Breeders Cup

With all the horses running at their special distance and on their special surface, every one of the 14 races that make up the Breeders' Cup weekend is a championship in its own right. With six weeks to go before the racing kicks off at Churchill Downs on November 2, here's a look at possible outright winners in a handful of races.

The race to the starting gate for the 2019 Kentucky Derby starts this Saturday at Churchill Downs with the running of the (G3) Iroquois Stakes. A full field of 12 two-year-old colts will go to the gate to run 1 1/16 miles on the Churchill dirt, chasing a purse of $150,000 and the first 2019 Derby qualifying points of the season.

The first and second-place finishers in the 2017 (G1) Northern Dancer Turf Stakes will renew their rivalry on Saturday at Woodbine Race Track, as defending champion Johnny Bear takes on UK star Hawkbill. The $300,000 Northern Dancer Turf will be run at 1 1/2 miles and has drawn an international field of 10 starters in a great betting race.

One of the biggest race days of the Kentucky Downs' summer meet comes this Saturday with the running of four graded stakes on the turf, including the $750,000 (G3) Kentucky Turf Cup. The race has drawn a full field of 12 starters and four Also Eligibles to run the 1 1/2 miles on the turf course, including the defending 2017 champion Oscar Nominated.

Between now and October, the focus for many of the top thoroughbreds in the world and their trainers and owners will be racing their way toward a start in one of the 14 races that will make up the 2018 Breeders' Cup World Championships. The most sure way of making the field and racing for a share of the $30 million in BC Championships purse money is the "Win And You're In" qualifying series.

The most highly anticipated race of the 2017 Breeders' Cup weekend, Saturday's Classic is also one of the world's richest races, with a total purse of $6 million. The race brings together a number of familiar rivals in the field of 11 to race 1 1/4 miles over the Del Mar dirt track.

Historically a race dominated by European bred or raced horses, the 2017 Breeders' Cup Turf includes some real good American runners and a couple live long shots. The race has drawn a full field of 14, and they'll go 1 1/2 miles on the grass, chasing a total purse of $4 million.

For the 2017 Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar, the Filly & Mare Turf will be run at a shorter distance than usual of only 1 1/8 miles, which should benefit front-running horses. A full field of 14 have drawn into Saturday's race, and they'll be going after a purse of $2 million.

As usual, Europe sends over a strong contingent of horses to challenge for the 2017 Breeders' Cup Mile title, a race that has produced some big long shot winners in recent years. The field of 14 will race over the Del Mar turf for a total purse of $2 million.