The June 22 Clasico Cesar Del Rio (Peru-III) at Hipodromo de Monterrico will be the first-ever Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" Challenge event held in Peru, offering a starting position in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) to the winner.
The second of four Breeders' Cup Challenge races to be run in South America this year, the US$200,000 Clasico Cesar Del Rio at 1 1/4 miles for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up, attracted a field of 12 Sunday.
Included is Azarenka, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Street Hero who is a group I winner in Peru. Bred by Tony Lacy, Broussard Hundley, Don Brady, and Dreamfields, Azarenka was sold by Glencrest Farm to Oceanside Stable for $9,000 at the 2011 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October yearling sale.
Other stakes winners in the field include Shakita (ARG) and Valiant Emilia (PER).
Breeders' Cup Ltd. will provide special incentives for the Clasico Cesar Del Rio winner to compete in the World Championships at Santa Anita Park Oct. 31-Nov. 1. If Sunday's winner is nominated to the Breeders' Cup program by the Oct. 20 pre-entry deadline, the winning stable will have its $40,000 in entry fees into the race paid by Breeders' Cup Ltd.
Breeders' Cup will also pay a $40,000 travel allowance for all horses based outside of the U.S. and Canada to run in the World Championships. This travel allowance applies to all starters in South America who pre-enter for Breeders' Cup.