Breeders' Cup 2014: Projected Prize Money Earnings, Order of Finish for Classic

The 2014 Breeders' Cup Classic brings together the top horses in the world, regardless of age.  While the Triple Crown receives most of the sport's attention, the Classic is arguably horse racing's most unique event—and certainly an equally exciting spectacle.

This year's field will present the two winners of the Triple Crown leg, as well as some top-tier horses who missed the spring season due to injury.  This mix makes for plenty of intriguing pre-race storylines, as many of these horses have never competed against each other.

Read on below for your last-minute preview of the weekend's premier race, with full race information and the predicted top three for the race.

What: Breeders' Cup Classic 

When: Sat., Nov. 1

Time: 8:35 p.m. ET

Length: 1 1/4 miles

Purse: $5 million

Predicted Top Three

Show: Cigar Street

One of the dark horses in the field, Cigar Street does not possess the same gaudy resume as many of his competitors.  With no career Grade 1 Stakes victories, the five-year-old somehow possesses less experience than nearly anyone else in the field.

Nevertheless, Cigar Street has also been a remarkably consistent competitor, never finishing out of the top four since elevating above the Maiden Special Weight class.  His status as a sleeper has been somewhat disrupted by his exemplary pre-race form, which has attracted the attention of Classic observers:

Cigar Street will not receive the same attention as most of the other top contenders.  Nonetheless, his talent and recent form suggest that he could be the surprise contender who breaks into the money.

Place: Bayern

Despite a mediocre ninth-place finish at the Belmont Stakes, Bayern remains one of the top three-year-olds in the world.  The Bob Baffert-trained horse is coming off three wins in his past four races, including a victory at the Pennsylvania Derby, in which California Chrome came in sixth place.  During the lead-up to the race, Baffert has expressed confidence in his horse:

For what it's worth, Bayern's first two starts came at Santa Anita, both of which he won.  Neither of those were graded races, but like most of the top contenders, Bayern possesses a history of success at the California track.

Bayern may be the biggest boom-or-bust horse in the field.  In seven career graded races, he has finished in the money in five of them, but besides the debacle at Pimlico, he also has a 10th-place showing at the Travers Stake in August under his belt.  Still, if Bayern is in top form, he is as dangerous a threat to win as any in the field.

Win: Shared Belief

A win from Shared Belief would totally shut out the Triple Crown winners, California Chrome and Tonalist.  But based on his undefeated record and strong rebound after injury, Shared Belief is extremely difficult to bet against.

After missing the Triple Crown season due to a foot injury, Shared Belief has since rebounded with wins in each of his past three starts, including two Grade 1 races.  As trainer Jerry Hollendorfer tells the New York Daily News' Jerry Bossert, others who have rode the horse have lavished praise on Shared Belief:

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On Tuesday, Shared Belief turned in his final work for Saturday’s race, breezing four furlongs in :52.40 at Golden Gate. “(Hall of Fame jockey) Russell Baze worked him for me and he’s worked him a bunch of times and told me that the horse is better than ever right now,” Hollendorfer said. “Russell told me he’s awesome and he doesn't use those kind of words.”

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Apart from a lack of recognition from the spring, there is little reason to disbelieve in Shared Belief at the moment.  Clearly recovered from his injury and mostly unchallenged so far, he is the most talented runner in a star-studded field.  Though the Classic represents his most difficult challenge, Shared Belief is peaking ahead of Saturday's race, making him a strong contender for the victory.