2006 Breeders' Cup Classic
Encyclopedia
The 2006 Breeders' Cup Classic was run on November 4, 2006. The race, in its 23rd year, was contested at Churchill Downs
in Louisville, Kentucky
as part of the Breeders' Cup
World Thoroughbred Championships program. The purse for the Classic, which is limited to fourteen horses, was $5,000,000.
The Classic is run on dirt at one mile and one-quarter (approximately 2000 m). It is run under weight-for-age conditions, with entrants carrying the following weights:
Invasor
, an Argentine
-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.
There were fifteen pre-entries to the race, which included the previous thirteen as well as Discreet Cat
and Super Frolic. Discreet Cat did not run because his owner, Sheikh
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
, owns the favorite Bernardini. Super Frolic was entered in the Breeders' Cup Mile
instead of the Classic.
Churchill Downs
Churchill Downs, located in Central Avenue in south Louisville, Kentucky, United States, is a Thoroughbred racetrack most famous for hosting the Kentucky Derby annually. It officially opened in 1875, and held the first Kentucky Derby and the first Kentucky Oaks in the same year. Churchill Downs...
in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
as part of the Breeders' Cup
Breeders' Cup
The Breeders' Cup World Championships is an annual series of Thoroughbred horse races, most but not all Grade I, operated by Breeders' Cup Limited, a company formed in 1982. From its inception in 1984 through 2006, it was a single-day event; starting in 2007, it expanded to two days. The location...
World Thoroughbred Championships program. The purse for the Classic, which is limited to fourteen horses, was $5,000,000.
The Classic is run on dirt at one mile and one-quarter (approximately 2000 m). 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
Invasor
Invasor (horse)
Invasor is a Thoroughbred racehorse bred in Argentina by Haras Clausan. The winner of the 2005 Triple Crown in Uruguay, he was later purchased by Sheik Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum who paid approximately USD 1.4 million for the horse...
, an Argentine
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
-bred four-year-old who had won three Grade I stakes
Graded stakes race
A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
in the U.S. in 2006, was the surprise winner, beating out the heavily favored Bernardini
Bernardini
Bernardini is a thoroughbred race horse foaled on March 23, 2003 at Darley Stable in Kentucky. A son of A.P. Indy, he is out of Cara Rafaela who won almost a million dollars over the course of her racing career...
in the stretch.
Contenders
The 13 entries in the race, in order of post position, were:- Brother DerekBrother DerekBrother Derek is a thoroughbred horse. He was bred by Mary H. Caldwell and owned by Cecil N. Peacock.Trained by Dan Hendricks, Brother Derek began racing at age two in California...
- Premium Tap
- BernardiniBernardiniBernardini is a thoroughbred race horse foaled on March 23, 2003 at Darley Stable in Kentucky. A son of A.P. Indy, he is out of Cara Rafaela who won almost a million dollars over the course of her racing career...
- George WashingtonGeorge Washington (horse)George Washington was a thoroughbred racehorse foaled in Ireland by champion sire Danehill out of Bordighera, also the dam of the high class colt Grandera. Bred by Roy and Gretchen Jackson, he was trained at Ballydoyle by Aidan O'Brien and owned by Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith...
- Lawyer RonLawyer RonLawyer Ron was an American thoroughbred race horse. He was bred and owned by James T. Hines, Jr., an entrepreneur who started his first company, Premium Allied Tool, in Owensboro, Kentucky in 1966, and it became a multi-million dollar business...
- Perfect DriftPerfect DriftPerfect Drift, is an American thoroughbred gelding racehorse. He is sired by the leading stud, Dynaformer, out of the Naskra mare, Nice Gal....
- David JuniorDavid JuniorDavid Junior is a retired thoroughbred racehorse and active sire, who was bred in the United States but trained in the United Kingdom during his racing career which lasted from 2004 to 2006...
- Lava ManLava ManLava Man is a dark bay thoroughbred gelding by Slew City Slew out of L'il Ms. Leonard . He who rose from the lowest levels of race horse claiming races to become regarded by many racing fans and members of the racing media as a legend in his own time...
- GiacomoGiacomoGiacomo is a Thoroughbred stallion race horse trained by John Shirreffs who is perhaps best known for winning the 2005 Kentucky Derby in 2:02.75...
