Breeders' Cup 2012: Dates, Race Start Times, Weather Updates and More
For those who have had it with the 2012 NFL season and are already past the tipoff of the 2012-13 NBA season, you're in luck, as horse racing returns this week with the 2012 Breeders' Cup Championships
Unquestionably the biggest event every year outside of the Triple Crown, the Breeders' Cup brings the best horses from around the world to compete for a seemingly limitless purse total—well, sort of.
This year, most racing fans will notice the absence of I'll Have Another, the three-year-old who won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in 2012. Injury has caused I'll Have Another to retire from racing, which means casual fans won't have a big-name horse to cheer for this weekend.
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Nonetheless, the Breeders' Cup can oftentimes mark the culmination of an under-the-radar horse's great season or simply signify an upcoming leap to greatness.
With 15 races on the docket for Friday and Saturday, here's a look at everything you need to know about the 2012 Breeders' Cup.
Where: Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, CA
When: Friday-Saturday, November 2-3
Watch: NBC/NBC Sports Network
Weather Forecast
Friday: Sunny, with a high of 78 degrees and zero percent chance of rain. (via Weather.com)
Saturday: Sunny, with a high of 86 degrees and zero percent chance of rain. (via Weather.com)
Complete Post Times/TV Schedule (via NBCSports.com)
(Note: All times are EDT.)
| Date | Race | Purse | Post Time | TV |
| Nov. 2 | Juvenile Sprint | $500,000 | 4:06 p.m. | NBC Sports Network |
| Nov. 2 | Marathon | $500,000 | 4:48 p.m. | NBC Sports Network |
| Nov. 2 | Juvenile Fillies Turf | $1,000,000 | 5:28 p.m. | NBC Sports Network |
| Nov. 2 | Grey Goose Juvenile Fillies | $2,000,000 | 6:08 p.m. | NBC Sports Network |
| Nov. 2 | Filly & Mare Turf | $2,000,000 | 6:48 p.m. | NBC Sports Network |
| Nov. 2 | Ladies' Classic | $2,000,000 | 7:30 p.m. | NBC Sports Network |
| Nov. 3 | Juvenile Turf | $1,000,000 | 2:50 p.m. | NBC Sports Network |
| Nov. 3 | Filly & Mare Sprint | $1,000,000 | 3:35 p.m. | NBC Sports Network |
| Nov. 3 | Dirt Mile | $1,000,000 | 4:14 p.m. | NBC Sports Network |
| Nov. 3 | Turf Sprint | $1,000,000 | 4:57 p.m. | NBC Sports Network |
| Nov. 3 | Grey Goose Juvenile | $2,000,000 | 5:36 p.m. | NBC Sports Network |
| Nov. 3 | Turf | $3,000,000 | 6:18 p.m. | NBC Sports Network |
| Nov. 3 | Xpressbet Sprint | $1,500,000 | 6:58 p.m. | NBC Sports Network |
| Nov. 3 | Mile | $2,000,000 | 7:40 p.m. | NBC Sports Network |
| Nov. 3 | Breeders' Cup Classic | $5,000,000 | 8:30 p.m. | NBC |
Official Breeders' Cup Classic Starters/Post Draw
| 1 | Pool Play | Miguel Mena | 30-1 |
| 2 | Flat Out | Joel Rosario | 5-1 |
| 3 | Alpha | Ramon Dominguez | 20-1 |
| 4 | Fort Larned | Brian Hernandez Jr. | 5-1 |
| 5 | Game on Dude | Rafael Bejarano | 9-5 |
| 6 | Brilliant Speed | Junior Alvarado | 20-1 |
| 7 | Handsome Mike | Mario Gutierrez | 30-1 |
| 8 | Nonios | Martin Pedroza | 20-1 |
| 9 | Richard's Kid | Garrett Gomez | 12-1 |
| 10 | Ron the Greek | Jose Lezcano | 6-1 |
| 11 | Mucho Macho Man | Mike Smith | 8-1 |
| 12 | To Honor and Serve | John Velazquez | 8-1 |
Horses to Watch
Royal Delta (Ladies' Classic)
In what can only be deemed as a wide-open field, Royal Delta comes into the Ladies' Classic as a slight favorite in the eight-filly field.
She also comes into Friday's race on bit of a hot streak, having won the Fleur de Lis Handicap, the Delaware Handicap and the Beldame Stakes already in 2012.
Especially powerful was the 4-year-old's performance at the Beldame, where she won by a whopping 9.5 lengths.
Regardless, this year's Ladies' Classic boasts a particularly strong field, including Awesome Feather, My Miss Aurelia and Questing.
For the filly to get her second-consecutive Classic victory, trainer Bill Mott will need a top-notch performance.
St. Nicholas Abbey (Turf)
The defending champion, St. Nicholas Abbey, comes into the always-exciting Breeders' Turf as a 3/1 favorite to capture consecutive titles.
Nonetheless, June was the last win for St. Nicholas Abbey and the 5-year-old has finished no higher than third in his four races since.
He will also face undoubtedly stiff competition with Shareta coming in strong at the No. 5 post and semi-darkhorse Trailblazer at No. 12.
Either way, this is a true family affair, as they will look to come away with the $3 million purse with Aidan O'Brien as the trainer and his son, Joseph O'Brien, as the jockey.
Game on Dude (Breeders' Cup Classic)
The odds-on favorite to win the Breeders' Cup Classic, Game on Dude is brought to Santa Anita trained by the legendary Bob Baffert.
A 5-year-old gelding, Game on Dude drew the No. 5 post for the Classic, which should be beneficial to his cause.
Victory for Game on Dude would bring his record to 3-0 with Rafael Bejarano as jockey and would be his fifth win in seven races this year.
That would undoubtedly be good enough to bring him into the Horse of the Year race and complete a banner year for Baffert, whose horses finished in the money in each of the three Triple Crown races in 2012.
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