The first two were the Met Mile and Ogden Phipps which were on the Belmont Stakes Day undercard. Last year’s Belmont Stakes winner Palace Malice took the Met Mile while Close Hatches won the Ogden Phipps over last year’s Breeders’ Cup Distaff champion Beholder.
Turf ‘n’ Sport handicapper Michael Dempsey will be covering all of the races, and those who signed up for the Road to the Breeders’ Cup Package were rewarded with both winners which were his top picks.
“We are excited to present the new series of Breeders’ Cup Challenge telecasts, which will help to build interest as we move from the Triple Crown races through the summer and on to the eagerly-anticipated Breeders’ Cup World Championships in the fall,” said Jon Miller, President of Programming for NBC and NBCSN.
Next up on the schedule is the $500,000 Gold Cup (G1) at Santa Anita on June 28.
The series will include races from Belmont Park, Santa Anita, Saratoga, Monmouth Park, Del Mar, and Keeneland.
The Breeders’ Cup will be at Santa Anita on Friday Oct. 31 and Saturday Nov. 1, with $26 million up for grabs.
Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In” schedule on NBC and NBCSN.
| Date/Time | Network | Event | Track | Race |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, 6/7; 2:30-7 PM | NBC | Metropolitan Handicap | Belmont Park | Dirt Mile |
| Saturday, 6/7; 2:30-7 PM | NBCSN | Ogden Phipps | Belmont Park | Distaff |
| Saturday, 6/28; 7-8 PM | NBCSN | The Gold Cup at Santa Anita | Santa Anita Park | Classic |
| Saturday, 7/5; 5-6 PM | NBCSN | Belmont Oaks | Belmont Park | F/M Turf |
| Sunday, 7/27; 5-6 PM | NBC | Haskell Invitational | Monmouth Park | Classic |
| Saturday, 8/2; 5-6 PM | NBC | Whitney |
Saratoga | Classic |
| Saturday, 8/23; 4:30-6PM | NBC | Ballerina | Saratoga | F/M Sprint |
| Sunday, 8/24; 8-9 PM | NBCSN | TVG Pacific Classic | Del Mar |
Classic |
| Saturday, 8/30; 6-7 PM | NBCSN | Forego |
Saratoga | Sprint |
| Saturday, 9/27; 6-8 PM | NBCSN | Jockey Club Gold Cup | Belmont Park | Sprint |
| Saturday, 9/27; 6-8 PM | NBCSN | Awesome Again Stakes | Santa Anita Park | Classic |
| Saturday, 10/4; 4:30-6 PM | NBCSN | TCOA Stakes | Keeneland | F/M Sprint |
| Saturday, 10/4; 4:30-6 PM | NBCSN | Breeders’ Futurity | Keeneland | Juvenile |
| Saturday, 10/4; 4:30-6 PM | NBCSN | Shadwell Mile | Keeneland | Mile |
| Sunday, 10/5; 5-6 PM | NBC | Spinster | Keeneland | Distaff |
| Sunday, 10/5; 5-6 PM | NBC | Bourbon | Keeneland | Juvenile Turf |
Road to the Breeders’ Cup Package
Get selections for all of the U.S. based Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” races from June 7 to Oct. 9 and Michael Dempsey’s 2-Day Breeders’ Cup Report.
Michael’s two day Breeders’ Cup Report includes his selections, analysis, fair odds line, and wagering recommendations for every race on the two-day championship event from Santa Anita Park on Oct. 31- Nov. 1.
