# 2021 Breeders' Cup Challenge series

The 2021 Breeders' Cup Challenge series consisted of 84 horse races that provided the respective winners with an automatic "Win and You're In" Berth in the 2021 Breeders' Cup, held on November 5 and 6. Races were chosen by the Breeders' Cup organization and include key races in the various Breeders' Cup divisions from around the world. The Breeders' Cup organization pays the Breeders' Cup entry fee for the challenge race winners, provided they had been nominated as foals. They also provide travel allowances for out of state competitors

## Summary

The 2021 Breeders' Cup Challenge series consisted of 84 races from across the United States and 9 other countries. The 2021 series marked a return to a more normal racing schedule after the 2020 racing calendar was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and more closely resembles the 2019 series. Two new races were added to the series: the Suburban Stakes, a qualifier for the Classic, and the Calumet Turf Cup, a qualifier for the Turf. In recognition of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act passed in December 2020, the challenge series races did not permit raceday medication.
On October 27, a total of 196 horses were pre-entered in the Breeders' Cup, of which 46 were automatic qualifiers through the challenge races.

## Challenge Series races

The following table shows the Breeders' Cup Challenge races for 2021 and respective winners. The status column shows whether the horse was pre-entered.
| Month | Race | Track | Location | Division | Winner | Status |
| December | Gran Premio Internacional Carlos Pellegrini | San Isidro | Argentina | Breeders' Cup Turf | Cool Day (ARG) | bypass |
| January | Paddock Stakes | Kenilworth | South Africa | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf | Queen Supreme (IRE) | pre-entered |
| January | Queen's Plate | Kenilworth | South Africa | Breeders' Cup Mile | Jet Dark (SAF) | bypass |
| February | February Stakes | Tokyo | Japan | Breeders' Cup Classic | Cafe Pharaoh | bypass |
| May | Gran Premio Criadores | Palermo | Argentina | Breeders' Cup Distaff | Blue Stripe (ARG) | pre-entered |
| May | Gran Premio Club Hipico Falabella | Santiago | Chile | Breeders' Cup Mile | Succeso (CHI) | bypass |
| May | Victoria Mile | Tokyo | Japan | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf | Gran Alegria (JPN) | bypass |
| May | Shoemaker Mile | Santa Anita | California | Breeders' Cup Mile | Smooth Like Straight | pre-entered |
| June | Jaipur Stakes | Belmont Park | New York | Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint | Casa Creed | pre-entered |
| June | Ogden Phipps Stakes | Belmont Park | New York | Breeders' Cup Distaff | Letruska | pre-entered |
| June | Metropolitan Handicap | Belmont Park | New York | Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile | Silver State | pre-entered |
| June | Yasuda Kinen | Tokyo | Japan | Breeders' Cup Mile | Danon Kingly (JPN) | bypass |
| June | Queen Anne Stakes | Royal Ascot | England | Breeders' Cup Mile | Palace Pier (GB) | retired |
| June | Prince of Wales's Stakes | Royal Ascot | England | Breeders' Cup Turf | Love IRE | pre-entered |
| June | Norfolk Stakes | Royal Ascot | England | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint | Perfect Power (IRE) | bypass |
| June | Diamond Jubilee Stakes | Royal Ascot | England | Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint | Dream of Dreams (IRE) | bypass |
| June | Fleur de Lis Handicap | Churchill Downs | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Distaff | Letruska | pre-entered |
| June | Stephen Foster Handicap | Churchill Downs | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Classic | Maxfield | bypass |
| June | Gran Premio Pamplona | Monterrico | Peru | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf | Reina de Mollendo | pre-entered |
| June | Takarazuka Kinen | Hanshin | Japan | Breeders' Cup Turf | Chrono Genesis (JPN) | bypass |
| July | Princess Rooney Handicap | Gulfstream Park | Florida | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint | Ce Ce | pre-entered |
| July | Suburban Stakes | Belmont Park | New York | Breeders' Cup Classic | Max Player | pre-entered |
| July | John A. Nerud | Belmont Park | New York | Breeders' Cup Sprint | Mind Control | bypass |
| July | Haskell Invitational | Monmouth | New Jersey | Breeders' Cup Classic | Mandaloun | injured |
| July | King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes | Ascot | England | Breeders' Cup Turf | Adayar (IRE) | bypass |
| July | Sussex Stakes | Goodwood | England | Breeders' Cup Mile | Alcohol Free (IRE) | bypass |
| July | Bing Crosby Handicap | Del Mar | California | Breeders' Cup Sprint | Dr. Schivel | pre-entered |
| August | Clement L. Hirsch Stakes | Del Mar | California | Breeders' Cup Distaff | Shedaresthedevil | pre-entered |
| August | Whitney Handicap | Saratoga | New York | Breeders' Cup Classic | Knicks Go | pre-entered |
| August | Fourstardave Handicap | Saratoga | New York | Breeders' Cup Mile | Got Stormy | pre-entered |
| August | Prix Jacques Le Marois | Deauville | France | Breeders' Cup Mile | Palace Pier (GB) | retired |
| August | Juddmonte International | York | England | Breeders' Cup Classic | Mishriff (IRE) | bypass |
| August | Yorkshire Oaks | York | England | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf | Snowfall | bypass |
| August | Nunthorpe Stakes | York | England | Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint | Winter Power (IRE) | bypass |
| August | Pacific Classic | Del Mar | California | Breeders' Cup Classic | Tripoli | pre-entered |
| August | Del Mar Handicap | Del Mar | California | Breeders' Cup Turf | Astronaut | pre-entered |
| August | Prix Morny | Deauville | France | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint | Perfect Power (IRE) | bypass |
| August | Personal Ensign Stakes | Saratoga | New York | Breeders' Cup Distaff | Letruska | pre-entered |
| August | Ballerina Stakes | Saratoga | New York | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint | Gamine | pre-entered |
| August | Sword Dancer | Saratoga | New York | Breeders' Cup Turf | Gufo | pre-entered |
