The Breeders’ Cup Preview & Cheat Sheet

With thirteen championship races to contest, the Breeders’ Cup is arguably the most exciting weekend in North American horse racing. We’ve got the scoop — plus all the links where you can follow our exclusive coverage on the scene!

Photo: Breeders Cup Ltd

We’re less than 24 hours away from the first Breeders’ Cup race — the first of 13 championships to be held at the beautiful Del Mar Racetrack in San Diego, California! Every individual race includes its own drama, unique stories and scores to be settled as rivals face off on the ultimate stage.

The Breeders’ Cup Classic is the headlining event, and will be run on Saturday evening. Featuring a showdown between defending champion Arrogate, up-and-coming youngster West Coast and this year’s outstanding warhorse Gun Runner, plus more wild cards that shouldn’t be written off, the Classic is only the highest-profile of a full race card of thrilling rivalries.

Here’s the info you need to know, plus a quick rundown of each race. HN’s Kristen Kovatch will be attending the Breeders’ Cup Championships and covering the races: keep it locked on Horse Nation’s Instagram and Twitter for plenty of trackside coverage, and of course bookmark HorseNation.com for recaps and reflections!

Who: 166 of the best Thoroughbreds in racing from all over the world over a variety of surfaces and distances. Entries qualify through Breeders’ Cup Challenge races as well a points system based on major graded stakes.

What: A two-day festival consisting of 13 races, awarding $26.5 million in purses

When: Opening ceremonies for Friday kick off at 2 PM PDT; first Breeders’ Cup post is 2:25 PM PDT. Saturday’s opening ceremonies take place at 11:30 AM PDT with first Breeders’ Cup post at noon. The Classic goes off at 5:35 PM PDT.

Where: Del Mar Racetrack, Del Mar, California

How to watch: A full schedule with all coverage can be found here. NBC Sports Network covers all of the races on Friday and Saturday; the Classic will be broadcast by NBC starting at 8 PM EDT. BreedersCup.com will be live streaming the entire card for free; new this year is the Breeders’ Cup app which will also live stream races.

Field previews:

Juvenile Fillies Turf

• Post: 2:25 PM PDT on Friday
• $1,000,000 purse
• 1 mile over turf for two-year-old fillies
• 2016 champion: New Money Honey
• 2017 favorite: Rushing Fall (7-2)

Las Vegas Dirt Mile

• Post: 3:05 PM PDT on Friday
• $1,000,000 purse
• 1 mile over dirt for three-year-olds and up
• 2016 champion: Tamarkuz
• 2017 favorite: Mor Spirit (3-1)

Juvenile Turf

• Post: 3:50 PM PDT on Friday
• $1,000,000 purse
• 1 mile over turf for two-year-olds
• 2016 champion: Oscar Performamce
• 2017 favorite: Masar (IRE) (9-2)

Longines Distaff

• Post: 4:35 PM PDT on Friday
• $2,000,000 purse
• 1 1/8 miles over dirt for three-year-old and up fillies and mares
• 2016 champion: Beholder
• 2017 favorite: Stellar Wind (5-2)

14 Hands Winery Juvenile Fillies

• Post: Noon PDT on Saturday
• $2,000,000 purse
• 1 1/16 miles over dirt for two-year-old fillies
• 2016 champion: Champagne Room
• 2017 favorite: Moonshine Memories (7-2)

Turf Sprint

• Post: 12:37 PM PDT on Saturday
• $1,000,000 purse
• 5 furlongs over turf for three-year-olds and up
• 2016 champion: Obviously
• 2017 favorite: Lady Aurelia (5-2)

Filly & Mare Sprint

• Post: 1:14 PM PDT on Satuday
• $1,000,000 purse
• 7 furlongs over dirt for three-year-olds and up fillies and mares
• 2016 champion: Finest City
• 2017 favorite: Unique Bella (5-2)

Filly & Mare Turf

• Post: 2:00 PM PDT on Saturday
• $2,000,000 purse
• 1 1/8 miles over turf for three-year-olds and up fillies and mares
• 2016 champion: Queen’s Trust
• 2017 favorite: Lady Eli (5-2)

Twinspires Sprint

• Post: 2:37 PM PDT on Saturday
• $1,500,000 purse
• 6 furlongs over dirt for three-year-olds and up
• 2016 champion: Drefong
• 2017 favorite: Drefong (5-2)

Mile

• Post: 3:19 PM PDT on Saturday
• $2,000,000 purse
• 1 mile over turf for three-year-olds and up
• 2016 champion: Tourist
• 2017 favorite: Ribchester (IRE) (7-2)

Sentient Jet Juvenile

• Post: 3:58 PM PDT on Saturday
• $2,000,000 purse
• 1 1/16 miles over dirt for two-year-olds
• 2016 champion: Classic Empire
• 2017 favorite: Bolt D’Oro (9-5)

Longines Turf

• Post: 4:37 PM PDT on Saturday
• $4,000,000 purse
• 1 1/2 miles over turf for three-year-olds and up
• 2016 champion: Highland Reel
• 2017 favorite: Ulysses (IRE) (7-2)

Classic

• 5:35 PM PDT on Saturday
• $6,000,000 purse
• 1 1/4 miles over dirt for three-year-olds and up
• 2016 champion: Arrogate
• 2017 favorite: Gun Runner (9-5)

Who are your picks? Share in the comments section!