The first day of the Breeders’ Cup will feature four races on Friday afternoon at Santa Anita Park in California, building momentum toward the defining competition of the horse racing season Saturday night, the Breeder’s Cup Classic.
Breeders’ Cup 2016: Post times, live TV schedule for Friday’s races
Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images
But first, $5 million worth of purse money will be handed out in the juvenile turf races for both fillies and colts, the Las Vegas dirt mile, and the Longines distaff race.
The last race of the day Friday, $2 million, 1-1/8-mile Longines Distaff (7:35 p.m. ET post, NBCSN), features the best star power, including undefeated 3-year-old Songbird. The filly has won all 11 races she’s entered, and some of her closest finishes were still 3-3/4-length victories. Jockeyed by Mike Smith, the filly come in the heavy favorite at 6-5 odds.
The two others to keep an eye on are Stellar Wind (5-2), and Beholder (5-2). Beholder, jockeyed by Gary Stevens, is the 2013 distaff champion and will be going for a third Breeder’s Cup victory. She has 17 wins in 25 starts. However, Stellar Wind, jockeyed by Victor Espinoza, has seven wins in 11 starts and two of them were over Beholder.
How to watch Day 1 at the Breeders’ Cup
TV:
4:30-5 p.m. — Betting the Breeder’s Cup, NBCSN
5-8 p.m. — NBCSN Championship Friday, NBCSN
Streaming:
5-8 p.m. — NBC Sports Live Extra
Post times:
$1 million Fillies Turf, 5:30 p.m.
$1 million Las Vegas Dirt Mile, 6:05 p.m.
$1 million Juvenile Fillies Turf, 6:50 p.m.
$2 million Longines Distaff, 7:35 p.m.
All times listed in ET
See More:
