LOUISVILLE, Kentucky - Bernardini clearly is the
horse to beat in the Breeders' Cup Classic.
The leading contender to win Horse of the Year honors,
Bernardini headlines the field for Saturday's $5 million
Breeders' Cup Classic at Churchill Downs.
One of horse racing's most prestigious races and the richest
event in North America, Bernardini will take on 12 other rivals.
Trained by Tom Albertrani and ridden by Javier Castellano Jr.,
Bernardini has won his last six starts, with five of the
victories coming by more than five lengths.
"With every race he gets better and stronger," Albertrani
said. "He's an amazing horse. Right now, he's doing as good
as he's ever done. This is going to be his most difficult
task, but he's up to it."
The 3-year-old Bernardini burst on the national stage in May,
when he won the Preakness at Pimlico by 5 1/4 lengths as a 13-1
longshot. The performance was somewhat lost in the wake of a
near-fatal injury to Kentucky Derby-winner Barbaro.
Rested until the summer, Bernardini romped home an easy winner
of the Jim Dandy and Travers Stakes at Saratoga, and secured the
No. 1 ranking in the Dodge Classic Division of the weekly
Breeders' Cup World Championships poll for the remainder of the
year.
In his most recent start, Bernardini dominated the Jockey Club
Gold Cup at Belmont Park on October 7, winning by 6 3/4 lengths.
Bernardini is in good position to continue his success in this 1
1/4-mile event. He will leave from the third post and is
even-money on the morning line.
The main competition for Bernardini figures to be
Argentine-invader Invasor and California-based Lava Man.
Not close to garnering the same attention as Bernardini, Invasor
has won three straight and eight of his nine career starts. His
last three starts have resulted in wins in the Pimlico Special,
Suburban Handicap and Whitney Handicap.
The 4-year-old Invasor is owned by Dubai's Sheikh Hamdan al
Maktoum, the older brother of Sheikh Mohammed al Maktoum, who
owns Bernardini.
Invasor, who is trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, has odds of 5-1
and will leave from the 11th post with Fernando Jara in the
irons.
Lava Man has shined on the West Coast this year, completing an
unprecedented sweep by winning the Santa Anita Handicap, the
Hollywood Gold Cup and the Pacific Classic at Del Mar. The
5-year-old gelding is 7-for-7 this year.
Trained by Doug O'Neill and ridden by Corey Nakatani, Lava Man
will leave from the eighth post with odds of 6-1.
There are four starters returning from last year's Classic at
Belmont Park, including Flower Alley (30-1), who was second to
2005 Horse of the Year Saint Liam.
Also returning are Sun King (15-1), Perfect Drift (20-1) and
Suave (30-1).
There also are a pair of European invaders who will attempt to
leave their mark in George Washington (10-1), who will be racing
on dirt for the first time in 10 career starts, and David
Junior (10-1).
Giacomo returns to the scene of his shocking 2005 Kentucky Derby
triumph with odds of 50-1.
Also entered are Lawyer Ron (20-1), Brother Derek (30-1) and
Premium Tap (30-1).