# 2012 Breeders' Cup Challenge series

The 2012 Breeders' Cup Challenge series provided winners of the designated races with an automatic "Win and You're In" Berth in the 2012 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.
For 2012, the series consisted of 73 races in 10 countries, 52 of which were Grade / Group One events. Thirteen races were added to the series: the (South African) Queen’s Plate, Gran Premio 25 de Mayo, Stephen Foster Handicap, Personal Ensign, Grosser Preis von Baden, Gallant Bloom, Pilgrim, Miss Grillo, Bourbon, Royal Lodge, Middle Park, Beresford, and the Prix de la Foret.
Forty-five horses entered in the 2012 Breeders' Cup races qualified via the challenge series, including seven of the winners. These were:
* Fort Larned, who qualified for the Classic by winning the Whitney
* Royal Delta, who won both the Delaware Handicap and Beldame to qualify for the Ladies' Classic
* Little Mike, who qualified for the Turf by winning the Arlington Million
* Wise Dan, who won both the Woodbine Mile and Shadwell Turf Mile to quality for the Breeders' Cup Mile
* Groupie Doll, who qualified for the Filly & Mare Sprint by winning the Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes
* Shanghai Bobby, who earned his berth in the Juvenile by winning both the Hopeful and Champagne
* Calidoscopio, who qualified for the Marathon by winning the Clasico Belgrano
The winners of the 2012 Breeders' Cup Challenge series races are shown below. The last column shows whether the horse was subsequently entered in the Breeders' Cup, and if so, whether they achieved a top three finish.
| Month | Race | Track | Location | Division | Winner | BC Result |
| January | Queen's Plate | Kenilworth | South Africa | Breeders' Cup Mile | Gimmethegreenlight | not entered |
| April | Doncaster Mile | Randwick | Australia | Breeders' Cup Mile | More Joyous | not entered |
| April | TJ Smith Stakes | Randwick | Australia | Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint | Master of Design | not entered |
| May | Gran Premio 25 de Mayo | San Isidro | Argentina | Breeders' Cup Turf | Al Qasr | not entered |
| May | Metropolitan Handicap | Belmont Park | New York | Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile | Shackleford | entered |
| June | Stephen Foster Handicap | Churchill Downs | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Classic | Ron the Greek | entered |
| June | Clasico Belgrano | Palermo | Argentina | Breeders' Cup Marathon | Calidoscopio | 1st |
| June | Takarazuka Kinen | Hanshin | Japan | Breeders' Cup Turf | Orfevre | not entered |
| June | Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud | Saint Cloud | France | Breeders' Cup Turf | Meandre | not entered |
| June | Shoemaker Mile | Santa Anita | California | Breeders' Cup Mile | Jeranimo | entered |
| July | Pretty Polly Stakes | The Curragh | Ireland | Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf | Izzi Top | not entered |
| July | Hollywood Gold Cup | Hollywood Park | California | Breeders' Cup Classic | Game On Dude | entered |
| July | Smile Sprint Handicap | Calder | Florida | Breeders' Cup Sprint | Gantry | entered |
| July | United Nations Stakes | Monmouth | New Jersey | Breeders' Cup Turf | Turbo Compressor | entered |
| July | Greenwood Cup Handicap | Parx | Pennsylvania | Breeders' Cup Marathon | Redeemed | not entered |
| July | A Gleam Handicap | Hollywood Park | California | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint | Switch | 3rd |
| July | Delaware Handicap | Delaware Park | Delaware | Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic | Royal Delta | 1st |
| July | King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes | Ascot | England | Breeders' Cup Turf | Danedream | not entered |
| July | San Diego Handicap | Del Mar | California | Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile | Rail Trip | 2nd |
| August | Clement L. Hirsch Stakes | Del Mar | California | Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic | Include Me Out | 3rd |
| August | Whitney Handicap | Saratoga | New York | Breeders' Cup Classic | Fort Larned | 1st |
| August | Prix Jacques Le Marois | Deauville | France | Breeders' Cup Mile | Excelebration | entered |
| August | Beverly D. Stakes | Arlington | Illinois | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf | I'm a Dreamer | entered |
| August | Arlington Million | Arlington | Illinois | Breeders' Cup Turf | Little Mike | 1st |
| August | Nunthorpe Stakes | York | England | Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint | Ortensia | not entered |
| August | Ballerina Stakes | Saratoga | New York | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint | Turbulent Descent | entered |
| August | Pacific Classic | Del Mar | California | Breeders' Cup Classic | Dullahan | entered Turf |
| August | Del Mar Handicap | Del Mar | California | Breeders' Cup Turf | Casino Host | not entered |
| August | Personal Ensign Stakes | Saratoga | New York | Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic | Love and Pride | entered |
| September | Grosser Preis von Baden | Baden-Baden | Germany | Breeders' Cup Turf | Danedream | not entered |
| September | Turf Monster Stakes | Parx | Pennsylvania | Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint | Ben's Cat | not entered |
