Breeders' Cup 2014: Complete Race Schedule and Early Classic Pick
After a thrilling Triple Crown season that included yet another close call with California Chrome coming up just short of glory, the Breeders' Cup offers a more wide-scale opportunity to view races while still catching the big names in action.
The action will unfold at Santa Anita Park in California for the third straight year, and it's right around the corner with races set to begin on Oct. 31. To get ready for all of the races you won't want to miss, take a look below at the entire schedule and a preview of the Classic.
| Juvenile Turf | Oct. 31 | 5:25 p.m. | 1 mile | $1 million |
| Dirt Mile | Oct. 31 | 6:05 p.m. | 1 mile | $1 million |
| Juvenile Fillies Turf | Oct. 31 | 6:50 p.m. | 1 mile | $1 million |
| Distaff | Oct. 31 | 7:35 p.m. | 1 1/8 miles | $2 million |
| Juvenile Fillies | Nov. 1 | 3:05 p.m. | 1 1/16 miles | $2 million |
| Filly & Mare Turf | Nov. 1 | 3:43 p.m. | 1 1/4 miles | $2 million |
| DraftKings Filly & Mare Sprint | Nov. 1 | 4:21 p.m. | 7 furlongs | $1 million |
| Turf Sprint | Nov. 1 | 5:05 p.m. | 6.5 furlongs | $1 million |
| Sentient Jet Juvenile | Nov. 1 | 5:43 p.m. | 1 1/16 miles | $2 million |
| Turf | Nov. 1 | 6:22 p.m. | 1 1/2 miles | $3 million |
| Xpressbet Sprint | Nov. 1 | 7:01 p.m. | 6 furlongs | $1.5 million |
| Mile | Nov. 1 | 7:40 p.m. | 1 mile | $2 million |
| Classic | Nov. 1 | 8:35 p.m. | 1 1/4 miles | $5 million |
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Breeders' Cup Classic Preview
Given the names in the field of horses for the Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup Classic, it should serve as a must-see event for anyone who got hooked onto this summer's Triple Crown madness.
The contenders from the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes are numerous, with Bayern, Belmont winner Tonalist and once-Triple Crown threat California Chrome headlining the field.
Take a look at all of the pre-entries for the Classic race, per America's Best Racing:
But just like it was virtually all summer, most of the talk will inevitably surround California Chrome.
The colt galloped his way into viewers' hearts by winning the Kentucky Derby and Preakness in epic fashion, but he couldn't hold off fresher horses in the third and final race at Belmont Park. After coming so close and suffering an emotional fourth-place loss to end his Triple Crown chances, trainer Art Sherman is still excited about the possibilities.
Sherman told The Blood-Horse's Frank Angst:
"I'm so satisfied with the way he's been going. He's been going as well as ever and Victor says he's training as well as ever, so I'm happy with that. Horse of the Year is going to be on the line in this race. I'm looking forward to it. I get butterflies when I think about it.
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California Chrome will get his chance to show what he can do while fresh, but a horse he didn't have to go up against in the Triple Crown circuit may be his toughest foe.
Shared Belief missed the Triple Crown series with an injury but has bounced back magnificently. He hasn't lost once, going a perfect 7-0 with wins at the Pacific Classic and Awesome Again.
He's been looking strong leading up to the race, per Daily Racing Form's David Grening:
California Chrome and Shared Belief are just two of the horses that could gallop to victory, with Bayern showing his formidability throughout the Triple Crown slate and Tonalist having California Chrome's number back at Belmont. But with a chance to put the icing on the cake of a magnificent season for both horses, they should be at the forefront of talk leading up to the race.
It has been foolish to bet against Tonalist in recent big races he's been in, however. He pulled away from the pack in the marathon of horse racing at the 1 1/2 mile Belmont Park and has recently followed that up with a come-from-behind victory Sept. 27 in the Gold Cup.
With the year's most impressive thoroughbreds all fresh, victory will lean toward the one who has been getting it done in pressure moments. At least as of late, that has been Tonalist.
Prediction: 1. Tonalist, 2. Shared Belief, 3. California Chrome
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