2024 Pacific Classic winner Mixto (outside). (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
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.
Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, host of the 2025 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, will also host six Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series races this year.
The $150,000 Green Flash Handicap (G3) provides the winner with an automatic starting position into the $1 million Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1); the $1 million Pacific Classic (G1) gives the winner a guaranteed starting position into the $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) and the $300,000 Del Mar Handicap presented by Japan Racing Association (G2) awards a free berth to 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, 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.
$150,000 Green Flash Handicap (G3)
5 furlongs, 3YO & Up, Race #9: Post Time – 5:39 p.m. PT, Entries courtesy of Equibase
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 (when applicable). All Championship starters based outside of California receive a travel allowance.
Recent Winner Highlights: Motorious (GB) (2023, 2024) finished second in the 2023 TwinSpires Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint and finished second in the 2024 Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint; Lieutenant Dan (2021, 2002) finished second in the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint; Stormy Liberal (2018) won the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint in a successful Turf Sprint title defense. California Flag (2009) won the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.
2025 Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint Division – Challenge Series Races
| Race Date | Track | Race Name | Distance | Age | Winner |
| 6/7/2025 | SAR | The Jaipur (G1) | 5 1/2 Furlongs (T) | 3 YO & UP | Ag Bullet |
| 6/17/2025 | ASC | The King Charles III Stakes (G1) | 5 Furlongs (T) | 3 YO & UP | American Affair (GB) |
| 8/22/2025 | YOR | Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes (G1) | 5 Furlongs (T) | 2 YO & UP | Asfoora (AUS) |
| 8/30/2025 | DMR | Green Flash Handicap (G3) | 5 Furlongs (T) | 3 YO & UP | |
| 8/30/2025 | KD | The Mint Kentucky 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 |
$1 million Pacific Classic (G1)
1 ¼ Miles, 3YO & Up, Race #10: Post Time – 6:11 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: Mixto (2024) finished 11th in the 2024 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic; Arabian Knight (2023) finished fourth in the 2023 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic. Flightline (2022) won the 2022 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic and was voted the 2022 Champion Older Dirt Male and Horse of the Year; Higher Power (2019) finished third in the 2019 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic; Accelerate (2018) won the 2018 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic and was voted the 2018 Champion Older Dirt Male. California Chrome (2016) finished second in the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Classic and was voted the 2016 Champion Older Horse and Horse of the Year.
Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic Division – Challenge Series Races
| Date | Track | Races (All G1) | Distance | Age | Winner |
| 2/22/2025 | KAR | Saudi Cup | 1 1/8 Miles | 3 YO & UP | Forever Young (JPN) |
| 2/23/2025 | TOK | February Stakes | 1 Mile | 4 YO & UP | Costa Nova (JPN) |
| 4/5/2025 | MEY | Dubai World Cup sponsored by Emirates Airlines | 1 1/4 Miles | 3 YO & UP | Hit Show |
| 6/28/2025 | CD | Stephen Foster Stakes | 1 1/8 Miles | 4 YO & UP | Mindframe |
| 7/19/2025 | MTH | NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes | 1 1/8 Miles | 3 YO | Journalism |
| 8/2/2025 | SAR | The Whitney | 1 1/8 Miles | 4 YO & UP | Sierra Leone |
| 8/20/2025 | YOR | Juddmonte International Stakes | 1 1/4 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | Ombudsman (IRE) |
| 8/30/2025 | DRM | Pacific Classic | 1 1/4 Miles | 3 YO & UP | |
| 8/31/2025 | SAR | Jockey Club Gold Cup | 1 1/4 Miles | 3 YO & UP | |
| 9/27/2025 | SA | Goodwood Stakes | 1 1/8 Miles | 3 YO & UP |
$300,000 Del Mar Handicap presented by Japan Racing Association (G2)
1 3/8 Miles (Turf), 3YO & Up, Race #11 – Post Time: 6:43 p.m. PT, Entries courtesy of Equibase
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: Gold Phoenix (IRE) (2022, 2023, 2024) finished 10th in the 2022 Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf, fourth in 2023 Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf and fourth in the 2024 Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf; Red King (2020) finished ninth in the 2020 Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf; Ashleyluvssugar (2016) finished fifth in the 2016 Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf; Vagabond Shoes (2013) finished fifth in the 2013 Breeders’ Cup Turf.
Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf Division – Challenge Series Races
| Race Date | Track | Race Name | Distance | Age | Winner |
| 12/14/2024 | SIS | 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 | El Cordobes (IRE) |
| 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 FanDuel TV Kentucky Turf Cup Invitational (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 |
