Breeders' Cup 2014: Race Schedule, Early Predictions and More
The Triple Crown in the spring may receive most of the national attention surrounding horse racing, but the Breeders' Cup represents the sport's greatest conglomeration of premier Grade 1 races. With the best thoroughbreds and highest payouts, the two-day event from Oct. 31 to Nov. 1 provides a jam-packed session for horse racing fans.
For those looking to catch an early jump on this year's races, check out the full schedule below, as well as early predictions for some of the premier horses in the field.
| Juvenile Turf | Oct. 31 | 5:25 p.m. | 1 Mile | $1,000,000 |
| Dirt Mile | Oct. 31 | 6:05 p.m. | 1 Mile | $1,000,000 |
| Juvenile Fillies Turf | Oct. 31 | 6:50 p.m. | 1 Mile | $1,000,000 |
| Distaff | Oct. 31 | 7:35 p.m. | 1 1/8 Miles | $2,000,000 |
| Juvenile Fillies | Nov. 1 | 3:05 p.m. | 1 1/16 miles | $2,000,000 |
| Filly & Mare Turf | Nov. 1 | 3:43 p.m. | 1 1/4 miles | $2,000,000 |
| DraftKings Filly & Mare Sprint | Nov. 1 | 4:21 p.m. | 7 furlongs | $1,000,000 |
| Turf Sprint | Nov. 1 | 5:05 p.m. | 6.5 furlongs | $1,000,000 |
| Sentient Jet Juvenile | Nov. 1 | 5:43 p.m. | 1 1/16 miles | $2,000,000 |
| Turf | Nov. 1 | 6:22 p.m. | 1 1/2 miles | $3,000,000 |
| Xpressbet Sprint | Nov. 1 | 7:01 p.m. | 6 furlongs | $1,500,000 |
| Mile | Nov. 1 | 7:40 p.m. | 1 mile | $2,000,000 |
| Classic | Nov. 1 | 8:35 p.m. | 1 1/4 miles | $5,000,000 |
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California Chrome Comes Up Short in Classic
The Classic is the Breeders' Cup premier event, the 10-furlong race that attracts the best international and domestic horses to the same track. This year, the event's star will be California Chrome, the horse that once entranced the nation with his victories in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.
America's Best Racing also shared the pre-entries for the Breeders Cup Classic:
However, Chrome has yet to make it back into the winner's circle since his Triple Crown bid came up short at Belmont Park. His only race since then, the Grade 2 Pennsylvania Derby on Sept. 20, resulted in an alarming sixth-place finish. However, Chrome's jockey has expressed some optimism regarding his horse's recent form:
Nonetheless, the Classic presents an absolutely stacked field each year, with Belmont Stakes winner Tonalist and rising contenders like Cigar Street in the field. Chrome will be the big draw, but unless the weary horse can recapture his form from the first two Triple Crown races, he seems unlikely to emerge over such difficult competition.
Sweet Reason Wins Filly & Mare Sprint
The Filly & Mare Sprint is one of the top races for the female horses in the field, and Sweet Reason looks like a top contender. An eye injury jeopardized her chances for entry into a Breeders' Cup race, but the horse's owner appears content after an impressive Oct. 19 workout:
Sweet Reason has won multiple Grade 1 races, capturing the TVG Acorn Stakes in June and the Test Stakes in August. She also won the Grade 1 Spinaway Stakes 13 months ago in just her second start, though she came in second at her most recent race, the Cotillion Stakes, on Sept. 20.
Nonetheless, so long as Sweet Reason appears healthy, she remains the prohibitive favorite and arguably the best filly of the weekend. Her Oct. 19 three-furlong time was the fastest among the 10 horses there, according to BloodHorse.com's Frank Angst, indicating that there is likely no reason to fret about her brief scare.
Tapiture Wins Dirt Mile
It's rare that a horse opts out of the Classic for the Dirt Mile race, but Tapiture appears likely to make that decision, according to Jay Privman of DailyRacingForm.com (subscription required). After an inconspicuous practice run, his owner Ron Winchell suggested that the longer Classic race might simply be too difficult a challenge:
But downgrading in competition could make Tapiture the favorite at the Cup's penultimate race. Though he bombed at the Kentucky Derby, finishing 15th, he has since rebounded with three consecutive top-three finishes, including wins at the Matt Winn Stakes on Jun. 14 and the West Virginia Derby on Aug. 2.
The Dirt Mile will represent Tapiture's first Grade 1 race since the Derby flameout, so there is reason for trepidation. Nevertheless, Tapiture has shown promise as a multiple graded stakes winner, and capturing his first Grade 1 victory would simply represent the next step in the three-year-old's progression.
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