Breeders' Cup 2014: Top Contenders, Early Odds and More for Classic Race
The 2014 Breeders' Cup brings together the best of horse racing for over a dozen hotly contested races, but none will feature the dramatics of the Cup Classic.
The premier event of the Breeders' Cup includes a number of the biggest household names from this year's Triple Crown circuit. With a few other top horses we didn't see over the summer that have dominated as of late, there's no shortage of storylines to watch for.
A hefty $5 million is up for grabs, and it guarantees to be hotly contested. Let's break down everything you need to know for the Breeders' Cup Classic.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Breeders' Cup Classic Info
Date: Saturday, November 1
Start Time: 8:35 p.m. ET
TV: NBC (coverage begins 8 p.m. ET)
Live Stream: NBC Sports Live Extra
Race Order and Early Odds
| 1 | Prayer for Relief | 30-1 |
| 2 | Cigar Street | 12-1 |
| 3 | Imperative | 30-1 |
| 4 | Moreno | 20-1 |
| 5 | V.E. Day | 20-1 |
| 6 | Shared Belief | 9-5 |
| 7 | Bayern | 6-1 |
| 8 | Zivo | 15-1 |
| 9 | Toast of New York | 12-1 |
| 10 | Footbridge | 30-1 |
| 11 | Tonalist | 5-1 |
| 12 | Candy Boy | 20-1 |
| 13 | California Chrome | 4-1 |
| 14 | Majestic Harbor | 20-1 |
| 15* | Big Cazanova* | N/A |
*Only 14 horses can race in the Classic, so Big Cazanova will be out unless another contender scratches by Oct. 31.
Note: Race odds courtesy of BreedersCup.com, where up-to-date lines are available.
Breeders' Cup Classic Preview
This year's Triple Crown circuit was among the most exciting in recent memory, and most of the top standouts from the summer headline a star-studded field of Classic contenders.
Even many of those who don't keep up with horse racing should recognize California Chrome. The Art Sherman-trained horse came so very close to winning the first Triple Crown in nearly 40 years before he was toppled in the Belmont Stakes.
California Chrome will still go down in the record books after his memorable summer, but he has a chance to cement his legacy with a $5 million prize Saturday. Sherman likes his horse's chances to do so at the No. 13 spot.
"The horse loves Santa Anita, and he's doing great," Sherman told The Blood-Horse's Tom LaMarra. "I'm looking for a big performance out of him. I like the post position, because he doesn't have to be anchored down inside."
Tonalist is another horse who likes his post spot, as the No. 11 position is precisely where he was when he won the Belmont Stakes this year:
Tonalist's incredible race at Belmont Park wasn't able to give him better odds in Saturday's race than California Chrome. But one horse did, and it's a contender that missed the Triple Crown to be fresh for this very moment.
That, of course, is Shared Belief. He has won every single one of his seven career races, and looks to make it eight-for-eight on Saturday. He missed the Triple Crown circuit with an injury, but has looked unstoppable after returning to full health.
Tonalist was undoubtedly the cream of the crop at Belmont, and he figures to take that momentum into Saturday. But when it comes to momentum, no horse in the field has more than Shared Belief.
Will that be enough to hold off California Chrome, who figures to break free on the outside?
We'll find out soon enough.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
