Breeders' Cup 2014: Results, Top Finishers and Final Payouts from Classic

On Saturday's ninth and final race of the 2014 Breeders' Cup Classic, Bayern took home a closely contested and highly controversial victory.

Entering the 14-horse event at 6-1 odds, Bayern edged out Toast of New York and California Chrome to net most of the $5 million purse for Kaleem Shah, Inc. The Breeders' Cup official Twitter page captured the photo finish.

After a frenzied start to Santa Anita Park's main event, Bayern gained control of a lead he would not relinquish. Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner California Chrome made a late surge, but it wasn't enough to fend off the horse emerging from the No. 7 starting position.

Here's how all 14 participants finished the 1 1/4-mile race in California.

Place	Horse
1	Bayern
2	Toast of New York
3	California Chrome
4	Shared Belief
5	Tonalist
6	Candy Boy
7	Cigar Street
8	Zivo
9	Imperative
10	Footbridge
11	V.E. Day
12	Prayer for Relief
13	Majestic Harbor
14	Moreno

In the weekend's most anticipated race, the top three finishers will all walk away with a sizable payday. 

Finish	Horse	Jockey	Prize Money
Win	Bayern	Martin Garcia	$2.75 million
Place	Toast of New York	Jamie Spencer	$900,000
Show	California Chrome	Victor Espinoza	$500,000

While Bayern wasn't the biggest long shot, he didn't enter with the same odds and fanfare as Shared Belief, who lost for the first time in eight races on Saturday. Yet many onlookers left feeling the favorite got robbed of a fair opportunity to extend his undefeated streak to eight.

Bayern broke wild, straying into Shared Belief's path and impeding his opening progress. The situation also hindered Moreno, who succumbed to a last-place finish after the chaotic scene. The Daily Racing Form's Jay Privman expected officials to rule foul play after the race.

Jockey Mike Smith did not hide his frustration afterword, blaming interference for the prized horse's fourth-place finish. Per RSN Racing & Sport's Ron Flatter:

Despite a lengthy stewards' inquiry, the final results were upheld to the relief of some and the chagrin of many others. The DRF's Mike Watchmaker offered up some choice words for the inaction taken at the end of the rough race.

Albeit amid a sea of controversy, trainer Bob Baffert added another accomplishment to his long list of accolades. USA Today's Bob Velin noted the novelty in Baffert guiding a Classic champion.

Looking even further past the Classic, Privman wondered how the muddled outcome will affect Horse of the Year voting.

Bayern has won six of 10 races this year, but the colt placed ninth during the Preakness Stakes, his only taste of Triple Crown action. The questionable non-disqualification is enough to open the door for discussion on what should have been an affirming day for the victor.

History will remember Bayern as the champion, and his owners don't make any less money because spectators have called foul. Yet it's not the best way to get the public to treat a cruel sport seriously.