A foreign Invasor rocks the Classic

The age-old East-West debate was the talk of the Breeders’ Cup, but Invasor reminded everyone there are more directions on the compass.

Bred in Argentina, a champion in Uruguay and owned by a sheik from Dubai, the 4-year-old colt ran past Preakness winner Bernardini and Lava Man, the storybook claimer from California, to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic by a length Saturday at Churchill Downs.

It was a day marred by the death of a 3-year-old filly named Pine Island, who was euthanized after breaking down with severe injuries in the Distaff, quieting the crowd of 75,132.

But as light faded on a chilly afternoon, the day ended with a jubilant celebration by Invasor’s trainer, Kiaran McLaughlin, who is at the top of his game even though he has lived with multiple sclerosis for eight years, able to control it with medication.

“I’m one of the lucky ones with MS. I’ve had it in my hip pocket,” said McLaughlin, 45. “I don’t walk as well as I used to, but this is the best medication you could have, winning a $5-million race.”

It was the second big victory of the year for McLaughlin after winning the Belmont with Jazil.

Jazil’s jockey that day was Fernando Jara, and Jara was in the saddle Saturday aboard Invasor, becoming the youngest jockey, at 18, to win a Breeders’ Cup race.

There might have been an even wilder celebration had Lava Man won. His owners, Steve and Dave Kenly and Jason Wood, claimed him for $50,000 at Del Mar two years ago, and he has gone on to earn $3.8 million in his career. The $2.7-million payday for winning the 1 1/4 -mile Classic would have been like “winning the lottery,” Steve Kenly said, but it was not to be.

Lava Man -- the first horse to sweep the Santa Anita Handicap, the Hollywood Gold Cup and the Pacific Classic in the same year -- was uncomfortable in the gate when it took a long time to get the horses loaded, jockey Corey Nakatani said. After going with the leaders early, he fell back and never made his trademark big move entering the final turn, finishing seventh.

“Basically he wasn’t the same Lava Man we’ve been fortunate enough to see. I think it wasn’t his day,” said trainer Doug O’Neill, who earlier won his second Breeders’ Cup race in two years.

O’Neill took the Sprint with Thor’s Echo, a 15-1 shot bred in California and owned by Royce S. Jaime of Alta Loma and Pablo Suarez of Valencia. O’Neill won his first Breeders’ Cup race with Stevie Wonderboy in last year’s Juvenile.

Lava Man had been seven for seven this year, but is now 0 for 4 in his career outside of California despite O’Neill’s efforts to resolve past troubles by shipping him to Kentucky to train three weeks before the race.

“Hopefully, he’ll bounce back the way he did after the races in New York and Japan,” O’Neill said of the 5-year-old gelding.

On a day when the rail was the place to be at Churchill Downs, Santa Anita-based Brother Derek had the No. 1 post in the Classic, and Alex Solis took him to the front right away. But Bernardini overtook Brother Derek at the quarter-mile pole, and the even-money favorite was in the lead coming down the stretch until Invasor stormed past him on the outside to win.

Bernardini, owned by the ruler of Dubai, Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, was a length behind Invasor, owned by his brother, Sheik Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum. Premium Tap was third, 2 1/2 lengths behind Bernardini.

Bernardini’s jockey was Javier Castellano, who came back to ride the favorite in the Classic despite being shaken up when he hit the ground hard as Pine Island, his mount in the Distaff, broke down.

“We were second-best today,” said Castellano, who had won five races in a row aboard Bernardini with nary a challenge. “I had to ask him for the first time today. He passed the other horses easily.”

All but Invasor.

The second choice behind Bernardini at 6-1, Invasor -- winning his ninth race in 10 starts -- ran down the horse some were ready to call one of the greats of recent years, winning 2:02.18.

“Beating his brother was not the goal. We happened to have two very good horses in the race,” said Rick Nichols, the head of Sheik Hamdan’s U.S. operation, speaking for his boss, who was in England.

The showdown between Bernardini and Invasor was supposed to have come in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park in October. But Invasor wasn’t well in the days before the race and didn’t run. The Breeders’ Cup was his first race in three months.

“When Invasor had the fever last month and couldn’t run in the Gold Cup, I said, ‘This could be a blessing in disguise,’ ” Nichols said. “If these two were to hook up in the Gold Cup and wear each other out, then we might be giving somebody else the Breeders’ Cup.”

Whether Invasor -- or Bernardini -- will be seen on the track again remains to be determined, with their value much higher as stallions than as racehorses.

“It’s going to be up to Sheik Hamdan,” Nichols said. “With the fact of winning the Classic, it would be very tempting to retire him. But it’s also very tempting to win the Dubai World Cup in Dubai next March.”

That race, with a $6-million purse, is the richest in the world.

But the real riches are in the breeding shed, and the ruling family of Dubai has amassed hundreds of millions worth of bloodstock as it invests in the business of breeding more champions, both for others and for their own racing stables as they set their sights on winning the Kentucky Derby, one of the few important races in the world that has eluded them.

