Breeders' Cup Classic 2014: Latest Odds, Predictions Heading into Saturday
The 2014 Breeders' Cup begins with four of the 13 races set to take place on Friday, but that will only be the precursor for Saturday's jam-packed slate of top races.
The Triple Crown circuit steals most of the spotlight, but there is no better place to be for a horse racing enthusiast than at Santa Anita Park in early November. There are quality races aplenty to catch with most of the household names in horse racing in attendance to vie for the Horse of the Year.
Before anyone focuses on that prize, winning their respective races over the weekend will be a start. And with millions of dollars to race for, there is much more than bragging rights and titles on the line.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Let's break down how to catch all of Saturday's races and make predictions for the top ones.
| Juvenile Fillies | Nov. 1 | 3:05 p.m. | 1 1/16 miles | NBCSN |
| Filly & Mare Turf | Nov. 1 | 3:43 p.m. | 1 1/4 miles | NBCSN |
| DraftKings Filly & Mare Sprint | Nov. 1 | 4:21 p.m. | 7 furlongs | NBCSN |
| Turf Sprint | Nov. 1 | 5:05 p.m. | 6.5 furlongs | NBCSN |
| Sentient Jet Juvenile | Nov. 1 | 5:43 p.m. | 1 1/16 miles | NBCSN |
| Turf | Nov. 1 | 6:22 p.m. | 1 1/2 miles | NBCSN |
| Xpressbet Sprint | Nov. 1 | 7:01 p.m. | 6 furlongs | NBCSN |
| Mile | Nov. 1 | 7:40 p.m. | 1 mile | NBCSN |
| Classic | Nov. 1 | 8:35 p.m. | 1 1/4 miles | NBC |
Odds and Predictions for Saturday
Classic
| 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 | - |
The first 12 races of the Breeders' Cup will be great and all, but none of them will hold a candle to the dramatics and excitement guaranteed from the main event—Saturday's Classic.
The 1 1/4-mile spectacle will be the only Breeders' Cup race aired on NBC, and for good reason. California Chrome headlines the field after coming up short in the Triple Crown hunt in heartbreaking fashion.
The Art Sherman-trained horse has had plenty of time off from an emotional summer, but he'll be a force in the Classic starting in the No. 13 spot. Sherman sees a completely new horse in California Chrome entering the Breeders' Cup Classic.
“I see it in his gallops," Sherman told Daily Racing Form's Jay Hovdey. "I see it in the way he goes after his feed. The way he acts around the barn. He’s just such a neat horse and such a smart horse. I hope I’m right, but I know he’s ready.”
History isn't on California Chrome's side, as only two of the last 30 Kentucky Derby winners went on to win the Classic in the same year. Also not on his side are the contenders he'll be going up against, and there are more than a few capable of topping this summer's darling.
Shared Belief is the trending pick, with growing odds that were 9-5 on the eve of the race. A simple glance at his career record tells you why, as he has won all of his seven lifetime appearances.
The Jungle Racing talent will hold off another furious attempt from California Chrome, who will be set up well on the outside. The Kentucky Derby winner will taper off after a late surge, and Belmont Stakes winner Tonalist will rise up again over Chrome to take second.
Prediction: 1. Shared Belief, 2. Tonalist, 3. California Chrome
Mile
| 1 | Grand Arch | 20-1 |
| 2 | Obviously | 8-1 |
| 3 | Veda | 12-1 |
| 4 | Mustajeeb | 6-1 |
| 5 | Toronado | 5-2 |
| 6 | Tom's Tribute | 15-1 |
| 7 | Kaigun | 20-1 |
| 8 | Trade Storm | 12-1 |
| 9 | Anodin | 6-1 |
| 10 | Summer Front | 30-1 |
| 11 | Sayaad | 30-1 |
| 12 | Seek Again | 6-1 |
| 13 | Tourist | 12-1 |
| 14 | Karakonite | 10-1 |
| 15 | Mr. Commons | 30-1 |
No race in the 2014 Breeders' Cup boasts as much international flair as the Mile, with eight of the 15 contenders hailing from overseas, and one of them is set up to enter the winner's circle.
Toronado has been racing primarily in Europe, where he has emerged as one of the best horses in his class. He won two of his five 2013 appearances before turning around to win once and post two place finishes in three 2014 races.
The Irish-bred horse will be awfully tough to catch in Saturday's Mile, but Seek Again and Obviously are two horses who could end up doing so. Seek Again has a win in Saratoga back in August to build off of and will have star jockey Joel Rosario on the saddle.
Obviously is lining up in the tricky No. 2 post but will make the most of his third running in the Breeders' Cup Mile by getting out to a blistering start. Toronado will catch him, but Seek Again won't be able to follow suit.
Prediction: 1. Toronado, 2. Obviously, 3. Seek Again
Turf
| 1 | Telescope | 7-2 |
| 2 | Twilight Eclipse | 12-1 |
| 3 | Imagining | 12-1 |
| 4 | Brown Panther | 8-1 |
| 5 | Hangover Kid | 30-1 |
| 6 | Finnegans Wake | 30-1 |
| 7 | Flintshire | 3-1 |
| 9 | Hardest Core | 10-1 |
| 10 | Starspangled Heat | 30-1 |
| 11 | Chicquita | 5-1 |
| 12 | Main Sequence | 9-2 |
| 13 | Big John B | 15-1 |
The favorites and underdogs are separated in the Breeders' Cup Turf like you rarely see.
Flintshire from Great Britain has emerged as the favorite with 3-1 odds, but right behind him is Telescope at 7-2. Add Chicquita at 5-1, Main Sequence at 9-2 and Brown Panther at 8-1, and you have yourself a tough slew of contenders to choose from.
That inevitably leaves a couple of 30-1 options that could pay off handsomely, and among them is Hangover Kid. The six-year-old has been around for a while but is racing better than ever with a July Grade 2 win at Belmont Park.
Flintshire is a shoe-in to finish in place or show but hasn't been able to win a race since 2013. That will leave a gaping hole at the front, which Telescope—who has three straight top-three finishes, including a win—will be eager to take advantage of.
Hangover Kid will steal the show with a third-place finish, but all the talk will be about Telescope's big win after the 1 1/2-mile marathon.
Prediction: 1. Telescope, 2. Flintshire, 3. Hangover Kid
All odds are courtesy of the Breeders' Cup official site, last updated Oct. 31 at 12 a.m. ET
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
