Rebel’s Romance (IRE) took the 2024 Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf Grade 1, under William Buick. (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
2025 Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series Fact Sheet
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 Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series debuted at Saratoga in 2007. In 2025, the NYRA tracks will host 17 Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series races.
The $750,000 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer Stakes (G1) provides the winner with an automatic starting position into the $5 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1).
In 2024, five Breeders’ Cup World Championships winners earned automatic berths via the Breeders’ Cup Challenge series: 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 of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, the 2026 edition will be held at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., and the 2027 World Championships will be held at the new Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.
$750,000 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer Stakes (G1), 1 1/2 Miles, 4YO & Up
Race #10: Post Time – 5:44 p.m. ET
Winner Receives: Automatic starting position in $5 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1); $125,000 entry fee waived, $10,000 awarded to Breeders’ Cup nominator (when applicable). All Championship starters based outside of California receive a travel allowance.
Recent Winner Highlights: Far Bridge (2024) finished ninth in the 2024 Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar; Gufo (2021, 2022) finished 10th in the 2021 Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf; Channel Maker (2020) finished third in the 2020 Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf; Flintshire (GB) (2015, 2016) finished second in both the 2014 and 2016 runnings of the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf; Main Sequence (2014) won the 2014 Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf; Better Talk Now (2004) won the 2004 John Deere Breeders’ Cup Turf.
2025 Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf Division – Challenge Series Races
| Race Date | Track | Race Name | Distance | Age | Winner |
| 12/14/2024 | SIS | Gran Premio International Carlos Pellegrini Stakes (G1) | 1 1/2 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | Intense for Me (ARG) |
| 4/5/2025 | MEY | Longines Dubai Sheema Classic Presented by Longines (G1) | 1 1/2 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | Danon Decile (JPN) |
| 6/15/2025 | HSN | Takarazuka Kinen (G1) | 1 3/8 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | Meisho Tabaru (JPN) |
| 6/18/2025 | ASC | The Prince of Wales’s Stakes (G1) | 1 1/4 Miles (T) | 4 YO & UP | Ombudsman (IRE) |
| 6/22/2025 | GVA | Grande Premio Brasil (G1) | 1 1/2 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | Sinsel (BRZ) |
| 7/26/2025 | ASC | King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) | 1 1/2 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | Calandagan (IRE) |
| 8/9/2025 | Sar | The Sword Dancer (G1) | 1 1/2 Miles (T) | 4 YO & UP | |
| 8/30/2025 | Dmr | Del Mar Handicap Presented By The Japan Racing Association (G2) | 1 3/8 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | |
| 9/6/2025 | KD | The Kentucky Turf Cup (G2) | 1 1/2 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | |
| 9/13/2025 | LEO | The Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes (G1) | 1 1/4 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | |
| 10/5/2025 | Lch | Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) | 1 1/2 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | |
| 10/18/2025 | ASC | QIPCO Champion Stakes (G1) | 1 1/4 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP |
