Breeders’ Cup 2017: Post times, live TV schedule for Friday’s races

The first four races of the Breeders’ Cup go to gates on Friday at Del Mar in Southern California. NBCSN (live stream) will cover the events live from 5 to 8 p.m. ET. The Juvenile Fillies Turf is set for a 5:25 p.m. start, with the Las Vegas Dirt Mile at 6:05 p.m., the Juvenile Turf at 6:50 p.m., and the Longines Distaff at 7:35 p.m. ET.

All are Grade 1 stakes, and the combined purse for the four is $5 million.

The biggest race of the day, the Longines Distaff, is a $2 million race run 1 1/8 miles on dirt and open to female horses ages 3 and up. It was won by Beholder last year, but she is now retired. The favorite is Stellar Wind, at 5-2 morning line odds to win her final scheduled race. She finished fourth in the race last year. Elate (3-1) and Forever Unbridled (4-1) round up the top three.

Using history to handicap the Breeders’ Cup Distaff — America’s Best Racing

With the exception of 2008 and 2009, when the Breeders’ Cup Distaff was conducted over a synthetic track at Santa Anita Park, the Distaff has generally been a race in which you want to stay close to the early pace. Eight of the last 10 winners were in the front half of the field after the opening half-mile of the race, and going back even further, only seven horses in history have closed from the back half of the pack to win the Distaff. In other words, like in most dirt races, early speed is an advantage.

Champion Stellar Wind Back for Third Distaff Try in Career Finale — America’s Best Racing

With Beholder and Songbird retired, 5-year-old Stellar Wind is listed as a slight 5-2 favorite as part of a talent-laden field of eight. Forever Unbridled, who pulled a stunning upset when she overtook Songbird by a neck in the Aug. 26 Personal Ensign Stakes at Saratoga, returns to the Distaff as well.