Breeders' Cup 2014 TV Schedule: Live Stream, Start Times and Race Predictions
You can have your Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes—the Breeders’ Cup is the grand finale of the horse racing season that just so happens to be the richest race in North America with a $5 million purse.
There are storylines abound in this year’s edition of the Breeders’ Cup Classic, including some potential redemption for Triple Crown threat California Chrome and an undefeated favorite going up against a loaded field.
However, the Breeders’ Cup Classic is not the only race on Saturday at Santa Anita Park. In fact, there are a total of nine events on Saturday, and each has a purse of at least $1 million.
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Here is a look at all the essential information for each race, as well as the predicted winners. A live stream is available on NBC Sports Live Extra.
| 14 Hands Winery Juvenile Fillies | 3:05 p.m. | NBC Sports Network | $2 million | Angela Renee |
| Filly & Mare Turf | 3:43 p.m. | NBC Sports Network | $2 million | Dank |
| DraftKings Filly & Mare Sprint | 4:21 p.m. | NBC Sports Network | $ 1 million | Leigh Court |
| Turf Sprint | 5:05 p.m. | NBC Sports Network | $1 million | No Nay Never |
| Sentient Jet Juvenile | 5:43 p.m. | NBC Sports Network | $2 million | Carpe Diem |
| Longines Turf | 6:22 p.m. | NBC Sports Network | $3 million | Telescope |
| Xpressbet Sprint | 7:01 p.m. | NBC Sports Network | $1.5 million | Private Zone |
| Mile | 7:40 p.m. | NBC Sports Network | $2 million | Toronado |
| Breeders' Cup Classic | 8:35 p.m. | NBC | $5 million | Shared Belief |
Saturday Race to Watch: 2014 Breeders’ Cup Classic
Horse racing fans are in for an absolute treat on Saturday evening because there is a showdown on the schedule.
California Chrome and Breeders’ Cup favorite Shared Belief will meet for the first time with $5 million on the line. California Chrome has five wins in seven starts this year, including the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, while Shared Belief is a perfect seven-for-seven in his career with four wins this year.
The Breeders’ Cup Classic is a 1 1/4 mile race on the dirt with 14 entries, but these are the two that everyone will be watching.
Despite the two victories in the Triple Crown races, California Chrome is actually looking for some redemption in his home state. He struggled at the Belmont Stakes with the Triple Crown on the line and finished in a disappointing sixth place at the Pennsylvania Derby.
California Chrome took 105 days off in between the Belmont and that race, which may have impacted his timing and overall conditioning, especially after a difficult Triple Crown stretch.
Trainer Art Sherman discussed the Pennsylvania Derby showing, via Jerry Bossert of New York Daily News:
“I’m almost sure he needed the race the other day at Parx. He didn’t have the greatest trip in the world with his style of running but I’m making no excuses. He came out of the race in one piece and he’ll fight another day. I think you will see a different Chrome this time.”
Standing in California Chrome’s way is Shared Belief, who has never lost a single race and counts a win in the Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita on his resume.
Shared Belief missed the Triple Crown races with injury but beat older horses in the Pacific Classic and Awesome Again Stakes and has impressive endurance. He powered to the finish in the Pacific Classic with an incredible closing stretch, and fans could see something very similar on Saturday.
There is also the very real possibility that he is simply fresher than the top-notch competitors that ran in the Triple Crown races. It has certainly been a physically grueling year for California Chrome, which may explain why he has struggled in his past couple of outings, and Shared Belief has only raced four times this year.
Another horse to watch out for is Bayern, who just so happened to win that Pennsylvania Derby that California Chrome struggled in leading up to the Breeders' Cup.
Bayern is incredibly fast, but his lack of elite endurance could come into play. Mike Wilkening of Sporting News pointed out how important the start is for Bayern, which could be an issue on Saturday:
"Bayern is a good bet to be on the lead if he breaks well. And the break is everything to Bayern. If he encounters early trouble like he did in the Preakness, he’ll be done in a snap. He needs the lead, and he needs to relax on the lead to have a shot.
And pace could tell the tale in this Classic. With an uncontested lead, Bayern could get brave. However, if he has to fight the speedy long shot Moreno to get to the front, it could set up a wicked speed duel compromising both runners.
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Tonalist is also a contender after wins at the Belmont Stakes and the Jockey Club Gold Cup. The name is familiar to casual horse racing fans as the horse that ruined California Chrome’s Triple Crown chances at the Belmont after sitting out the first two legs, but Tonalist could cement an impressive season with a Breeders’ Cup win.
While this is a deep field with a handful of contenders, Shared Belief is on an absolute roll.
He already won once at Santa Anita and is yet to finish in any place but first in seven starts. That strong kick that has served him so well in the past will once again come into play in this longer race when the field gets congested near the final turn.
Even if Shared Belief falls behind early, he will find a way to make up ground in the closing stretch.
Prediction: Shared Belief wins.
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