FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, July 22nd, 2022
BREEDERS’ CUP CHALLENGE SERIES CONTINUES THIS SATURDAY LIVE AT 5 P.M. ET ON CNBC WITH TVG.COM HASKELL STAKES FROM MONMOUTH PARK
Live Coverage to Also Feature the United Nations Stakes (G1)
STAMFORD, Conn. – July 22, 2022 – Undefeated Jack Christopher and morning line favorite Taiba headline NBC Sports’ live coverage of the “Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In – presented by America’s Best Racing” $1 million TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1) this Saturday at 5 p.m. ET on CNBC from Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J. The winner of the eight-horse field will earn an automatic berth into this year’s $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).
The TVG.com Haskell Stakes is the third program this year in the “Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In – presented by America’s Best Racing” on NBC, Peacock, and CNBC from some of North America’s most iconic racetracks. The series leads to the 39th Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky, on Nov. 4-5. The complete series TV schedule can be accessed here and the NBC Sports programming schedule can be found here.
Saturday’s live coverage will also include the 1 3/8-mile, $600,000 United Nations Stakes (G1) on turf.
NBC Sports’ coverage will feature commentary and discussion led by host Ahmed Fareed, analysts Randy Moss and Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey, winner of 15 Breeders’ Cup races including five victories in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, reporter Britney Eurton, and handicapper Matt Bernier.
Among Haskell contenders, Jack Christopher, owned by Jim Bakke, Gerald Isbister, Coolmore Stud and Peter Brant, has won all four of his starts, including two dominant wins this year in one-turn races. Trained by Chad Brown, Jack Christopher captured the Pat Day Mile (G2) at Churchill Downs on May 7 by 3 ¾ lengths and followed up that performance with a stunning 10-length victory in the 7-furlong Woody Stephens Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park on June 11.
Zedan Racing Stables, Inc’s Taiba, the 7-5 morning line favorite, has raced just three times. After breaking his maiden by 7 ½ lengths in March, he defeated highly regarded stablemate Messier in the Santa Anita Derby (G1). A son of 2017 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Gun Runner, Taiba will look to rebound from his 12th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby (G1). Trainer Bob Baffert has saddled nine winners of the Haskell, including Authentic in 2020, who also won the Breeders’ Cup Classic and the Horse of the Year title.
C2 Racing Stable LLC and La Milagrosa Stable, LLC’s White Abarrio, trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., also had a disappointing Kentucky Derby, finishing 16th. However, he comes into the Haskell off a second-place finish in the Ohio Derby (G3) at Thistledown on June 25. White Abarrio was the top 3-year-old in Florida this winter, winning both the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) and the Florida Derby (G1).
Gold Square LLC’s Cyberknife defeated Howling Time by a nose in the 1 1/16-mile Matt Winn Stakes (G3) on June 12 at Churchill Downs. Trained by Brad Cox, Cyberknife has won three of five races this year, including the Arkansas Derby (G1). Cox also trained last year’s Haskell Stakes winner, Mandaloun, who was elevated from second place to first following the disqualification of Hot Rod Charlie.
The Albaugh Family Stables LLC’s Howling Time, trained by Dale Romans, won an allowance race at Churchill Downs on May 21 prior to the Matt Winn.
As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders’ Cup will pay the entry fees for the Haskell Stakes winner to start in the World Championships. Breeders’ Cup will also provide a $10,000 travel allowance for all starters based outside of Kentucky to compete in the World Championships.
In the United Nations Stakes, Chad Brown has entered Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables LLC, Wonder Stables, and Michael J. Caruso’s defending champion Tribhuvan (FR) and Madaket Stables, LLC, Michael Dubb and Louis Lazzinnaro LLC’s Adhamo (IRE). Tribhuvan defeated Adhamo by 3 ½ lengths in the Manhattan Stakes (G1) on June 11 at Belmont Park. The main challenge to the Brown duo should come from Otter Bend Stables, LLC’s Gufo, who has won eight races for trainer Christophe Clement, and finished third in the Manhattan Stakes as the 2-1 favorite.
NBC SPORTS AND HORSE RACING
NBC Sports is the exclusive home to the most important and prestigious events in horse racing, including the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Royal Ascot, and Pegasus World Cup Invitational Series.
ABOUT AMERICA’S BEST RACING
America’s Best Racing is a multimedia fan development and awareness-building platform, initiated by The Jockey Club, designed to increase the profile and visibility of North America’s best Thoroughbred racing events with a primary focus on the sport’s lifestyle and competition. You can follow America’s Best Racing at AmericasBestRacing.net as well as on social media platforms Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram, and Snapchat.
ABOUT BREEDERS’ CUP
Breeders’ Cup Limited administers the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred horse racing’s year-end Championships, as well as the Breeders’ Cup Challenge qualifying series, which provides automatic starting positions into the Championships races. The Breeders’ Cup is also a founding member of the Thoroughbred Safety Coalition, an organization composed of industry leaders committed to advancing safety measures in Thoroughbred racing and improving the well-being of equine and human athletes.
The 2022 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, consisting of 14 Championship races, is scheduled to be held on November 4-5 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky. The Championships will be televised live by NBC Sports. Breeders’ Cup press releases appear on the Breeders’ Cup website, breederscup.com. You can also follow the Breeders’ Cup on social media.
–NBC SPORTS–
