Breeders' Cup 2014: Weekend Race Schedule, Prize Money Info and More
The 2014 Breeders' Cup represents the premier conglomeration of events in the horse racing world, as the best thoroughbreds from around the world will gather for 13 races over the weekend of Oct. 31 to Nov. 1. For horse racing fans, the weekend offers the best opportunity to view all the premier race horses from different ages at the same time.
Followers of the Triple Crown will recognize some of the names in the field, many of which represent top contenders in their respective races. For those looking to catch an early jump on the action, check out the full race schedule and prize money distribution below, as well as the top horses in the field.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
| 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 |
California Chrome
Even the non-racing fans will recognize the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner from last May. California Chrome is back in the spotlight after capturing the nation's attention last spring, looking like one of the most dominant horses in recent Triple Crown memory.
But Chrome's failed Belmont bid has taken some of the luster of his shine, as he followed up that race with a bewildering sixth-place finish at the Grade 2 Pennsylvania Derby on Sep. 20. Despite that two-race dip, however, the arrow is seemingly pointing back up on Chrome after several positive pre-race workouts:
Chrome will race in the Classic, the weekend's premier event, where a win would restore his status as the best thoroughbred in the world. However, a less-heralded challenger may emerge after missing the Triple Crown, potentially usurping Chrome's return to the national conscience.
Shared Belief
A three-year-old who missed last year's Triple Crown circuit with nagging foot problems, Shared Belief may end up surpassing California Chrome as the pre-race betting favorite. Shared Belief has won all seven of his starts in his career, including consecutive Grade 1 victories at Santa Anita and Del Mar in his last two races.
Though he has never raced against Chrome, this matchup has already garnered attention as the weekend's most anticipated event. With the race on in prime time, the Chrome vs. Shared Belief storyline is already receiving top billing as the lead for the Classic:
Shared Belief beat older horses in those two aforementioned wins, so even though he has not raced against much of the Classic field, there is reason to believe that he could fulfill the pre-race hype. Regardless, his performance will likely hold wide-ranging ramifications for how we view the hierarchy at the top of the sport.
Untapable
Apart from the Classic, the $2 million Distaff race is among the biggest events of the weekend. And much like the premier race, the Distaff is shaping up as a duel between two of the world's top fillies, Untapable and Close Hatches.
Untapable likely sits as the slight favorite between the two. The three-year-old won the Grade 1 Kentucky Oats at Churchill Downs in May, one of the sport's premier races for fillies, and has won three of her past four starts. All of those races were of the Grade 1 variety, which illustrates her dominance over the best fillies in the sport. Indeed, early on, Untapable has set herself apart during practice runs for the Distaff:
Close Hatches figures to provide a stiff challenge, as she has also won three of her past four Grade 1 starts. But Close Hatches came in seventh at the Kentucky Oats in a previous matchup with Untapable, which suggests that the latter horse holds the upper hand entering the race.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
