Breeders' Cup Challenge: 15 In, Four Dozen to Go

by Patricia Woo | Aug 10 2009

We are now in August, and 15 horses have guaranteed starting berths in the Breeders' Cup thanks to the Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" series.

Over the next two months, there are 48 more "Win and You're In" races, nine of them overseas.

The biggest day of Breeders' Cup Challenge races is Saturday Oct. 10. There are four races at Keeneland and Oak Tree, and three at Belmont Park.

Toss in three more on Sunday Oct. 11, two at Keeneland and one at Oak Tree, and it makes the weekend of racing a "must see" and a "must bet" for any horseplayer.

Mark your calendar now.

With more than two dozen Breeders' Cup Challenge races in the books, what winners have been the most impressive?

Here is a trio to note as you start your Breeders' Cup handicapping or look to make a few Breeders’ Cup Future wagers:

Gio Ponti: The Christophe Clement trained Gio Ponti won his fourth consecutive Grade 1 race in Saturday's Arlington Million, assuring the four-year-old colt a start in the Breeders' Cup Turf.

The colt is the top turf horse in the U.S. and one of the best in the world after winning the Kilroe at Santa Anita, and Man O' War and Manhattan at Belmont Park, followed by the Arlington Million.

His win on Saturday pushed him over $2 million in earnings, with nine wins in 14 career starts.

The question might be whether his connections would consider running the colt over the polytrack surface in the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Some question whether 1 ½ miles is a good distance for the colt. Clement has stated that he also is considering running him in the Breeders' Cup Mile.

Game Face: A win in the Princess Rooney Handicap (G1) at Calder on July 11 earned Game Face a starting berth in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.

The Todd Pletcher trainee earned a career top speed figure in that very impressive win, and she came back on Sunday at Saratoga with another strong performance.

The filly usually stalks the early pace, but in Sunday's Honorable Miss Handicap jockey Edgar Prado had the filly up between runners pressing the early pace.

She took command midstretch and went to score a sharp win by 1 ½ lengths over the pacesetter Keep the Peace.

The filly is in the best form of her career, and her next start likely will come in the $400,000 Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes on Sept. 12, which would be her final start before the Breeders' Cup.

That race is over the Tapeta synthetic surface, which would be a good setup race for the Breeders' Cup, which again this year will be contested over the polytrack surface at Santa Anita.

Presious Passion: Yes, this speedy turf runner faded in the Arlington Million on Saturday, finishing eighth and last, but let's not gives up on him yet.

The six-year-old gelding earned a starting berth in the Breeders' Cup Turf by winning the United Nations (G1) at Monmouth Park on July 4.

Jockey Elvis Trujillo opened up a lead of more than 20 lengths, setting very fast early fractions for a turf race, and holding on to win by two lengths.

His eighth-place finish on Saturday was the first time the gelding has missed landing in the exacta since last November when he was sixth in the Red Smith (G2).

Look for Presious Passion to bounce back with a better effort in his next start, and he certainly will be a pace factor in the Breeders' Cup Turf at a generous price.

There are two Breeders' Cup Challenge races this weekend.

At Emerald Downs on Sunday, the Longacres Mile (G3) is a "Win and You're In" race for the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.

Among those considered possible for the race include Awesome Gem, Autism Awareness, Sierra Sunset, and Bank Emblem.

The John C. Mabee Handicap (G1) at Del Mar is a "Win and You're In" race for the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

Among those pointed toward Sunday's Mabee include Magical Fantasy, winner of the Gamely (G1) and Santa Barbara (G2) in her last two starts, Tuscan Evening, Gotta Have Her, Meyden Princess, and Bel Air Sizzle.