Last year, five internationally-based horses—Loves Only You, Marche Lorraine, Modern Games, Space Blues, and Yibir—triumphed in Breeders' Cup races at Del Mar. Another two horses, American trainees Golden Pal and Twilight Gleaming, also scored in the Breeders' Cup after racing overseas at various points during 2021.
As usual, foreign horses are expected to converge this year upon Keeneland, which hosts the Breeders' Cup Nov. 4-5, with some of them having secured paid, automatic entrance into the Breeders' Cup via a victory in a Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" Challenge Race.
This week's WAYI contests are strictly overseas. The qualifiers began Aug. 17 with the Juddmonte International Stakes (G1) at York, where Baaeed remained unbeaten in 10 starts, and continued Aug. 18 with Alpinista capturing the Darley Yorkshire Oaks (G1). Baaeed earned a free birth on dirt into the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), a race he is not likely to pursue, while Alpinista gained entrance into the Maker's Mark Filly & Mare Turf (G1T).
Two more Breeders' Cup WAYI races are on tap this week: the Aug. 19 Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes (G1) from York, which catapults horses into the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T), followed by the Aug. 21 Darley Prix Morny (G1) from Deauville, where 2-year-olds clash with a bid in the Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1T) on the line.
Stonestreet Stables' Twilight Gleaming raced at Deauville last year in advance of her Breeders' Cup triumph for American trainer Wesley Ward, though she took the Prix de la Vallee d'Auge there, not the Prix Morny.
A pair of fillies, Royal Aclaim and The Platinum Queen, are the favorites for the Nunthorpe. The former is 3-for-3 for trainer James Tate and owner Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum, while the latter is 3-for-4 for trainer Richard Fahey and owner Middleham Park Racing.
The Platinum Queen is interestingly a 2-year-old matched against older runners as juveniles can compete in the Nunthorpe while in receipt of a sizable weight break. Hollie Doyle rides The Platinum Queen, who carries 114 pounds, while Royal Aclaim shoulders 136 pounds and Andrea Atzeni.
With the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint restricted to runners age 3 and up, should The Platinum Queen win Friday's race, her connections are permitted to transfer the waived entry fees for her to start in a Breeders' Cup race for juveniles.
The Breeders' Cup Challenge Series returns to the U.S. next week with the Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer Stakes (G1T) and Pat O'Brien Stakes (G2) in the spotlight Aug. 27, followed by the Ballerina Stakes (G1) Aug. 28. The Sword Dancer and Ballerina are at Saratoga Race Course, the Pat O'Brien at Del Mar.
The Sword Dancer, Pat O'Brien, and Ballerina offer Breeders' Cup berths into the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T), Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1), and Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1), respectively.
The Sword Dancer and Ballerina are at the same distances as their follow-up Breeders' Cup races, though the Pat O'Brien is a bit shorter at seven furlongs.
Last year's Pat O'Brien winner, Ginobili, went on to finish second in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile last year at Del Mar behind blowout winner Life Is Good .
The race's 2020 victor, C Z Rocket, competed in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) at Keeneland over six furlongs, rather than the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. He finished second to Whitmore, who was later honored with an Eclipse Award as champion male sprinter.
The Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile is a two-turn race at most Breeders' Cup venues, including Del Mar and Keeneland.
