As announced by the Breeders' Cup this evening:
The Breeders' Cup and the Japan Racing Association today announced that the Takarazuka Kinen, a Group 1 stakes race run on June 26 at Hanshin Racecourse, has joined the international Breeders' Cup Challenge, a global series of stakes races whose winners earn automatic starting positions into the Breeders' Cup World Championships. This year's Breeders' Cup will be held Nov. 4-5 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.