Breeders’ Cup 2014: Race schedule, post time, odds and more for Friday

It won’t be until Saturday night that the starting gates swing open for the 2014 Breeders’ Cup main event, the $5 million Classic that features both California Chrome and the horse that ended his Triple Crown hopes, Tonalist. But the action actually kicks off on Friday evening.

Four races totaling $5 million in purse money will be broadcast nationally from Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., on Halloween. The biggest race of the evening is the Longines Distaff, a 1⅛-miler with a $2 million purse. Coming off a Sept. 20 win in the Cotillion Stakes at Parx Racing, 3-year-old filly Untapable is a slight favorite over 4-year-old Close Hatches, who boasts five career Grade I victories and finished second in the Distaff last year.

Live coverage of Friday’s action runs from 5-8 p.m. ET on NBCSN or online at NBC Sports Live Extra. Individual post times and other details for the four races are listed below. Complete odds for the weekend can be found at the Breeders’ Cup website.

Time: 5:25 p.m. ET
Purse: $1 million
Distance: 1 mile
Favorite: Hootenanny (3-1)

Time: 6:50 p.m. ET
Purse: $1 million
Distance: 1 mile
Favorite: Sunset Glow (7-2)

Time: 7:35 p.m. ET
Purse: $2 million
Distance: 1⅛ mile
Favorite: Untapable (5-2)