2006 Breeders' Cup Classic

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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:

• Northern Hemisphere three-year-olds: 122 lb
• Southern Hemisphere three-year-olds: 117 lb
• Four-year-olds and up: 126 lb

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.

Contenders

The 13 entries in the race, in order of post position, were:

• Brother Derek
• Premium Tap
• Bernardini
• George Washington
• Lawyer Ron
• Perfect Drift
• David Junior
• Lava Man
• Giacomo
• Flower Alley
• Invasor
• Suave
• Sun King

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.

Major prep races

Prep races contested for the BC Classic and the winner (as of October 26, 2006):

• Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap - It's No Joke
• Goodwood Breeders' Cup Handicap - Lava Man
• Jerome Handicap - Discreet Cat
• Jockey Club Gold Cup - Bernardini
• Super Derby - Strong Contender[1]
• Brooklyn BC Handicap - Wanderin Boy[2]
• Turfway Park Fall Championship - Gouldings Green
• Woodward Stakes - Premium Tap[3]
• Travers Stakes - Bernardini[4]
• St. Louis Derby - Lawyer Ron
• Longacres Mile Handicap - Flamethrowintexan[5]
• Pacific Classic Stakes - Lava Man[6]
• Philip H. Iselin Breeders' Cup Handicap - Park Avenue Ball[7]
• Haskell Invitational Handicap - Bluegrass Cat[8]
• West Virginia Derby - Bright One[9]
• Jim Dandy Stakes - Bernardini[10]
• Washington Park Handicap - Suave
• San Diego Handicap - Giacomo[11]
• Leonard Richards Stakes - Awfully Smart[12]
• Ohio Derby - Deputy Glitters[13]
• Hollywood Gold Cup - Lava Man[14]
• Swaps Stakes - Arson Squad[15]
• Dwyer Stakes - Strong Contender[16]
• Suburban Handicap - Invasor[17]
• Californian Stakes - Dixie Meister[18]
• Stephen Foster Handicap - Seek Gold[19]
• Belmont Stakes - Jazil[20]
• Metropolitan Handicap - Silver Train[21]
• Preakness Stakes - Bernardini[22]
• Pimlico Special Handicap - Invasor[23]
• Kentucky Derby - Barbaro[24]
• Oaklawn Handicap - Buzzards Bay[25]
• Dubai World Cup - Electrocutionist
• Santa Anita Handicap - Lava Man[26]
• Strub Stakes - High Limit[27]
• Donn Handicap - Brass Hat[28]
• New Orleans Handicap - Brass Hat[29]
• Japan Cup Dirt - Kane Hekili
• Clark Handicap - Magna Graduate[30]