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Every horse racing fan’s excited about what’s about to happen in November. It’s the commencement of the 40th annual Breeder’s Cup World Championship with numerous races and huge buttloads of purses and awards that exceeds $30 million! The Breeder’s Cup Championship 2022 and all of its races are the year-ender of horse racing events.
Each year comes with top contenders from different races last year. If you’re a bettor, it’s a must to learn more about the contenders you plan to place your bets on. Not only will it give you more information needed to make a good betting decision, but it’s also helpful to ensure that you’re confident with your bets. Read on below to learn more about this year’s top contenders!
Count Again
Count Again won first place at a “Win & You’re In” Challenge Race at Shoemaker Mile in Santa Anita Park. Against numerous competitors in the United States, Count Again rose to ranks and earned its spot as the number 1 contender in the Challenge Race. Additionally, Count Again earned an all-fees paid berth to the Breeder’s Cup Mile (Grade 1).
Count Again is TVG’s 2022 picks to bet on due to its ability to slice through its competition, as evident in his ability to come first at least three times in 2022 and won first place seven times throughout his career.
Flightline
Flightline is an undefeated Thoroughbred racehorse bred in Kentucky by Summer Wind Equine. John W. Sadler trained him, lucky for him because the trainer has over 2,600 race wins. With Flightline’s win at the Hill ’N’ Dale Metropolitan H. Challenge Race, fans worldwide are eyeing this colt to win at the Breeder’s Cup Championship.
Casa Creed
Let’s go back to the 2022 Jaipur Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park to discuss Casa Creed, another Challenge Race winner. Not only did Casa Creed win once at Belmont Park, but the horse also won twice! Thanks to this win, Casa Creed earned a free trip to the Breeder’s Cup Turf Sprint this 2022!
Many expected the horse would experience jet lags and motion sickness due to their earlier trip to the Middle East this year; however, Casa Creed showed no signs of weakness! So if you want to watch Casa Creed in action, watch his abilities at the Triple Crown series playbacks.
Songline
At another Challenge Race in Japan, Yasuda Kinen, Songline won first place last June 5, 2022. Songline, along with its jockey, Kenichi Ikezoe, and trainer Toru Hayashi secured their spot at the Breeders Cup Mile on November 4-5, 2022. Be sure to be on the lookout for these top contenders!
The Ridler
The Ridler is another contender for the Breeder’s Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. He secures his spot in the Championship thanks to his win at the ‘Win and You’re In” Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot Racecourse. The Ridler’s win at the Challenge Race was quite a surprise victory to fans and confounded numerous bettors on the market. Thankfully, this gave bettors a wake-up call of The Ridler’s capabilities.
Cyberknife
This list wouldn’t be complete without Cyberknife, a 3-year-old colt that Brad H. Cox trains. The trainer helped numerous notable horses win the Eclipse Award, and he also had four winners at the 2022 Breeder’s Cup. So you can surely trust that Cyberknife, another winner of a Challenge Race at the Haskell Stakes to earn the top spots on November 4-5.
How Do Horses Qualify For The Breeder’s Cup?
As you may have guessed, horses would have to enter Challenge Races in their area and win to qualify for the Breeder’s Cup Championship. Once a horse wins the Challenge Races, it automatically earns its spot in the races. The famous catchline for these races is “win, and you’re in.”
It might sound easy, but earning the top spot is no easy feat. Thousands of competitors fight for their spot, even in just one area. It’s why there are more than one Challenge Races in highly populated racehorse areas.
The Breeder’s Cup Challenge Series consists of 81 races, and the following are some of the popular ones:
● Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes – United States
● Keeneland Turf Mile Stakes – United States
● Moyglare Stud Stakes – Ireland
● Prix Jacques Le Marois – France
● Norfolk Stakes – United Kingdom
● Yasuda Kinen – Japan
● King’s Stand Stakes – Australia
● Takarazuka Kinen – Japan
Final Thoughts
After a series of horse racing events throughout 2022, from Kentucky Derby to Belmont Stakes to Yasuda Kinen, the Breeder’s Cup Championship is a great way to cap the year. We’ve seen these contenders from other races, but the Championship on November 4-5, 2022, is considered the final run for these horses.
Will they show us something completely different and earn their spot at the top again? Or will they let other horses outshine them? We’ll only know the answers in just a few months!
