# 2016 Breeders' Cup Challenge series

The 2016 Breeders' Cup Challenge series provided winners of the designated races an automatic "Win and You're In" Berth in the 2016 Breeders' Cup. Races were chosen by the Breeders' Cup organization and included key prep races in the various Breeders' Cup divisions from around the world.

## Summary

A total of seven races were added to the Challenge series in 2016. Four were added in April when the initial announcement was made: the Queen of the Turf (which replaced the Queen Elizabeth Stakes), the Gran Premio Club Hipico Falabella, the Gran Premio Pamplona and the Flying Five Stakes. Three more races from Japan were added in June: the February Stakes, the Yasuda Kinen and the Sprinter Stakes.
Forty-five entrants in the 2016 Breeders' Cup qualified via the Challenge series, which was particularly important in 2016 as seven of the Breeders' Cup races were oversubscribed. A maximum of 14 horses (12 in the Dirt Mile) are allowed to start in each race. Winners of the Challenge races were given automatic entries, while other pre-entries were ranked by a points system and the judgement of a panel of experts.
Two Challenge series winners went on to win their respective division at the Breeders' Cup:
* Highland Reel, who qualified for the Turf by winning the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II stakes
* Classic Empire, who won the Breeders' Futurity Stakes to qualify for the Juvenile
A few Challenge series winners could not compete at the Breeders' Cup due to illness, injury or retirement. Exaggerator, who qualified for the Classic by winning the Haskell, was retired in October. Cavorting, who qualified for two Breeders' Cup races, developed some bone bruising and was also retired in October. The Gurkha, who qualified for the Mile by winning the Sussex Stakes, suffered a ruptured colon and was retired. In the Sprint, both Joking and Lord Nelson were scratched due to late injuries.