- Flower AlleyFlower AlleyFlower Alley, foaled on May 7, 2002, is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. He was bred at Bona Terra Farms by George Brunacini who was killed in the August 27, 2006 crash of Comair Flight 5191 at Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, Kentucky....
- InvasorInvasor (horse)Invasor is a Thoroughbred racehorse bred in Argentina by Haras Clausan. The winner of the 2005 Triple Crown in Uruguay, he was later purchased by Sheik Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum who paid approximately USD 1.4 million for the horse...
- Suave
- Sun King
There were fifteen pre-entries to the race, which included the previous thirteen as well as Discreet Cat
Discreet Cat
Discreet Cat is a thoroughbred race horse. As a foal of 2003 , the bay colt after the colt won the UAE Derby in March 2006, he shipped to the United States but did not race in the Kentucky Derby or any other Triple Crown races.-Connections:...
and Super Frolic. Discreet Cat did not run because his owner, Sheikh
Sheikh
Not to be confused with sikhSheikh — also spelled Sheik or Shaikh, or transliterated as Shaykh — is an honorific in the Arabic language that literally means "elder" and carries the meaning "leader and/or governor"...
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum , also Sheikh Mohammed, , is the Prime Minister and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates , and absolute monarch of Dubai.-Personal life and education:...
, owns the favorite Bernardini. Super Frolic was entered in the Breeders' Cup Mile
Breeders' Cup Mile
The Breeders' Cup Mile is a Grade 1 Weight for Age stakes race for thoroughbred racehorses three years old and up, run on a grass course. It has been conducted annually as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships since the event's inception in 1984...
instead of the Classic.
Major prep races
Prep races contested for the BC Classic and the winner (as of October 26, 2006):- Hawthorne Gold Cup HandicapHawthorne Gold Cup HandicapThe Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap is a Grade II race for thoroughbred horses run at Hawthorne Race Course in Stickney, Illinois each year. The Hawthorne Gold Cup trophy has always been made of solid gold....
- It's No Joke - Goodwood Breeders' Cup HandicapGoodwood Breeders' Cup HandicapThe Goodwood Stakes is an American thoroughbred horse race run annually since 1982 during the Oak Tree Racing Association at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California....
- Lava Man - Jerome HandicapJerome HandicapThe Jerome Stakes is a Grade II race for thoroughbred horses run each fall at one mile on the dirt at Belmont Park. It is open to three-year-olds and carries a purse of $150,000. The race is a prep race to several races of the Breeders' Cup....
- Discreet Cat - Jockey Club Gold CupJockey Club Gold CupThe Jockey Club Gold Cup, established in 1919, is a prestigious thoroughbred flat race open to horses of either gender three-years-old and up. It is typically the main event of the fall meeting at Belmont Park, just as the Belmont Stakes is of the spring meeting and the Travers Stakes is of the...
- Bernardini - Super DerbySuper DerbyThe Super Derby is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in September at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, Louisiana.Inaugurated in 1980, the Super Derby is open to 3-year-olds and the distance is 1 1/8 miles on the dirt. A Grade II event, it's the richest race held at Louisiana Downs...
- Strong Contenderhttp://www.drf.com/row/charts/06superderby_chart.pdf - Brooklyn BC HandicapBrooklyn HandicapThe Brooklyn Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in early June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, on Long Island. It currently is a Grade II event open to three-year-olds and up willing to race one and one-half miles on dirt....
- Wanderin Boyhttp://www.drf.com/row/charts/06brooklynbc_chart.pdf - Turfway Park Fall ChampionshipTurfway Park Fall ChampionshipThe Fall Championship Stakes is an American Grade III Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Turfway Park in Florence, Kentucky. Open to horses age three and older, it is contested on Polytrack synthetic dirt...
- Gouldings Green - Woodward StakesWoodward StakesThe Woodward Stakes is an American Grade I stakes race and is one of the premier races for older thoroughbred horses in the United States. Named for prominent racehorse owner, George Nicholas Woodward, it is run at 1⅛ miles on the dirt for a purse of $750,000.The Woodward was run as a handicap in...
- Premium Taphttp://www.drf.com/row/charts/06woodward_chart.pdf - Travers StakesTravers StakesThe Travers Stakes is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York.First held in 1864, it was named for William R. Travers, the president of the old Saratoga Racing Association. His horse, Kentucky, won the first running of the Travers...
