One of the key advantages of competing in the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In is the ability to test one's horse against the best prior to the Breeders' Cup World Championships, seeing whether or not they belong.
The Breeders' Cup Challenge Series is an international series of stakes races, the winners of which receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, to be held Oct. 30-31 at Keeneland in Lexington.
That mission is extra important when looking at the international scene, as the contenders not only need to prove among the best in their own country, but prove they're good enough to justify traveling to the United States in the fall.
Fourteen fillies and mares will have the chance to prove themselves at the top level April 26 in Peru, as they contest the Gran Premio Pamplona (G1) at Hipodromo de Monterrico, a Challenge Series race for the $2 million Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T).
Compasion is one of the leading contenders in the 2,000-meter (about 1 1/4-mile) event, but needs to prove she can hold her own at the top level.
Stud Juan De Arona's 3-year-old daughter of Southdale fired off a four-race win streak in the second half of 2025, collecting three group victories that included a win over 2,000 meters in the Clasico Oscar Berckemeyer Pazos (G3) in October. However, that streak came to an end in her first group 1 start, closing out the year with a seventh-place finish.
In her first start of 2026 at Monterrico Feb. 15, she ran a respectable third. After being buried on the rail with nowhere to run entering the stretch, jockey Nilton Guevara kept her to task and finished out the 1 1/4 miles once getting to the outside.
Meanwhile, Stud Jet Set's Se Va Colando will need to prove that she can conquer Compasion. The 3-year-old Treasure Beach filly would be riding her own four-race win streak had it not been for a runner-up effort to Compasion in that October group 3, which has been the only one of her seven career starts at 2,000 meters. She exits a listed victory over 1,900 meters (about 1 3/16 miles) March 22 when she beat returning rivals Domitila and Super Sienna. Jockey Hubert Bocanegra returns to ride for Juan Suarez Villarroel.
Stud Haras Rancho Sur's Camilita is proven over the distance, taking the Clasico Enrique Ayulo Pardo (G2) in October, but has never raced on the grass in her seven lifetime starts. If trainer Luis Olivares can get the 3-year-old Southdale daughter to transfer that dirt form to the grass, she could be a real threat with Esvin Requejo in the saddle.
The older runners in the race have something to prove as well, such as the 5-year-old Hi Happy mare Gaza Strip. Another trained by Villarroel for Stud Jet Set, she has won five of her last seven against lesser company and never beyond 1 mile.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
