Japan to get Breeders' Cup Challenge race

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - The Breeders' Cup Challenge series is adding a race in Japan this summer, with an automatic starting position in the World Championships at stake.

The Breeders' Cup and the Japan Racing Association announced Sunday that the Takarazuka Kinen, a Group 1 stakes race run on June 26 at Hanshin Racecourse, is joining the international Breeders' Cup Challenge.

This year's Breeders' Cup will be held Nov. 4-5 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

The winner of the 52nd running of the Takarazuka Kinen, which will be run at 1 3/8 miles on the turf for 3-year-olds and up, will automatically qualify for a berth in the $3 million Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Turf, which will be run at 1 1/2 miles on the turf.

The Breeders' Cup World Championships consists of 14 races conducted over two days with total purses of $26 million.

The Breeders' Cup will cover the $90,000 entry fee and give a $20,000 travel allowance to the winner of the Takarazuka Kinen to start in the Breeders' Cup Turf.

Also, this year's Breeders' Cup Turf winner will be given an automatic berth in the Japan Cup on Nov. 27 at Tokyo Racecourse, and will be eligible for up to a $1 million bonus in addition to its prize money based upon a top-three finish in the Japan Cup.

Along with Japan, Breeders' Cup Challenge races this year will be held in the United States, Canada, Hong Kong, England, Ireland, France, Argentina and Australia.