Breeders’ Cup release

PRESIOUS PASSION led every step of the way en route to an upset victory in the 2008 Grade 1 United Nations at Monmouth Park. Saturday, the 6-year-old gelding looks to repeat in the $750,000 United Nations which along with Monmouth Park’s $250,000 Salvator Mile represents the first state-side races in this year’s international “Win and You’re In” Breeders’ Cup Challenge series. (Click on link for complete schedule http://www.breederscup.com/content.aspx?id=40070)

Under the “Win and You’re In” expanded format, which burgeoned from four international events in 2008 to 12 this year, the first-place finishers in a record 62 designated Breeders’ Cup Challenge Races will earn starting positions, following the payment of appropriate entry fees on Oct. 26, in a corresponding divisional race in the 14-race, $25.5 million Breeders’ Cup World Championships on November 6-7 at Oak Tree at Santa Anita.

This year, seven countries – the United States, Canada, England, France, Australia, Ireland, and Hong Kong – will participate in Challenge races. The format was introduced in 2007, with 25 races earning their winners automatic qualifying berths. In 2008, 57 such races comprised the “Win and You’re In” schedule.

Last Saturday, the European leg of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge began in Ireland at The Curragh with the Audi Pretty Polly Stakes (Grade 1). Lord Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s Dar Re Mi became the first European horse to qualify for the Breeders’ Cup following her half-length victory in the Pretty Polly, earning an automatic berth into the $2 million Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (gr. I). (See Major Stakes Recap).

The 2009 international Breeders’ Cup Challenge began in April with the Champions Mile (Grade 1) in Hong Kong, won by Sight Winner, who earned a starting berth to the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile.

In 2008, 34 of the 57 Challenge race winners competed in the Breeders’ Cup. Five of them won races at the Championships, led by Raven’s Pass. The other winners were Zenyatta, who won the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic on Championship Friday; Forever Together, Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf; Stardom Bound, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and Maram, Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

This year’s United Nations winner will gain an automatic starting position into the $3 million Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Turf. The Grade 3 Salvator Mile will provide its winner a starting berth in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.

The Monmouth Park-based Presious Passion suffered through a four-race losing streak after winning last year’s United Nations. Trained by Mary Hartmann for owner Patricia Generazio, Presious Passion has, however, returned to top form this year, winning three stakes, and finishing second in two others.

COURT VISION, trained by Hall of Fame Bill Mott, is among those expected to face Presious Passion in the 1 3/8-mile United Nations. A grade I winner, Court Vision finished fourth in his most recent start, the Manhattan Handicap at Belmont Park earlier this month.

Other probable starters are BANROCK, LAURO (GER), and MUSKETIER (GER),

SMOOTH AIR is the probable headliner of the Salvator Mile. The 4-year-old will make his first start for trainer Chad Brown, a former assistant to Hall of Fame Bobby Frankel. Formerly trained by Bennie Stutts Jr., Smooth Air enters the Salvator Mile off a sharp second-place finish to Bribon (FR) in the grade I Metropolitan Mile at Belmont Park in May.

Smooth Air, a winner of more than $1 million, is expected to face the Larry Jones-trained SOLAR FLARE, who won the Frisk Me Now Stakes at Monmouth Park in his most recent start. Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito is expected to run one of his Salvator Mile nominees, COAL PLAY or COOL COAL MAN.

The United Nations and Salvator Mile will be shown Saturday on HRTV and TVG.

BREEDERS’ CUP TICKET UPDATE – MORE THAN 50 PERCENT SOLD

With the implementation of a fan-friendly, on-line purchasing system, more than half of this year’s Breeders’ Cup reserved tickets has been sold with more than four months remaining before the World Championships at Santa Anita Park. Tickets may be purchased at www.breederscup.com/Tickets.

EARLY BC FOAL NOMINATIONS CLOSE AUG. 1

The $100 discount off the standard $500 nomination fee for all foals nominated electronically or “on-line” to the Breeders’ Cup program will close at the end of business on August 1.

The early on-line discount was proposed by the Racing and Nominations Committee as a way to stimulate nominator participation during the challenging economic environment and to encourage greater use of the Web to increase efficiency and reduce costs.

“In these difficult economic times, we want to show our appreciation to our nominators, at all levels, for their loyal and continued support over the years by providing a one-time 20 percent discount for early on-line nomination,” said Greg Avioli president and CEO of Breeders Cup Ltd on April 7. “As part of this program we want to encourage electronic nominations, which are far more efficient and economical for both the nominators and the organization than forms sent via the mail.   We also want to reward nominators who commit their foals to the program earlier in the year.”

All foals sired by a fully nominated Breeders’ Cup stallion, European Breeders’ Fund stallion or BCL/EBF Common Fund stallion are eligible for nomination to the Breeders’ Cup program in their year of birth. The standard $500 foal nomination, for those choosing not to nominate on-line, will remain in effect, with a deadline of Midnight (ET), October 15.  Late foal nominations may be made by Midnight (ET), December 15 of the year of birth by payment of a one-time $1,500 nomination fee. For further information, please contact the Nominations department at (800)722-3287 or email: bcnominations@breederscup.com.

COUNTOWN TO THE BREEDERS’ CUP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

A listing of the upcoming major stakes races this weekend:

BREEDERS’ CUP CLASSIC

July 4 – $400,000 Suburban Handicap at Belmont Park. Run at 1¼ miles for 3yos & up.

EMIRATES AIRLINE BREEDERS’ CUP TURF

July 4 – $750,000 United Nations at Monmouth Park. Run at 1 3/8 miles on turf for 3yos & up.

July 4 – $150,000 American Handicap at Arlington Park. Run at 1 1/8 miles on turf for 3yos & up.

EMIRATES AIRLINE BREEDERS’ CUP FILLY & MARE TURF

July 5 – $700,000 American Oaks Invitational at Hollywood Park. Run at 1¼ miles on turf for 3yo fillies.

BREEDERS’ CUP MILE

July 4 – $175,000 Firecracker Handicap at Churchill Downs. Run at 1 mile on turf for 3yos & up.

SENTIENT JET BREEDERS’ CUP SPRINT

July 5 – $300,000 Triple Bend Invitational Handicap at Hollywood Park. Run at seven furlongs for 3yos & up.

July 5 – $200,000 Tom Fool Handicap at Belmont Park. Run at seven furlongs for 3yos & up.

July 5 – $200,000 Jersey Shore at Monmouth Park. Run at six furlongs for 3yos.

SENTIENT JET BREEDERS’ CUP FILLY & MARE SPRINT

July 4 – $300,000 Prioress at Belmont Park. Run at six furlongs for 3yo fillies.

July 4 – $150,000 Chicago Handicap at Arlington Park. Run at seven furlongs for fillies and mares.

BREEDERS’ CUP JUVENILE

July 3 – $100,000 Bashford Manor at Churchill Downs. Run at six furlongs for 2yos.

BREEDERS’ CUP DIRT MILE

July 4 – $250,000 Salvator Mile at Monmouth Park. Run at 1 mile for 3yos & up.

July 4 – $200,000 Dwyer at Belmont Park. Run at 1 1/16 miles for 3yos.