Breeders' Cup 2013: Post Times, TV Schedule, Weather Updates and More
Santa Anita Park will host the 2013 Breeders' Cup World Championships on Friday and Saturday, where 14 marquee horse races are slated to transpire in front of massive crowds in Arcadia, Calif.
For those who cannot attend this stunning spectacle, there is TV coverage available for every race, capped off by the Breeders' Cup Classic on Saturday evening in prime time.
That finale will take place on a dirt track, which is particularly susceptible to any hazards Mother Nature throws at the competitors. Three of last year's top contenders are in the field again, only adding to the intrigue of the series' biggest purse of $5 million.
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Before getting into a brief preview of the action, let's take a look at the complete TV schedule, post times and what the forecast looks like.
Note: All background information is courtesy of BreedersCup.com; race history was obtained from Equibase.com unless otherwise indicated.
Breeders' Cup at a Glance
When: Friday, Nov. 1 through Saturday, Nov. 2
Where: Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif.
Live Stream: NBC Sports Live Extra
| Marathon Stakes (G2) | 4:45 p.m. | NBC Sports |
| Juvenile Turf | 5:25 p.m. | NBC Sports |
| Dirt Mile | 6:05 p.m. | NBC Sports |
| Juvenile Fillies Turf | 6:50 p.m. | NBC Sports |
| Distaff | 7:35 p.m. | NBC Sports |
| Juvenile Fillies | 3:05 p.m. | NBC Sports |
| Filly & Mare Turf | 3:43 p.m. | NBC Sports |
| Filly & Mare Sprint | 4:21 p.m. | NBC Sports |
| Geico Turf Sprint | 5:05 p.m. | NBC Sports |
| Juvenile | 5:43 p.m. | NBC Sports |
| Turf | 6:22 p.m. | NBC Sports |
| Xpressbet Sprint | 7:01 p.m. | NBC Sports |
| Mile | 7:40 p.m. | NBC Sports |
| Classic | 8:35 p.m. | NBC |
Weather Forecast
Great news for fans at Santa Anita, as it looks like nothing but sunshine on tap. According to Weather.com, a high of 84 is set for Friday, and a high of 80 will foster the majority of the action on Saturday.
Thankfully, this Monday photograph by the Daily Racing Form's Lou Monaco is not a sign of things to come if the current forecast holds true:
There is a zero percent chance of precipitation on both days, so that at least eliminates potential dangers that can befall horses on a sloppy or slick track.
If the promising outlook changes for some reason, check back here for the latest updates.
Preview
The stage is set for some excellent racing, with five of the 14 purses dishing out $2 million or more in prize money.
Saturday harbors the highest stakes, though, with the $3 million Breeders' Cup Turf and the aforementioned Classic to cap everything off.
It's a grueling, 1.5-mile jaunt for horses on a grass track for the Turf, making it the second-longest race of the 14. Among the 12 entrants, trainer John Gosden's female, The Fugue, is the odds-on favorite at 3-to-1, followed closely by Point of Entry (4-1) and Indy Point (9-2).
The latter two are mounted by Hall of Famers John Velazquez and Gary Stevens, respectively. Stevens won the Turf in 1990.
While Velazquez has not won this specific race, he has won the Belmont Stakes twice, which is of the same distance. If he breaks Point of Entry at the proper time, he could very well push his way to victory lane.
As for the Breeders' Cup Classic, renowned trainer Todd Pletcher put it best when describing the loaded lineup, per BloodHorse.com's Claire Novak:
Defending champion Fort Larned returns after beating out Mucho Macho Man in a photo finish last year:
Mucho Macho Man enters having won the Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita and will be out for vengeance for 2012's close call. Stevens will ride him for this race, too.
Also returning is 8-to-5 prohibitive favorite Game On Dude. No one has more Breeders' Cup victories than jockey Mike Smith, who won the Belmont aboard Palace Malice, but elected to go with Game On Dude for the most lucrative race.
After finishing a disappointing seventh in last year's Classic, Game On Dude has roared back with six consecutive wins and is a force to be reckoned with in his own quest for redemption.
Those are just two of the 14 exciting showcases set to unfold at Santa Anita Park, and thanks to excellent coverage, all the thrills can all be witnessed in a matter of days.
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