Santa Anita BC Weekend Stakes

Sierra Leone and connections head to the winner’s circle for the 2024 BC Classic. (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)

Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series Fact Sheet

Goodwood Stakes, City of Hope Mile, Santa Anita Sprint Championship, and Zenyatta Stakes

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.

Santa Anita Park will host four Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series races this year on the weekend of Sept. 27-28.

The $200,000 City of Hope Mile (G2) provides the winner with an automatic starting position into the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1); the $300,000 Goodwood Stakes (G1) gives the winner a guaranteed starting position into the $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), the $200,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship presented by Estrella Jalisco (G2) awards a free berth for the $2 million Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1), and the winner of the $200,000 Zenyatta Stakes (G2) earns an automatic starting position into the $2 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (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, 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.

Saturday, Sept. 27

$200,000 City of Hope Mile (G2), 1 mile (Turf) 3YO & Up

Race #4 – Post Time: 2:34 p.m. PT
Entries courtesy of Equibase

Winner Receives: Automatic starting position in $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1); $60,000 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: Johannes (2024) finished second in the 2024 FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile; Beyond Brilliant (2022) finished eighth in the 2022 FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile;  Blackjackcat (2017) finished third in the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Mile; Vyjack (2016) finished seventh in the 2017 Las Vegas Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1); Obviously (IRE) (2012) finished third in the 2012 Breeders’ Cup Mile, finished fifth in the 2013 and 2014 editions of the Breeders’ Cup Mile, finished ninth in the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Mile, and won the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1).

2025 FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile Division – Challenge Series Races

$300,000 Goodwood Stakes (G1), 1 1/8 Miles, 3YO & Up (Formerly the California Crown Stakes, Awesome Again Stakes)

Race #9 –  Post Time: 5:08 p.m. PT
Entries courtesy of Equibase

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 (when applicable). All Championship starters based outside of California receive a travel allowance.

Recent Winner Highlights: Subsanador (ARG) did not contest the 2024 Breeders’ Cup World Championships; Medina Spirit (2021) finished second in the 2021 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic; Improbable (2020) finished second in the 2020 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic; California Chrome (2016) finished second in the 2016 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic; Shared Belief (2014) finished fourth in the 2014 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic; Mucho Macho Man (2013) won the 2013 Breeders’ Cup Classic.   

2025 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic Division – Challenge Series Races

Sunday, Sept. 28

$200,000 Zenyatta Stakes (G2) 1 1/16 Miles, 3YO & Up F&M

Race #7 – Post Time: 4 p.m. PT
Entries courtesy of Equibase  

Winner Receives: Automatic starting position in $2 million Longines  Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1); $60,000 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: Sugar Fish (2024) finished fifth in the 2024 Longines

 Breeders’ Cup Distaff; Adare Manor (2023) finished seventh in the 2023 Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff; Harvest Moon (2020) finished fourth in the 2020 Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff; Paradise Woods (2017, 2019) finished third in the 2017; Stellar Wind (2016) finished fourth in the 2016 Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff; Beholder (2013, 2014, 2015) won the 2013 Breeders’ Cup Distaff, finished second in the 2016 Zenyatta Stakes and won the 2016 Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

2025 Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff Division – Challenge Series Races

$200,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship presented by Estrella Jalisco (G2)

6 Furlongs, 3YO & Up
Race #9 – Post Time: 5 p.m. PT
Entries courtesy of Equibase

Winner Receives: Automatic starting position in $2 million Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1); $60,000 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: Straight No Chaser (2024) won the 2024 Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint; Dr. Schivel  (2021, 2023) finished second in the 2021 Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup Sprint and finished seventh in the 2023 Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup Sprint; C Z Rocket (2020) finished second in the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Sprint; Omaha Beach (2019) finished second in the 2019 Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1); Roy H (2017, 2018) won the 2017 TwinSpires Breeders’ Cup Sprint and the 2018 TwinSpires Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

2025 Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint Division – Challenge Series Races