(Friday, October 3) The Breeders' Cup Challenge is a series of 58 races starting in April and running until October, with the winners of the races guaranteed sports in the starting gate on Breeders' Cup Day.

Nine of the races will be run on Saturday, with four coming at Woodbine, three at Keeneland, and two more at Belmont Park.

Six of the races will be telecast as part of a two-hour program on ESPN starting at 4:00 ET.

At Woodbine, the winners of the Nearctic Stakes (G2), Canadian International Stakes (G1), E.P. Taylor Stakes (G1), and the Summer Stakes (G3) will earn automatic berths in their respective Breeders'' Cup races.

Two year olds take center stage at Belmont Park, with the Champagne Stakes (G1) and the Frizette Stakes (G1) winners earning berths in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies respectively.

Three of the five stakes on Keeneland's card on Saturday are "Win and You're In" races: The Shadwell Turf Mile (G1), TCA Stakes (G3), and the Lane's End Breeders' Futurity (G1).

There are two more "Win and You're In" races at Keeneland on Sunday: The Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (G1) and the Woodford Reserve Bourbon Stakes (G3).

Saturday's Keeneland card is outstanding. A ten race card features two other stakes. The Phoenix Stakes (G3) drew a field of 12 sprinters that will go six furlongs on the polytrack surface.

Also on the card is the Woodford Stakes, a 5 ½ furlong turf sprint for three year olds and upward that drew a field of 12 with two also eligibles.

One of the toughest races on the card is the Lane's End Futurity (G1) which drew a field of eleven two year olds including four that come out of the roughly run Arlington Washington Futurity (G3).

Let's head out to Keeneland for today's featured race of the day:

Lanes End Breeders' Futurity (G1) Post time 4:22 ET
#6 Majestic Blue 6/1
#2 Reynaldothewizard 4/1
#9 Terrain 6/1
#11 Advice 7/2

#6 Majestic Blue earned the top last out speed fig in his debut, breaking his maiden at Saratoga going 5 ½ furlongs. The colt was a $675K purchase, by Forestry out of a Seeking the Gold mare, her first foal to race. The colt has enough pedigree to handle the stretch out, and most of McLaughlin's runners move forward second time out. The barn hits at a 25% clip (with a +ROI) with second time starters and is 25% winners (with a +ROI moving runners from sprint to route. The colt is just one of two in this field that did not compete in a stakes race last out, and hopefully the colt is overlooked on the tote.

#2 Reynaldothewizard is making his first start off nearly a two-month break. His first start against winners was a third place finish last out in the G3 Saratoga Special. The colt lunged in the air at the start, had to steady in traffic at the half-mile pole and then altered course to the inside and finished well. This colt was a $775K purchase, by first crop sire Speightstown out of the stakes winner Holiday Runner, who did her best running sprinting. His pedigree is light but his running style says he may be able to handle the extra ground.

#9 Terrain checked in third last out in the roughly run G3 Arlington Washington Futurity, and was put up to first after a double disqualification. The gelding had a tough trip in the stretch, having to take up a couple of times. The gelding has a solid pedigree, by Sky Mesa out of the stakes winner Minery. A clean trip and no doubt he can move forward off his last outing.

Wagering
WIN: #6 to win at 7/2 or better.
EX: 2,6 / 2,6,9,11
TRI: 2,6 / 2,6,9,11 / 2,3,6,7,9,11