Get the Facts on the 2025 BC Challenge Series

Kingsbarns won the 2024 Stephen Foster Stakes at Churchill Downs. (Coady Media)

2025 Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series Fact Sheet

Breeders’ Cup Release

Fasig-Tipton Fleur de Lis and Stephen Foster Stakes, June 28, Churchill Downs

• 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 $500,000 Fasig-Tipton Fleur de Lis Stakes (G2) provides the winner with an automatic starting position into the $2 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) and the $1 million Stephen Foster Stakes (G1) provides the winner an automatic starting position into the $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).
• The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series debuted in 2007.
• 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, and the 2027 World Championships will be held at the new Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.
• The domestic schedule of the 2025 series kicked off on June 6-7, at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. during the Belmont Stakes Festival.

$500,000 Fasig-Tipton Fleur de Lis Stakes (G2), 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. The race winner must be nominated to the Breeders’ Cup Program by the Oct. 20 pre-entry deadline in order to receive the rewards.

Recent Winner Highlights: Scylla (2024) finished fourth in the 2024 PNC Bank Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1); Letruska (2021) finished 10th in the 2021 Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Del Mar; voted champion older dirt female; Elate (2019) finished fourth in the 2019 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park; Blue Prize (ARG) (2018) finished second in the 2018 Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Churchill Downs, finished second in the 2019 Fleur de Lis, and won that year’s Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Santa Anita; Forever Unbridled (2017) won the 2017 Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Del Mar and was voted champion older dirt female.

Other notable horses who won the Fleur de Lis and the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (or Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic) were Royal Delta, who won the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic, the 2012 Fleur de Lis and 2012 Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic; Adoration, who won the 2003 Breeders’ Cup Distaff, and the 2004 Fleur de Lis; Spain, who won the 2000 Breeders’ Cup Distaff, finished second in the 2001 Breeders’ Cup Distaff and won the 2002 Fleur de Lis; and Escena, who won the 1998 Fleur de Lis and the 1998 Breeders’ Cup Distaff. 

2025 Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff Division – Challenge Series Races

$1 million Stephen Foster Stakes (G1), 1 1/8 Miles, 4YO & Up

Winner Receives: Automatic starting position in $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), $150,000 entry fee waived, $10,000 awarded to Breeders’ Cup nominator. All Championship starters based outside of California receive a travel allowance.

Recent Winner Highlights: Kingsbarns (2024) did not contest the World Championships; Olympiad (2022) finished second in the 2022 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland; Gun Runner (2017) won the 2017 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar and was voted champion older dirt male and Horse of the Year; Fort Larned (2013) won the Breeders’ Cup Classic in 2012 at Santa Anita and finished fourth in the 2013 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita.

Blame (2010) won the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs and was voted champion older male horse.Curlin (2008) finished second in the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita as the defending Classic champion. In addition to Gun Runner and Blame, other notable horses who won the Stephen Foster and the Breeders’ Cup Classic in the same year were Saint Liam (2005), Awesome Again (1998), and Black Tie Affair (IRE) (1991). Saint Liam and Black Tie Affair also received Horse of the Year honors.

2025 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic Division – Challenge Series Races