The Challenge, sponsored by Darby Dan Farm appears each week through Breeders' Cup, typically Saturday, in BloodHorse Daily.
Of active, United States-based stallions, Malibu Moon leads the group of 2017 Breeders' Cup Challenge winners.
A look at this year's Challenge, which concluded Oct. 11, shows Malibu Moon was the only active U.S. stallion with three individual Challenge winners in: Ransom the Moon, Moonshine Memories, and Heavenly Love.
The first of the trio to punch his Breeders' Cup ticket was Ransom the Moon, who scored a clear victory in the Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) July 29 at Del Mar. That win earned Agave Racing Stable and Jeffry Wilke's Ransom the Moon a fees-paid spot in the TwinSpires Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1), which like the Bing Crosby, will be contested at six furlongs at Del Mar.
The other two Malibu Moon Challenge winners earned starting spots in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) as Moonshine Memories, campaigned by Bridlewood Farm and owners associated with Coolmore, won the Chandelier Stakes (G1) Sept. 30 at Santa Anita Park and Debby Oxley homebred Heavenly Love won the Darley Alcibiades Stakes (G1) Oct. 6 at Keeneland.
The late stallion Scat Daddy also had three 2017 Challenge winners: Caravaggio, who won the Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes (G2) for a berth in the Turf Sprint (G1T); Dacita, who took the Beverly D. Stakes (G1T) for an entry into the Filly & Mare Turf (G1T); and Flameaway, who won the Dixiana Bourbon Stakes (G3T) earning a place in the Juvenile Turf (G1T).
Leading all stallions (worldwide) this season in Challenge winners with five is Galileo who is represented by Ulysses, Hydrangea, Decorated Knight, Happily, and Rhododendron.
U.S.-based Stallions (living or deceased) with
multiple 2017 Breeders' Cup Challenge winners
Malibu Moon: Ransom the Moon, Moonshine Memories, and Heavenly Love
Scat Daddy (deceased): Caravaggio, Dacita, Flameaway
Candy Ride: Gun Runner, Separationofpowers
City Zip: Collected, Zipessa
Curlin: Curlin's Approval, Stellar Wind
Kitten's Joy: Roaring Lion and Sadler's Joy
Lemon Drop Kid: Beach Patrol, Romantic Vision
Medaglia d'Oro: Bolt d'Oro, Songbird
More Than Ready: Roy H, Rushing Fall
Union Rags: Free Drop Billy, Paradise Woods
War Front: Avenge, War Flag
