Breeders' Cup 2015 TV Schedule: Friday Coverage, Race Times and More
The Classic will get all of the hype because it's a $5 million race, and it happens to feature the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years in American Pharoah. But there's some high-stakes races on tap this Friday at Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky.
There will be four races on Friday worth a combined $5 million. Here's a look at the schedule for the entire list of Breeders' Cup events, per BreedersCup.com:
| Race | Post Time (ET) | Network | Surface | Distance | Purse |
| Juvenile Turf | 3:30 p.m. (Fri) | NBCSN | Turf | 1 Mile | $1 Million |
| Las Vegas Dirt Mile | 4:10 p.m. (Fri) | NBCSN | Dirt | 1 Mile | $1 Millon |
| Juvenile Fillies Turf | 4:50 p.m. (Fri) | NBCSN | Turf | 1 Mile | $1 Million |
| Longines Distaff | 5:35 p.m. (Fri) | NBCSN | Dirt | 1 1/8 Miles | $2 Million |
| 14 Hands Winery Juvenile Fillies | 12:05 p.m. (Sat) | -- | Dirt | 1 1/16 Miles | $2 Million |
| Turf Sprint | 12:45 p.m. (Sat) | -- | Turf | 5 1/2 Furlongs | $1 Million |
| Filly & Mare Sprint | 1:25 p.m. (Sat) | NBCSN | Dirt | 7 Furlongs | $1 Million |
| Filly & Mare Turf | 2:10 p.m. (Sat) | NBCSN | Turf | 1 3/16 Miles | $2 Million |
| TwinSpires Sprint | 2:50 p.m. (Sat) | NBCSN | Dirt | 6 Furlongs | $1.5 Million |
| Mile | 3:30 p.m. (Sat) | NBCSN | Turf | 1 Mile | $2 Million |
| Sentient Jet Juvenile | 4:10 p.m. (Sat) | NBC | Dirt | 1 1/16 Miles | $2 Million |
| Longines Turf | 4:50 p.m. (Sat) | NBC | Turf | 1 1/2 Miles | $3 Million |
| Classic | 5:35 p.m. (Sat) | NBC | Dirt | 1 1/4 Miles | $5 Million |
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The Longines Distaff is the most lucrative of all the races on the opening day at Keeneland. It features the best female dirt horses in North America vying for one of the most prestigious distinctions in the sport. Defending champion Untapable will try to defend her crown against 14 other worthy challengers.
If she can win, she'd become just the third horse to win the race in back-to-back years. Bayakoa (1989-90) and Royal Delta (2011-12) are the other two.
Here's a look at the post positions for the race, per Bloodhorse.com:
| 1. I'm a Chatterbox |
| 2. Frivolous |
| 3. Salama |
| 4. Stopchargingmaria |
| 5. Calamity Kate |
| 6. My Sweet Addiction |
| 7. Wedding Toast |
| 8. Curalina |
| 9. Stellar Wind |
| 10. Yahilwa |
| 11. Untapable |
| 12. Got Lucky |
| 13. Warren's Veneda |
| 14. Sheer Drama |
| 15. Peace and War |
Tabbing Untapable as the favorite would make sense, but that's not the horse I have my eye on. Sheer Drama is the horse to watch. She garnered a ton of fans in July at the Delaware Handicap when she outran another horse in Friday's field, Frivolous.
Owning a victory over one of the better competitors she'll face on Friday should give bettors confidence in Sheer Drama. Her post position should also be encouraging to those considering wagering on Sheer Drama.
Not everyone will consider the 14th post position an advantageous starting spot, but on a dirt track, being away from the commotion at the beginning of the race should benefit Sheer Drama.
I like her ability to find a groove early and to maintain a winning pace throughout.
If you're looking for a less likely threat, the Todd A. Pletcher-trained Curalina is a good choice. She came in second place at the Coaching Club American Oaks (CCA) at the Saratoga Race Course in July but was awarded the win after first-place finisher I'm a Chatterbox was disqualified.
Friday will be an opportunity for revenge, as I'm a Chatterbox is in the field and looking to make it count this time. Curalina has already proved she has the ability to compete with top-level horses. The CCA is a Grade 1 race. Curalina's success there proves she has the talent to contend on Friday—and even win.
No matter who wins the biggest race of the day, the horse racing world will be properly prepped for the main event on Saturday. Stay tuned for more coverage of the 2015 Breeders' Cup through Saturday.
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