| September | Hopeful Stakes | Saratoga | New York | Breeders' Cup Juvenile | Shanghai Bobby | 1st |
| September | Del Mar Futurity | Del Mar | California | Breeders' Cup Juvenile | Rolling Fog | not entered |
| September | Irish Champion Stakes | Leopardstown | Ireland | Breeders' Cup Turf | Snow Fairy | not entered |
| September | Moyglare Stud Stakes | Curragh | Ireland | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf | Sky Lantern | entered |
| September | Woodbine Mile | Woodbine | Canada | Breeders' Cup Mile | Wise Dan | 1st |
| September | Natalma Stakes | Woodbine | Canada | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf | Spring Venture | entered |
| September | Summer Stakes | Woodbine | Canada | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf | I'm Boundtoscore | entered |
| September | Gallant Bloom Handicap | Belmont Park | New York | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint | Dust and Diamonds | 2nd |
| September | Royal Lodge Stakes | Newmarket | England | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf | Steeler | not entered |
| September | Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes | Belmont Park | New York | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf | Nahrain | entered |
| September | Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes | Belmont Park | New York | Breeders' Cup Turf | Point of Entry | 2nd |
| September | Kelso Handicap | Belmont Park | New York | Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile | Jersey Town | entered |
| September | Vosburgh Stakes | Belmont Park | New York | Breeders' Cup Sprint | The Lumber Guy | 2nd |
| September | Beldame Stakes | Belmont Park | New York | Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic | Royal Delta | 1st |
| September | Jockey Club Gold Cup | Belmont Park | New York | Breeders' Cup Classic | Flat Out | 3rd |
| September | Awesome Again Stakes | Santa Anita | California | Breeders' Cup Classic | Game On Dude | entered |
| September | FrontRunner Stakes | Santa Anita | California | Breeders' Cup Juvenile | Power Broker | entered |
| September | Beresford Stakes | The Curragh | Ireland | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf | Battle of Marengo | not entered |
| September | Chandelier Stakes | Santa Anita | California | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies | Executiveprivilege | 2nd |
| September | Rodeo Drive Stakes | Santa Anita | California | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf | Marketing Mix | 2nd |
| September | Zenyatta Stakes | Santa Anita | California | Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic | Love and Pride | entered |
| October | Alcibiades Stakes | Keeneland | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies | Spring in the Air | entered |
| October | Phoenix Stakes | Keeneland | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Sprint | Sum of the Parts | entered |
| October | Pilgrim Stakes | Belmont | New York | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf | Noble Tune | 2nd |
| October | Miss Grillo Stakes | Belmont | New York | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf | Watsdachances | 2nd |
| October | Champagne Stakes | Belmont Park | New York | Breeders' Cup Juvenile | Shanghai Bobby | 1st |
| October | Frizette Stakes | Belmont Park | New York | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies | Dreaming of Julia | 3rd |
| October | Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes | Keeneland | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Mile | Wise Dan | 1st |
| October | Breeders' Futurity Stakes | Keeneland | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Juvenile | Joha | entered Juvenile Turf |
| October | Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes | Keeneland | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint | Groupie Doll | 1st |
| October | Santa Anita Sprint Championship | Santa Anita | California | Breeders' Cup Sprint | Coil | entered |
| October | Bourbon Stakes | Keeneland | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf | Balance the Books | 3rd |
| October | Spinster Stakes | Keeneland | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic | In Lingerie | not entered |
| October | Prix de la Forêt | Longchamp | France | Breeders' Cup Mile | Gordon Lord Byron | not entered |
| October | Prix de l'Opéra | Longchamp | France | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf | Ridasiyna | entered |
| October | Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère | Longchamp | France | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf | Olympic Glory | not entered |
| October | Middle Park Stakes | Newmarket | England | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Sprint | Reckless Abandon | not entered |
| October | Jessamine Stakes | Keeneland | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf | Moonwalk | entered |
| October | E. P. Taylor Stakes | Woodbine | Canada | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf | Siyouma | not entered |
| October | Nearctic Stakes | Woodbine | Canada | Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint | Next Question | entered |
| October | Canadian International Stakes | Woodbine | Canada | Breeders' Cup Turf | Joshua Tree | not entered |