FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, October 1st, 2015

“BREEDERS’ CUP CHALLENGE SERIES-PRESENTED BY LANE’S END FARM” CONTINUES THIS SATURDAY AND SUNDAY LIVE AT 5 P.M. ET ON NBC

Shadwelll Turf Mile & Juddmonte Spinster Headline the Telecast from Keeneland Race Course

 NEW YORK (October 1, 2015) – Final automatic qualifying positions for the Breeders’ Cup World Championships will be at stake at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., this weekend, led by the $1 million Shadwell Turf Mile this Saturday at 5 p.m. ET on NBC, and the $500,000 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes this Sunday at 5 p.m. ET on NBC.

The  Shadwell Turf Mile, run at one mile on the turf course for 3-year-olds and up, a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Mile, and the Juddmonte Spinster Stakes, run at 1 1/8 miles for fillies and mares, 3-years-old and up, a “Win and You’re In” for the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff, are the 9th and 10th telecasts, respectively, under the “Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series – Presented by Lane’s End” banner of automatic qualifying races leading into the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Oct. 30-31, which will be televised live on NBCSN and NBC from Keeneland.

Saturday’s show will also include live coverage of the $500,000 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity, a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, and the $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup from Belmont Park in New York, a “Win and You’re In” for the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic.

In addition to the Spinster, Sunday’s program will also include coverage of the $250,000 Dixiana Bourbon Stakes, a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.

Tom Hammond hosts NBC’s coverage, joined by analyst/host Laffit Pincay III, analysts Randy Moss and Jerry Bailey, the Hall of Fame jockey and five-time Breeders’ Cup Classic winner, reporters Donna Brothers and Kenny Rice, and analyst/handicapper Eddie Olczyk.  Daily Racing Form’s Matt Bernier will also serve as handicapper.

Midwest Thoroughbred’s The Pizza Man, with a life time record of 15 of 23, leads an outstanding field of 12 horses in the Shadwell Turf Mile. The 6-year-old, trained by Roger Brueggemann, won the Arlington Million at Arlington Park in August, to gain an automatic berth into the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf, and now seeks to gain a free spot in the Breeders’ Cup Mile. Among the Challengers are Susan and Jim Hill’s Grand Arch, who won the Fourstardave at Saratoga in August and was second in last year’s Shadwell Turf Mile; and from Europe, the 3-year-old Dutch Connection (GB), who won the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot earlier this year.

In the 1 1/16 mile Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (GI), Big Chief Racing’s Exaggerator leads the field of 12 two-year-olds. This son of 2007 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Curlin showed poise beyond his years when he rallied boldly up the inside to win the Saratoga Special (GII) August 16 for trainer Keith Desormeaux. Starlight Racing’s Uncle Vinny, who won Saratoga’s Sanford (GIII) in July (via disqualification) and was third in their Hopeful (GI) September 7 for trainer Todd Pletcher also looms a contender.

Sunday’s Juddmonte Spinster (GI) is led by last year’s Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner Untapable, owned by Ron Winchell and trained by Steve Asmussen. The 4-year-old daughter of Tapit is looking to rebound after a tough campaign this year that has earned her just one win in five starts, which was the Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park in April. Brereton Jones’ 3-year-old Lovely Maria, who won the Ashland Stakes at Keeneland in the spring and then the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs, appears formidable again.

Sunday’s supporting feature, the Dixiana Bourbon Stakes, is expected to draw an overflow field of 2-year-olds. Run at 1 1/16 miles, the Bourbon could be led by Teresa and David Palmer’s Cajun Schill, who was impressive in winning the Calumet Farms Juvenile at Kentucky Downs September 5 for trainer Bill Kaplan.

As an added element to the racing action on both days, fans have the chance to win a trip the Breeders’ Cup World Championships by playing the Million Dollar Finish fantasy game. The game is free to enter and play, and fans can register and submit their picks for each race online at: http://www.milliondollarfinish.com/. The fantasy player with the highest score for each designated race will win a once-in-a-lifetime VIP trip for two to the sold-out 2015 Breeders’ Cup. After these final two Challenge Series broadcasts, players will also have a shot at the ultimate prize of $1 million during the Breeders’ Cup World Championships by predicting the correct order for the top 10 finishers in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic, which will air on Saturday, October 31 on NBC.

ABOUT NBC SPORTS GROUP

When the Comcast-NBCUniversal transaction was completed in January 2011, the sports assets of the two companies combined to form NBC Sports Group, which serves sports fans 24/7 with premier live events, insightful studio shows, and compelling original programming. The sports media company consists of a unique array of sports assets, including NBC Sports, NBC Olympics, NBCSN (NBC Sports Network), Golf Channel, 10 NBC Sports Regional Networks, NBC Sports Radio and NBC Sports Digital. NBC Sports Group possesses an unparalleled collection of television rights agreements, partnering with some of the most prestigious sports properties in the world: the International Olympic Committee and United States Olympic Committee, the NFL, NHL, NASCAR, PGA TOUR, PGA of America, Churchill Downs, New York Racing Association, The Stronach Group, Breeders’ Cup, Premier League, Tour de France, French Open, Formula One, IndyCar and many more.

About Breeders’ Cup

The Breeders’ Cup administers the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred racing’s year-end Championships.  The Breeders’ Cup also administers the Breeders’ Cup Challenge qualifying series, which provides automatic starting positions into the Championships races. The 2015 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, consisting of 13 grade I races and purses totaling $26 million, will be held October 30-31 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., and will be televised live by the NBC Sports Group. Breeders’ Cup press releases appear on the Breeders’ Cup Web site, www.breederscup.com. You can also follow the Breeders’ Cup on social media platforms FacebookTwitter and YouTube 

No purchase necessary to enter or win. The Promotion registration period begins on or about April 28, 2015 at 12:01 a.m. ET and ends on October 31, 2015 at 5:40 p.m. ET. Promotion is open only to legal residents of the 50 United States & D.C., who are 18 years of age or older. See Official Rules at www.MillionDollarFinish.com/rules for exact registration times for each race, additional eligibility restrictions, prize descriptions/restrictions/ARVs and complete details. Void where prohibited. PROMOTION IS DEVISED AS A NON-GAMBLING PROMOTION and is intended solely for entertainment purposes. Promotion is sponsored by Breeders’ Cup Limited. Breeders’ Cup Limited is the sole sponsor of the Promotion. NBC Sports and NBCUniversal Media, LLC are not sponsors of the Promotion and are not associated with the administration of the Promotion in any way. Entrants are providing information to sponsors and not to NBC Sports and NBCUniversal Media, LLC.