South America Retains Strong Presence in Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series

The series will span 14 countries during the current campaign, featuring 45 total qualifying events; however, the G1 Grande Premio Brasil is a notable scratch for 2026

"Ricardo Colombo Punches Ticket to Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile with Herr Kitten Success / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

LEXINGTON, Kentucky (Special to Turf Diario).- The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2026 with a record-breaking commitment. Officials announced an investment of $6.5 million in free entry fees for the winners of the 45 qualifying events worldwide, all leading to the World Championships at Keeneland on Oct. 30-31.

For South America, the announcement brings a mix of continuity and change. While Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay have retained their positions within the prestigious program, the G1 Grande Premio Brasil is a notable omission for the 2026 schedule. The decision stems from low stallion nomination numbers in Brazil, a prerequisite for offspring to access the program’s full benefits without additional costs.

Despite the absence of Gávea, the "Road to the World Championships" is already well underway in the region. The qualifying process kicked off last December on the turf at San Isidro, where the Brazilian-bred Obataye (c, 4, Courtier—[Dam], by [BMS]) secured his spot in the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf with a career-defining victory in the G1 Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini.

The momentum continued Jan. 6 during the celebrated Reyes meeting at Maroñas. Herr Kitten (c, 4, Camelot Kitten—[Dam], by [BMS]), trained by Ricardo Colombo, punched his ticket to the GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile following a dominant performance in the G3 Gran Premio Pedro Piñeyrúa.

"Global participation is the cornerstone of the Breeders’ Cup," said Dora Delgado, Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Officer. To facilitate international travel, the Breeders’ Cup offers a $40,000 travel allowance for starters based outside of North America, in addition to covering all entry fees.

The South American qualifying path will conclude with traditional stops at Club Hípico de Santiago (qualifying for the Turf), Hipódromo de Monterrico, and Hipódromo de Palermo, ensuring the region remains a vital pipeline of talent for racing’s year-end centerpiece.

The effectiveness of the Challenge Series was on full display in 2025, when 46 "Win and You’re In" winners competed at Del Mar. The year was highlighted by the historic international successes of Japan’s Forever Young (JPN) (Real Steel {JPN}) in the GI Classic and Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {IRE}) in the GI Mile.