Dosage: Pedigree & Performance
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2006 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) Contenders
$5 million, 3yo&up, 1 1/4 miles (dirt)

Classic | Distaff | Filly & Mare Turf | Juvenile | Juvenile Fillies | Mile | Sprint | Turf

This is a very deep field of Classic contenders including several that are truly exceptional including the morning line favorite, Darley Stable's Bernardini; Lava Man, winner of seven straight; Shadwell Stable's once beaten, Argentinian-bred Invasor; and Coolmore connected, Irish-bred George Washington, considered by the Europeans to be the best horse in the world.  In terms of style, Bernardini and Lava Man prefer to race either on the lead or just off the pace.  Invasor seems comfortable a bit further back while George Washington is the only confirmed closer of the group.  Bernardini, Lava Man and Invasor are proven at a classic distance on the dirt.  George Washington has never raced beyond a mile nor on dirt.  History is not on his side in that regard.  On the other hand he is bred for distance and his dam is a daughter of American classic winner Alysheba.  None of the others look to be of the same quality although three have won at Churchill Downs, Giacomo, Suave and Perfect Drift.  If there were to be a major upset, it could well be by one of these.  Overall, the slight edge goes to the favorite, Bernardini, over Invasor.  Bernardini has never lost beyond a sprint distance, has displayed continual race-to-race improvement throughout the year and is coming in off of two extraordinary ten-furlong performances.

Selection:  Bernardini, M/L even     Longshot:  Giacomo, M/L 30-1

PP   CONTENDER BPF  LPF    cl    SIRE SL BROODMARE SIRE BSL DP   DI   CD   JOCKEY TRAINER OWNER
 1   BROTHER DEREK  -74 -62   G1   BENCHMARK RAISE A NATIVE   SIYAH KALEM RAISE A NATIVE 10 - 3 - 16 - 1 - 0   2.33   0.73   SOLIS HENDRICKS PEACOCK
 2   PREMIUM TAP  -83 -29   G1   PLEASANT TAP RIBOT THIRTY SIX RED bold ruler 2 - 9 - 12 - 3 - 4   1.31   0.07   PRADO  KIMMEL KLINE, ALEVIZOS & WHELIHAN
 3   BERNARDINI -91 -91   G1   A.P. INDY BOLD RULER  QUIET AMERICAN RAISE A NATIVE   7 - 8 - 13 - 0 - 0   3.31   0.79   CASTELLANO   ALBERTRANI DARLEY STABLE
 4   GEORGE WASHINGTON (IRE)   131 131   G1   DANEHILL northern dancer   ALYSHEBA raise a native 4 - 4 - 19 - 0 - 1   1.67   0.36   KINANE O'BRIEN MAGNIER, TABOR & SMITH
 5   LAWYER RON -92 -92   G2   LANGFUHR northern dancer LORD AVIE TURN-TO 4 - 7 - 7 - 0 - 0   4.14   0.83   VALENZUELA PLETCHER HINES ESTATE & STONEWALL FARM
 6   PERFECT DRIFT  -85 -35   g1   DYNAFORMER TURN-TO NASKRA nasrullah 8 - 3 - 18 - 0 - 1   2.00   0.57   GOMEZ JOHNSON STONECREST FARM
 7   DAVID JUNIOR  127 122   G1   PLEASANT TAP RIBOT IRISH RIVER NASRULLAH 3 - 12 - 10 - 2 - 3   2.00   0.33   SPENCER MEEHAN ROLDVALE LTD & GOLD GROUP INTL.
 8   LAVA MAN -81 -71   G1   SLEW CITY SLEW bold ruler NOSTALGIA'S STAR   PRINCEQUILLO 4 - 0 - 6 - 0 - 0   2,33   0.80   NAKATANI  O'NEILL STD RACING STABLE & WOOD
 9   GIACOMO  -85 -58   G2   HOLY BULL QUESTIONNAIRE STOP THE MUSIC TURN-TO 5 - 5 - 6 - 0 - 0   4.33   0.94   SMITH SHIRREFFS MOSS & MOSS & STRONACH STABLE
 10   FLOWER ALLEY  -64 -35   G3   DISTORTED HUMOR   RAISE A NATIVE LYCIUS RAISE A NATIVE 10 - 2 - 14 - 2 - 2   1.73   0.53   VELAZQUEZ PLETCHER MELNYK RACING STABLES INC
 11   INVASOR (ARG) -96 -89   G1   candy stripes nasrullah interprete nasrullah 7 - 0 - 9 - 0 - 2   1.77   0.56   JARA MCLAUGHLIN   SHADWELL STABLE
 12   SUave -91 -23   G2   a.p. indy bold ruler citidancer northern dancer  7 - 7 - 12 - 0 - 0   3.33   0.81   DESORMEAUX   MCGEE JAY EM ESS STABLE
 13   sun king -98 -76   G2   charismatic northern dancer clever trick NEARCTIC 5 - 3 - 5 - 1 - 0   3.00   0.86   BEJARANO  ZITO FARMER

Winner PFs since 1999: Best, -98; Average, -82

BPF is the best figure in a graded race in 2006 on the same surface as the BC event.
LPF is the latest figure in a graded race in 2006 on the same surface as the BC event.
CL is the highest class stakes race won (in CAPS) or placed in (no stakes wins; in small letters) in 2006.

Figures in red are Racing Post Ratings (RPR) for horses that have raced exclusively outside North America.