## Winners

The winners of the 2016 Breeders' Cup Challenge series races are shown below. The last column shows if the winner was subsequently entered in the corresponding Breeders' Cup race, and if so, whether they achieved a top three placing.
| Month | Race | Track | Location | Division | Winner | BC Status |
| January | Paddock Stakes | Kenilworth | South Africa | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf | Smart Call | not entered |
| January | Queen's Plate | Kenilworth | South Africa | Breeders' Cup Mile | Legal Eagle | not entered |
| February | February Stakes | Tokyo | Japan | Breeders' Cup Classic | Moanin | not entered |
| April | Doncaster Mile | Randwick | Australia | Breeders' Cup Mile | Winx | not entered |
| April | TJ Smith Stakes | Randwick | Australia | Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint | Chautauqua | not entered |
| April | Queen of the Turf Stakes | Randwick | Australia | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf | Azkadelia | not entered |
| May | Gran Premio Criadores | Palermo | Argentina | Breeders' Cup Distaff | Corona Del Inca | entered |
| May | Gran Premio Club Hipico Falabella | Santiago | Chile | Breeders' Cup Mile | Kitcat | entered Filly & Mare Turf |
| May | Gran Premio 25 de Mayo | San Isidro | Argentina | Breeders' Cup Turf | Don Inc | not entered |
| June | Shoemaker Mile | Santa Anita | California | Breeders' Cup Mile | Midnight Storm | 3rd |
| June | Yasuda Kinen | Tokyo | Japan | Breeders' Cup Mile | Logotype | not entered |
| June | Ogden Phipps Stakes | Belmont Park | New York | Breeders' Cup Distaff | Cavorting | retired |
| June | Metropolitan Handicap | Belmont Park | New York | Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile | Frosted | entered Classic |
| June | Grande Prêmio Brasil | Hipódromo da Gávea | Brazil | Breeders' Cup Turf | My Cherie Amour | not entered |
| June | Stephen Foster Handicap | Churchill Downs | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Classic | Bradester | not entered |
| June | Fleur de Lis Handicap | Churchill Downs | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Distaff | Paid Up Subscriber | not entered |
| June | The Gold Cup at Santa Anita | Santa Anita | California | Breeders' Cup Classic | Melatonin | entered |
| June | Takarazuka Kinen | Hanshin | Japan | Breeders' Cup Turf | Marialite | not entered |
| June | Gran Premio Pamplona | Monterrico | Peru | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf | Ryans Charm | entered |
| July | Princess Rooney Handicap | Gulfstream Park | Florida | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint | Spelling Again | entered |
| July | Smile Sprint Handicap | Gulfstream Park | Florida | Breeders' Cup Sprint | Delta Bluesman | entered |
| July | Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes | Belmont Park | New York | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf | Catch A Glimpse | entered |
| July | King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes | Ascot | England | Breeders' Cup Turf | Highland Reel | 1st |
| July | Sussex Stakes | Goodwood | England | Breeders' Cup Mile | The Gurkha | retired |
| July | Clement L. Hirsch Stakes | Del Mar | California | Breeders' Cup Distaff | Stellar Wind | entered |
| July | Bing Crosby Handicap | Del Mar | California | Breeders' Cup Sprint | Lord Nelson | scratched |
| July | Haskell Invitational | Monmouth | New Jersey | Breeders' Cup Classic | Exaggerator | retired |
| August | Whitney Handicap | Saratoga | New York | Breeders' Cup Classic | Frosted | entered |
| August | Beverly D. Stakes | Arlington | Illinois | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf | Sea Calisi | entered |
| August | Arlington Million | Arlington | Illinois | Breeders' Cup Turf | Mondialiste | entered |
| August | Prix Jacques Le Marois | Deauville | France | Breeders' Cup Mile | Ribchester | not entered |
| August | Juddmonte International | York | England | Breeders' Cup Turf | Postponed | not entered |
| August | Yorkshire Oaks | York | England | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf | Seventh Heaven | entered |
| August | Nunthorpe Stakes | York | England | Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint | Mecca's Angel | not entered |
| August | Pacific Classic | Del Mar | California | Breeders' Cup Classic | California Chrome | 2nd |
| August | Del Mar Handicap | Del Mar | California | Breeders' Cup Turf | Ashleyluvssugar | entered |
| August | Pat O'Brien Handicap | Del Mar | California | Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile | Masochistic | not entered |
| August | Personal Ensign Stakes | Saratoga | New York | Breeders' Cup Distaff | Haveyougoneaway | not entered |
| August | Ballerina Stakes | Saratoga | New York | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint | Cavorting | retired |
| August | Sword Dancer Invitational | Saratoga | New York | Breeders' Cup Turf | Flintshire | 2nd |
| August | Forego Stakes | Saratoga | New York | Breeders' Cup Sprint | A.P. Indian | entered |
| September | T. Von Zastrow Stutenpreis | Baden-Baden | Germany | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf | Parvaneh | not entered |
| September | Spinaway Stakes | Saratoga | New York | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies | Pretty City Dancer and Sweet Loretta (dead heat) | not entered entered |
| September | Grosser Preis von Baden | Baden-Baden | Germany | Breeders' Cup Turf | Iquitos | not entered |
| September | Matron Stakes | Leopardstown | Ireland | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf | Alice Springs | entered Mile |
| September | Irish Champion Stakes | Leopardstown | Ireland | Breeders' Cup Turf | Almanzor | not entered |
| September | Juvenile Turf Stakes | Leopardstown | Ireland | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf | Landfall | not entered |
| September | Moyglare Stud Stakes | Curragh | Ireland | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf | Intricately | entered |
| September | Flying Five Stakes | Curragh | Ireland | Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint | Ardhoomey | not entered |
| September | Pocahontas Stakes | Churchill Downs | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies | Daddy's Lil Darling | entered |
| September | Iroquois Stakes | Churchill Downs | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Juvenile | Not This Time | 2nd |
| September | Canadian Stakes | Woodbine | Canada | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf | Rainha Da Bateria | not entered |
| September | Woodbine Mile | Woodbine | Canada | Breeders' Cup Mile | Tepin | 2nd |
| September | Natalma Stakes | Woodbine | Canada | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf | Victory to Victory | scratched |
| September | Summer Stakes | Woodbine | Canada | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf | Good Samaritan | 3rd |
| September | Rockfel Stakes | Newmarket | England | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf | Spain Burg | entered |
| September | Royal Lodge Stakes | Newmarket | England | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf | Best of Days | not entered |
| October | Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes | Belmont Park | New York | Breeders' Cup Turf | Ectot | entered |
| October | Vosburgh Stakes | Belmont Park | New York | Breeders' Cup Sprint | Joking | scratched |
| October | Awesome Again Stakes | Santa Anita | California | Breeders' Cup Classic | California Chrome | 2nd |
| October | FrontRunner Stakes | Santa Anita | California | Breeders' Cup Juvenile | Gormley | entered |
| October | Chandelier Stakes | Santa Anita | California | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies | Noted and Quoted | entered |
| October | Rodeo Drive Stakes | Santa Anita | California | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf | Avenge | 3rd |
| October | Zenyatta Stakes | Santa Anita | California | Breeders' Cup Distaff | Stellar Wind | entered |
| October | Sprinters Stakes | Nakayama | Japan | Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint | Red Falx | not entered |
| October | Prix de l'Opéra | Chantilly | France | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf | Speedy Boarding | not entered |
| October | Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère | Chantilly | France | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf | National Defense | not entered |
| October | Prix Marcel Boussac | Chantilly | France | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf | Wuheida | not entered |
| October | Alcibiades Stakes | Keeneland | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies | Dancing Rags | entered |
| October | Phoenix Stakes | Keeneland | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Sprint | A. P. Indian | entered |
| October | Flower Bowl Invitational | Belmont Park | New York | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf | Lady Eli | 2nd |
| October | Champagne Stakes | Belmont Park | New York | Breeders' Cup Juvenile | Practical Joke | 3rd |
| October | Frizette Stakes | Belmont Park | New York | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies | Yellow Agate | entered |
| October | Jockey Club Gold Cup | Belmont Park | New York | Breeders' Cup Classic | Hoppertunity | entered |
| October | Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes | Keeneland | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Mile | Miss Temple City | entered |
| October | Breeders' Futurity Stakes | Keeneland | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Juvenile | Classic Empire | 1st |
| October | Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes | Keeneland | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint | Irish Jasper | entered |
| October | Santa Anita Sprint Championship | Santa Anita | California | Breeders' Cup Sprint | Lord Nelson | scratched |
| October | Bourbon Stakes | Keeneland | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf | Keep Quiet | entered |
| October | Spinster Stakes | Keeneland | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Distaff | I'm a Chatterbox | entered |
| October | Jessamine Stakes | Keeneland | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf | La Coronel | entered |