| August | Pat O'Brien Handicap | Del Mar | California | Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile | Ginobili | pre-entered |
| September | Jockey Club Gold Cup | Saratoga | New York | Breeders' Cup Classic | Max Player | pre-entered |
| September | Flower Bowl | Saratoga | New York | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf | War Like Goddess | pre-entered |
| September | Calumet Turf Cup | Kentucky Downs | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Turf | Imperador (ARG) | withdrawn |
| September | Irish Champion Stakes | Leopardstown | Ireland | Breeders' Cup Turf | St Mark's Basilica (FR) | retired |
| September | Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint | Kentucky Downs | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint | Gear Jockey | pre-entered |
| September | Juvenile Stakes | Leopardstown | Ireland | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf | Atomic Jones (FR) | bypass |
| September | Matron Stakes | Leopardstown | Ireland | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf | No Speak Alexander (IRE) | bypass |
| September | Moyglare Stud Stakes | Curragh | Ireland | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf | Discoveries (IRE) | bypass |
| September | Flying Five Stakes | Curragh | Ireland | Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint | Romantic Proposal (IRE) | bypass |
| September | Iroquois Stakes | Churchill Downs | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Juvenile | Major General | bypass |
| September | Pocahontas Stakes | Churchill Downs | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies | Hidden Connection | pre-entered |
| September | Jockey Club Derby | Belmont | New York | Breeders' Cup Turf | Yibir (GB) | pre-entered |
| September | Woodbine Mile | Woodbine | Canada | Breeders' Cup Mile | Town Cruise | bypass |
| September | Natalma Stakes | Woodbine | Canada | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf | Wild Beauty (GB) | bypass |
| September | Summer Stakes | Woodbine | Canada | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf | Albahr (GB) | pre-entered |
| September | Rockfel Stakes | Newmarket | England | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf | Hello You (IRE) | pre-entered |
| September | Royal Lodge Stakes | Newmarket | England | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf | Royal Patronage (FR) | bypass |
| October | American Pharoah Stakes | Santa Anita | California | Breeders' Cup Juvenile | Corniche | pre-entered |
| October | Chandelier Stakes | Santa Anita | California | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies | Ain't Easy | pre-entered |
| October | Speakeasy Stakes | Santa Anita | California | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint | One Timer | pre-entered |
| October | Champagne Stakes | Belmont Park | New York | Breeders' Cup Juvenile | Jack Christopher | pre-entered |
| September | Rodeo Drive Stakes | Santa Anita | California | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf | Going to Vegas | pre-entered |
| October | Awesome Again Stakes | Santa Anita | California | Breeders' Cup Classic | Medina Spirit | pre-entered |
| October | Santa Anita Sprint Championship | Santa Anita | California | Breeders' Cup Sprint | Dr. Schivel | pre-entered |
| October | Frizette Stakes | Belmont Park | New York | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies | Echo Zulu | pre-entered |
| October | Zenyatta Stakes | Santa Anita | California | Breeders' Cup Distaff | Private Mission | pre-entered |
| October | Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp | Longchamp | France | Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint | A Case of You (IRE) | pre-entered |
| October | Prix de l'Opéra | Longchamp | France | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf | Rougir (FR) | pre-entered |
| October | Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère | Longchamp | France | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf | Angel Bleu (FR) | bypass |
| October | Prix Marcel Boussac | Longchamp | France | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf | Zellie (FR) | bypass |
| October | Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe | Longchamp | France | Breeders' Cup Turf | Torquator Tasso (GER) | bypass |
| October | Phoenix Stakes | Keeneland | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Sprint | Special Reserve | pre-entered |
| October | Alcibiades Stakes | Keeneland | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies | Juju's Map | pre-entered |
| October | Breeders' Futurity Stakes | Keeneland | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Juvenile | Rattle N Roll | pre-entered |
| October | First Lady Stakes | Keeneland | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf | Blowout (GB) | bypass |
| October | Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes | Keeneland | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint | Bell's the One | bypass |
| September | Vosburgh Stakes | Belmont Park | New York | Breeders' Cup Sprint | Following Sea | pre-entered |
| October | Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes | Keeneland | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Mile | In Love (BRZ) | pre-entered |
| October | Indian Summer Stakes | Keeneland | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint | Averly Jane | pre-entered |
| October | Bourbon Stakes | Keeneland | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf | Tiz the Bomb | pre-entered |
| October | Spinster Stakes | Keeneland | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Distaff | Letruska | pre-entered |
| October | Belmont Futurity | Belmont Park | New York | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint | Slipstream | pre-entered |
| October | Jessamine Stakes | Keeneland | Kentucky | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf | California Angel | pre-entered |
| October | Champion Stakes | Ascot | England | Breeders' Cup Turf | Sealiway (FR) | bypass |
| October | Queen Elizabeth II Stakes | Ascot | England | Breeders' Cup Mile | Baaeed (GB) | bypass |