Eight Breeders' Cup Challenge Races at Santa Anita Park

by Patricia Woo | Sep 28 2009

The excitement of betting on horse racing is reaching a fevered pitch with the opening of the Oak Tree meet at Santa Anita racetrack. With the Breeders' Cup just around the corner, many of horse racing's finest are making their way to Arcadia, Calif., in the hopes of qualifying for the year-end extravaganza through the Breeders' Cup Challenge program. Eight Challenge races, from Sept. 30 to Oct. 11, will guarantee the winners a coveted spot in the Breeders' Cup - and bettors an opportunity to get in on some of the best horse racing wagering of the year.

The Morvich Handicap kicks off the Breeders' Cup Challenge series on Sept. 30. One of the key prep races for the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, the Gr. 3 Morvich Handicap is a 6 1/2-furlong test for 3-year-olds and up and offers a purse of $100,000. Last year's winner, California Flag, leads the field, sharing the high weight with Noble Court. Desert Code and Mr. Gruff and also expected to contend.

Two races in the juvenile division fall on Oct. 4: the Gr. 1 Norfolk Stakes for 2-year-olds and the Gr. 1 Oak Leaf Stakes for 2-year-old fillies. Both are $300,000 1 1/16-mile races that will give the winners an automatic berth into the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and the Juvenile Fillies events, respectively. Bob Baffert's Lookin at Lucky is a Smart Strike colt who should be one of the frontrunners in the Norfolk, while Eric Guillot's Mi Sueno will be looking for her third straight win in the Oak Leaf.

Oct. 10 promises to be the most exciting day of racing in the series with four berths to the Breeders' Cup up for grabs. The $300,000 Yellow Ribbon Stakes, a Gr. 1 turf test over 1 1/4 miles for fillies and mares 3 years old and up, will give the winner a spot in the Filly & Mare Turf, while the $300,000 Gr. 1 Lady's Secret Stakes - a 1 1/6-mile race also for fillies and mares 3 years old and up - will secure a spot in the Ladies' Classic for the winner. Three-year-old milers like possible contender Skyrush will try to win their way into the Breeders' Cup Mile in the $150,000 Gr. 2 Oak Tree Mile. But the highlight of the day will be the $350,000 Gr. 1 Goodwood Stakes. This 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds and up will feature the 2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird and will guarantee the winner of the race a spot in the Breeders' Cup Classic.

The Breeders' Cup Challenge series will wrap up at Santa Anita on Oct. 11 with the $300,000 Gr. 1 Ancient Title Stakes, a 6-furlong race for 3-year-olds and up with a berth to the Breeder's Cup Sprint at stake.

These eight Breeders' Cup Challenge races will offer some of the best wagering opportunities in anticipation of the Breeders' Cup. So don't miss out - bet on horse racing at Santa Anita Racetrack at the Bodog Racebook!