- Bernardinihttp://www.drf.com/row/charts/06travers_chart.pdf - St. Louis DerbySt. Louis DerbyThe St. Louis Derby run at Fairmount Park in Collinsville, Illinois held its inaugural race on August 26, 2006. Open to three-year-old thoroughbred horses of either gender, and run at one and one sixteenth miles on the dirt, this ungraded stakes race offers a purse of $250,000, funded privately by...
- Lawyer Ron - Longacres Mile HandicapLongacres Mile HandicapThe Longacres Mile Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in August at Emerald Downs in Auburn, Washington. The race is open to horses three years of age and older and is run on dirt over a distance of one mile...
- Flamethrowintexanhttp://www.drf.com/row/charts/06longacres_chart.pdf - Pacific Classic StakesPacific Classic StakesThe Pacific Classic Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race for runners aged 3-year-old or up run at the classic American distance of a mile and a quarter...
- Lava Manhttp://www.drf.com/row/charts/06pacificclassic_chart.pdf - Philip H. Iselin Breeders' Cup Handicap - Park Avenue Ballhttp://www.drf.com/row/charts/06iselin_chart.pdf
- Haskell Invitational HandicapHaskell Invitational HandicapThe Resorts Casino & Hotel Haskell Invitational is an American Grade I race for thoroughbred horses. In 1968, the Board of Directors of Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, New Jersey honored its former President and Chairman Amory L. Haskell with the Amory L. Haskell Handicap, a race for older...
- Bluegrass Cathttp://www.drf.com/row/charts/06haskell_chart.pdf - West Virginia DerbyWest Virginia DerbyThe West Virginia Derby is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Mountaineer Race Track in Chester, West Virginia. The race is open to three-year-old horses and is run over a distance of 1⅛ miles...
- Bright Onehttp://www.drf.com/row/charts/06westvirginiaderby_chart.pdf - Jim Dandy StakesJim Dandy StakesThe Jim Dandy Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race. The Grade II race has been held annually since 1964 at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. The race is open to horses age three, willing to race one and one-eighth miles on the dirt. It carries a purse of $500,000. Prior...
- Bernardinihttp://www.drf.com/row/charts/06jimdandy_chart.pdf - Washington Park HandicapWashington Park HandicapThe Washington Park Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the first week of September at Arlington Park Racetrack in Arlington Heights, Illinois. A Grade III event open to horses age three and older, it is contested on Polytrack synthetic dirt over a distance of a...
- Suave - San Diego HandicapSan Diego HandicapThe San Diego Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in late july/early August at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. This Grade II race is open to horses, age three and up, willing to race one and one-sixteenth miles on Polytrack synthetic dirt...
- Giacomohttp://www.drf.com/row/charts/06sandiego_chart.pdf - Leonard Richards Stakes - Awfully Smarthttp://www.drf.com/row/charts/06leonardrichards_chart.pdf
- Ohio DerbyOhio DerbyThe Ohio Derby is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in early June at Thistledown in North Randall, Ohio.The Grade III Stakes race for three-year-olds is run on dirt over a distance of 1 and 1/16 miles....
- Deputy Glittershttp://www.drf.com/row/charts/06ohioderby_chart.pdf - Hollywood Gold CupHollywood Gold CupThe Hollywood Gold Cup is an American Grade I stakes race for thoroughbred horses inaugurated in 1938 at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California. It was run as a handicap race until 1997 when it was switched to weight-for-age conditions...
- Lava Manhttp://www.drf.com/row/charts/06holgoldcup_chart.pdf - Swaps StakesSwaps StakesThe Swaps Stakes is a race for Thoroughbred horses run annually at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California. The race is open to three-year-old horses willing to race one and one-eighth miles on the dirt. A Grade II event, it carries a purse of $350,000.Run in mid July, this race is...
- Arson Squadhttp://www.drf.com/row/charts/06swapsbc_chart.pdf - Dwyer StakesDwyer StakesThe Dwyer Stakes is an American Grade II stakes race for three-year-old thoroughbred racehorses held annually at Belmont Park racetrack in Elmont, Long Island, New York. Run in early July, it is open to three-year-old horses and is raced over a distance of 1 1/16-miles on dirt...
