The culmination of the 2024 horse racing season is upon us, as the 41st edition of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships will take place this weekend.

This weekend, the 2024 Breeders’ Cup will unfold at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, California. It will be a two-day event with Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Classic serving as the main event.

In all, 14 races will be run between Friday and Saturday. Here’s everything you need to know.

2024 Breeders’ Cup Schedule, Purses and Predictions

5:45 p.m. ET: Juvenile Turf Sprint ($1 million), Big Mojo (4-1)

6:25 p.m. ET: Juvenile Fillies ($2 Million), Immersive (3-1)

7:05 p.m. ET: Juvenile Fillies Turf ($1 Million), Thought Process (5-2)

7:45 p.m. ET: Juvenile ($2 Million), Jonathan’s Way (9-2)

8:25 p.m. ET: Juvenile Turf ($1 Million), Zulu Kingdom (8-1)

3 p.m. ET: Filly & Mare Sprint ($1 Million), Society (3-1)

3:41 p.m. ET: Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint ($1 Million), Cogburn (7-5)

4:21 p.m. ET: Breeders’ Cup Distaff ($2 Million), Thorpedo Anna (4-5)

5:01 p.m. ET: Breeders’ Cup Turf ($5 Million), Far Bridge (8-1)

5:41 p.m. ET: Breeders’ Cup Classic ($7 Million), Fierceness (3-1)

6:25 p.m. ET: Filly & Mare Turf ($2 Million), Cinderella’s Dream (4-1)

7:05 p.m. ET: Breeders’ Cup Sprint ($2 Million), Remake (8-1)

7:45 p.m. ET: Breeders’ Cup Mile ($2 Million), Porta Fortuna (4-1)

8:25 p.m. ET: Breeder’s Cup Dirt Mile ($1 Million), Muth (9-2)

2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic Preview

While all 14 races will thrill fans in attendance and watching on television, the Breeders’ Cup Classic is the race to watch if you can watch only one.

The $7 million event will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock and has a 5:41 p.m. ET scheduled post time.

NBC/Peacock will also broadcast the Turf Sprint, Distaff and Turf races ahead of the Classic. Most other races will be broadcast on NBC, while 13 of 14 races—not including the Classic—will be broadcast on FanDuel TV.

The Breeders’ Cup Classic, of course, is the marquee event of the weekend and arguably the biggest non-Triple Crown race of the season. It’s set to feature a star-studded field packed with contenders from the Triple Crown series.

The list includes Kentucky Derby third-place finisher Forever Young (6-1), Kentucky Derby second-place finisher Sierra Leone (12-1), 2023 Belmont third-place finisher Tapit Trice (30-1) and 2024 Derby participant Fierceness (3-1).

Irish entrant City of Troy is the early favorite at 5-2. The Aidan P. O’Brien-trained horse has won six of seven races, including last month’s Juddmonte International Stakes. The son of Triple-Crown winner Justify got a favorable draw with the No. 3 post and has a strong chance to race into the spotlight on Saturday.

“We’re excited to see what’s gonna happen,” O’Brien said:

Next (8-1) and Japanese horse Ushba Tesoro (12-1) are also among the early favorites.

While City of Troy is getting most of the early attention, the prediction here is that Fierceness will prevail. A disappointing 15th-place finish at the Kentucky Derby has left a not-so-favorable impression, but Fierceness has won two straight races since then.

For Fierceness and jockey John Velazquez, the goal will be to avoid traffic and find an open lane early.

“If Fierceness gets the same trip in the Classic as he got in the Jim Dandy and the Travers, I 100% expect a similar performance from Fierceness,” NBC’s Randy Moss told Tom Pedulla of America’s Best Racing.

Velazquez is a seasoned jockey with six wins in Triple Crown races and a 2020 Breeders’ Cup Classic victory on his resume. He and trainer Todd Pletcher should be well prepared to navigate a talent-laden field on Saturday.

Fierceness, who won last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, should be ready too.

It should be a tightly contested race, though, and regardless of who wins, it should be a memorable experience for fans.