The 2006 Breeders' Cup Classic (in full, the Breeders' Cup Classic Powered by Dodge, due to sponsorship) was the 23rd running of the Breeders' Cup Classic, part of the 2006 Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships program. It was run on November 4, 2006, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
Invasor, an Argentinian-bred four-year-old who had won three Grade I stakes in the U.S. in 2006, was the surprise winner, beating out the heavily favored Bernardini in the stretch. It was the first Classic win for Invasor's owner, trainer and jockey.
The Classic is run on dirt at one mile and one-quarter (approximately 2000 m) with a purse in 2006 of $5,000,000, increased from $4,000,000 in 2005.[2] It is run under weight-for-age conditions, with entrants carrying the following weights:
Northern Hemisphere three-year-olds: 122 lb
Southern Hemisphere three-year-olds: 117 lb
Four-year-olds and up: 126 lb
Contenders
There were 13 entries in the race.[3] The even money favorite was the three-year-old colt Bernardini, who had won six straight races including the Preakness, Travers and Jockey Club Gold Cup. Bernardini, owned by Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin Stable, assumed the leadership of the three-year-old division after Barbaro's breakdown in the Preakness, and needed to win the Classic to wrap up Horse of the Year honors.[4]
Invasor was the third favorite at nearly 7:1, somewhat overlooked despite having lost only one race in his career. He was bred in Argentina and won the Uruguayan Triple Crown, which caught the eye of Sheikh Hamden, Sheikh Mohammed's brother. Sheikh Hamden bought Invasor for Shadwell Stables and transferred him to trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. Invasor lost his first and only race when moved to Dubai, then shipped to the United States where he won the Pimlico Special, Suburban and Whitney. McLaughlin intended to race the colt in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, but missed it due to illness, meaning Invasor had not raced in nearly three months leading up to the Classic. Invasor had to be nominated to the Breeders' Cup as a horse of racing age at a cost of $250,000 (normally horses are nominated as foals at a much lower cost).[5]
George Washington, considered Europe's best miler, was entered in the Classic, despite never having run on the dirt. Trainer Aidan O'Brien said, "We know he would have been short-priced favorite for the Mile, but winning the Classic would open the whole world to him."[2] David Junior was another European-based horse entered in the Classic. He had excellent form at a mile and a quarter but was coming into the Classic off a five-month layoff.[6]
Brother Derek took the early lead and set a brisk pace, followed by Lawyer Ron and Lava Man. Bernardini raced on the outside down the backstretch and started his move around the far turn. He assumed the lead at the head of the stretch, brushing Brother Derek as he went by. A later claim of foul by Brother Derek's jockey was disallowed.[8] Although in front, Bernardini appeared to be struggling with the track and his jockey went to the whip.[9]
Meanwhile, Invasor raced on the outside of the pack during the early part of the race then made a strong move, drawing even with Bernardini with a sixteenth of a mile remaining. Bernardini attempted to fight back but Invasor drew away to win by a length in the time of 2:02.18.[10]
Although Sheikh Hamdan watched the race from Dubai, Invasor's former owner Pablo Hernandez was present at Kentucky to celebrate in the winner's circle. "This is unbelievable," he said. "This is the greatest experience of my life, and always will be. Invasor is still in the hearts of everyone in Uruguay. We are a small, modest country, and we need an idol. We have no idol in football and no idol in politics. Invasor is the idol of Uruguay. He is the 'Horse of the Rio de la Plata'."[9]
The win made Invasor's jockey, Fernando Jara, the youngest to ever win a Breeders' Cup race. It was the first Breeders' Cup win for McLaughlin as well.[8]
"I'm not disappointed at all. You can't win all the races," said Javier Castellano, the jockey of Bernardini. "I had to ask him for the first time today. He passed the other horses easily. He gave me everything. He's a fighter and didn't want to get beat."[1]
The main track at Churchill Downs came in for some criticism. Invasor was one of the few horses that day to win on the dirt from the outside – four earlier races on the dirt had all been won by horses running on the rail, including several large upsets. The final half-mile of the Classic was run in over 51 seconds, a slow time perhaps also indicative of a track bias given that both Invasor and Bernardini were running away from the rail.[8]
