Chilean Contenders Line Up for BC Challenge Series

Led by multiple group stakes-winning filly Nenufar Azul and defending winner Succeso , a field of 17 has been entered for the May 29 1 1/4-mile Gran Premio Club Hipico Falabella (G1) at Club Hipico de Santiago. The winner will receive an automatic starting position in the $2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile Presented by PDJF (G1T) through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series 'Win and You're In.'

The Breeders' Cup Challenge Series is an international series of 82 stakes races whose winners receive free berths and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which is scheduled to be held at Keeneland Nov. 4-5. 

Nenufar Azul, a Stud Haras Don Alberto homebred 3-year-old, has won both her starts this year. A daughter of two-time Eclipse Award winner Lookin At Lucky   out of Nadie Como Ella, by Rock of Gibraltar (IRE), Nenufar Azul, which means blue water lily in English, won the 1 1/2-mile Clasico El Derby (G1) at Valparaiso Sporting against males on Feb. 6, defeating Y Nada Mas by a nose at 7-1. Trained by Juan Cavieres, the win was her first since breaking her maiden in April last year. She stayed on form after the Clasico El Derby by capturing the 1 1/4-mile Gran Clasico Coronacion Pablo Baraona (G2) at Club Hipico by six lengths on March 6.

Haras Don Alberto is also the breeder of the 4-year-old Succeso, who won last year's race by 1 3/4 lengths at 9-1. Succeso is owned by Stud Don Mario and trained by Patricio Baeza, who is saddling six runners in this year's edition. Following the 2021 Gran Premio Club Hipico Falabella, Sucesso finished in the money in four of his five next starts, including a victory on Feb. 28 by a nose over El Expreso  in the 1 1/4-mile Verano Arturo Cousino (G2) at Club Hipico. He started next in the Otono Pedro Garcia de la Huerta Stakes (G2) on April 29 at Club Hipico. Off as the 5-2 favorite, he saved ground along the rail to the top of the stretch, then angled toward the center of the course but could not gain on the leaders and finished sixth, 2 1/2 lengths behind All Knights.

Stud Drope's All Knights, also trained by Baeza, is one of six horses coming out of the Huerta Stakes to compete Sunday. A winner of six races in 21 starts, including his last two efforts, All Knights captured the Huerta by a nose in a blanket finish over Savitar for his first group stakes win. A 5-year-old gelded son of Mastercraftsman , All Knights captured a one-mile handicap prep by 3 1/2 lengths prior to the Huerta on Feb. 18.

Other contenders include Gamberetti, War Breeze, El Expreso, Savitar, and Balio.