- Strong Contenderhttp://www.drf.com/row/charts/06dwyer_chart.pdf - Suburban HandicapSuburban HandicapThe Suburban Handicap is an American Grade II Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Open to horses age three and older, it is run at the classic one-and-one-quarter mile distance on dirt for a $400,000 purse....
- Invasorhttp://www.drf.com/row/charts/06suburban_chart.pdf - Californian StakesCalifornian StakesThe Californian Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually during the second week of June at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California. The Grade II event is open to horses age three and up willing to race one and one-eighth miles on the dirt...
- Dixie Meisterhttp://www.drf.com/row/charts/06californian_chart.pdf - Stephen Foster HandicapStephen Foster HandicapThe Stephen Foster Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run in mid-June near the end of the Churchill Downs Spring Meet in Louisville, Kentucky...
- Seek Goldhttp://www.drf.com/row/charts/06stephenfoster_chart.pdf - Belmont StakesBelmont StakesThe Belmont Stakes is an American Grade I stakes Thoroughbred horse race held every June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is a 1.5-mile horse race, open to three year old Thoroughbreds. Colts and geldings carry a weight of 126 pounds ; fillies carry 121 pounds...
- Jazilhttp://www.drf.com/row/charts/06belmont_chart.pdf - Metropolitan HandicapMetropolitan HandicapThe Metropolitan Handicap, frequently called the "Met Mile," is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the last week of May at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Open to horses age three and older, it is contested on dirt over a distance of one mile .The Met Mile was first...
- Silver Trainhttp://www.drf.com/row/charts/06metmile_chart.pdf - Preakness StakesPreakness StakesThe Preakness Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs on dirt. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds ; fillies 121 lb...
- Bernardinihttp://www.drf.com/row/charts/06preakness_chart.pdf - Pimlico Special Handicap - Invasorhttp://www.drf.com/row/charts/06pimspecial_chart.pdf
- Kentucky DerbyKentucky DerbyThe Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
- Barbarohttp://www.drf.com/row/charts/06kyderby_chart.pdf - Oaklawn HandicapOaklawn HandicapThe Oaklawn Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the first week of April at Oaklawn Park Race Track in Hot Springs, Arkansas....
- Buzzards Bayhttp://www.drf.com/row/charts/06oaklawnhandicap_chart.pdf - Dubai World CupDubai World CupThe Dubai World Cup is a Thoroughbred horse race held annually since 1996 and from 2010 at the Meydan Racecourse in the city of Dubai, United Arab Emirates...
- Electrocutionist - Santa Anita HandicapSanta Anita HandicapThe Santa Anita Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in early March at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. It is a Grade I race for horses four years old and up , and is considered the most important race for older horses in North America during the winter racing season...
- Lava Manhttp://www.drf.com/row/charts/06santaanitahandicap_chart.pdf - Strub StakesStrub StakesThe Strub Stakes is an American race for thoroughbred horses run at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California each year.Currently a Grade II stakes race with a purse of $300,000, it is open to horses, age four, willing to race one and one-eighth miles on the synthetic surface of Santa Anita and offers...
- High Limithttp://www.drf.com/row/charts/06strub_chart.pdf - Donn HandicapDonn HandicapThe Donn Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in late January/early February at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida.The race is named after the Donn family, who for many years owned and operated the racetrack....
- Brass Hathttp://www.drf.com/row/charts/06donn_chart.pdf - New Orleans HandicapNew Orleans HandicapThe New Orleans Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, Louisiana. Open to horses four years old and up, the race is run at a distance of one and one-eighth miles on the dirt...
- Brass Hathttp://www.drf.com/row/charts/06neworleans_chart.pdf - Japan Cup DirtJapan Cup DirtThe Japan Cup Dirt is a race usually run a week after the Japan Cup.- Race Information :* Racecourse: Hanshin Racecourse* Distance: 1,800 meters The Japan Cup Dirt (JPN G-1) is a race usually run a week after the Japan Cup.- Race Information :* Racecourse: Hanshin Racecourse* Distance: 1,800...
- Kane Hekili - Clark HandicapClark HandicapThe Clark Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in late November/early December at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Among the oldest races in the United States, it was first run in 1875, the year the racetrack opened for business...
- Magna Graduatehttp://www.drf.com/row/charts/05clark_chart.pdf