; Casa Creed (2021, 2022) finished eighth in the 2021 FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile and ninth in the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.
2025 Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint Division – Challenge Series Races
Race Date | Track | Race Name | Distance | Age |
6/7/2025 | Sar | The Jaipur (G1) | 5 1/2 Furlongs (T) | 3 YO & UP |
6/17/2025 | ASC | The King Charles III Stakes (G3) | 5 Furlongs (T) | 3 YO & UP |
8/22/2025 | YOR | Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes (G1) | 5 Furlongs (T) | 2 YO & UP |
8/30/2025 | Dmr | Green Flash Handicap (G3) | 5 Furlongs (T) | 3 YO & UP |
8/30/2025 | KD | The Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint (G2) | 6 Furlongs (T) | 3 YO & UP |
9/14/2025 | CUR | Bar One Flying Five Stakes (G1) | 5 Furlongs (T) | 3 YO & UP |
10/5/2025 | Lch | Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp Longines (G1) | 5 Furlongs (T) | 2 YO & UP |