“Yes,” Nichols said. “The al Maktoum family is going to be a force to be reckoned with for a long time.”

robyn.norwood@latimes.com

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(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

Breeders’ Cup Classic

Copyright 2006 Equibase Company LLC, all rights reserved

10th Race at Churchill Downs. 1 1/4 Miles. Purse $5,000,000, 3-year-olds and up. 1 1/4 miles on dirt. Purse: $5 million. Value of Race: $4.58 million. 1st place: $2.7 million. 2nd place: $1 million. 3rd place: $500,000. 4th place: $255,000. 5th place: $125,000. Weather: Cloudy. Track: Fast. Off at 2:31 p.m. PST.

HOW THE RACE WAS RUN

* INVASOR bobbled at the start when the ground appeared to break from beneath him, settled nicely in hand while maneuvered in three wide, advanced from between horses on the backstretch while continuing from the three path, went after the leaders five wide approaching the final quarter, fanned seven wide into the stretch, drifted in slightly when sharply roused right-handed when straightened for the drive, took over from BERNARDINI about the sixteenth pole and concluded under brisk hand urging. BERNARDINI settled in a striking position four wide, was never far back, moved slightly wider to make a sweeping run approaching the final quarter, reached the front, made the pace into the final furlong and couldn’t contain INVASOR in the late going. PREMIUM TAP lost a bit of his hind action at the start, quickly recovered to race in hand three wide, remained inside when inching forward on the far turn, eased out between horses four wide in the upper stretch to loom boldly but failed to sustain his momentum. GIACOMO, bumped early by LAVA MAN and outrun five wide to the far turn, continued off the inside when beginning to pick up rivals, came out seven or eight wide for the stretch run and was slowly gaining at the end. BROTHER DEREK moved to the front early, showed the way two or three wide and edged clear on the first turn, was headed by BERNARDINI at the quarter-mile pole and grudgingly weakened. GEORGE WASHINGTON, always well placed and racing near the inside for a mile, maneuvered out five wide entering the stretch, was in tight quarters between LAWYER RON and the winner when straightened into the lane, bumped with LAWYER RON, then lacked a further response. LAVA MAN, in tight soon after the start when bumping with GIACOMO, gained a position to four wide to track the leaders, raced forwardly to the stretch and came up empty. PERFECT DRIFT, outrun into the backstretch, inched closer after six furlongs, made a mild run along the inside approaching the final quarter but couldn’t sustain his bid. LAWYER RON, a bit rank early while prompting the pace three or four wide, raced forwardly until approaching the final quarter and tired. SUN KING, four or five wide, failed to reach serious contention. FLOWER ALLEY followed the leaders six wide most of the way and weakened nearing the stretch. SUAVE stumbled at the start, raced four or five wide and never was a factor. DAVID JUNIOR raced near the inside, gave way upon going seven furlongs and was eased in the stretch.

ROBYN NORWOOD’S COMMENT

* The rush to anoint Bernardini a superhorse or Lava Man the all-time rags-to-riches tale got waylaid by Invasor, a 4-year old who got his start in South America. Giacomo, last year’s long-shot Kentucky Derby winner, was a surprising fourth in his return to Churchill Downs. “His whole career has been like a magic carpet ride,” trainer John Shirreffs said. “This was his last race and now he’ll go to stud.”

Source: Equibase and Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Times

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JUVENILE FILLIES

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SIMULCAST RACE--1 1/16 miles, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, 2-year-old fillies, purse $2 million.

*--* Horse and PP 1/2 3/4 St r. Fi n. To $1 Jockey Dreaming Of 1 1 1 1 1/2 1 1/2 1 1 1/2 2.60 Ana, Dglas Octave, Gomez 4 3 hd 3 1/2 2 1 1/2 2 1 1/4 5.50 Cotton 7 6 1 5 3 4 2 1/2 3 1 1/4 18.80 Blossom, Vzqez Applg 12 2 1/2 2 1 3 1 4 3 1/2 21.20 Zophie, Brdgmhn Cash 3 7 1 6 1 1/2 5 2 1/2 5 7 1/2 2.70 Included, Nakatani Shes 5 4 1 4 hd 6 3 6 hd 47.90 Included, Espinoza Adhrhythm, 9 10 1/2 9 2 8 1/2 7 nk 16.60 Prado Bel Air 6 8 1/2 7 2 7 1/2 8 2 1/2 11.60 Beauty, Jara Sutra, Luzzi 2 9 hd 8 1/2 9 2 1/2 9 nk 29.50 Quick Lttle 13 12 hd 11 hd 10 2 10 3 1/2 23.70 Mss, Court Satulagi, 11 13 1 1/2 10 hd 11 1 11 4 1/2 35.10 Egan Gatorize, 14 14 14 13 2 1/2 12 3 58.40 Guidry Her Majesty, 10 11 hd 12 3 12 2 13 14 8.30 Leparoux Lilly 8 5 hd 13 1 1/2 14 14 56.40 Carson, Velasquez

*--*

Scratched-none.

*--* 1-DREAMING OF ANNA...7.20 4.60 3.40 4-OCTAVE...5.80 4.40 7-COTTON BLOSSOM...9.00

*--*

Time-23.72, 47.96, 1.12.34, 1.37.23, 1.43.81. Clear & Fast. Winner-Dreaming of Anna Ch.f.2 by Rahy out of Justenuffheart, by Broad Brush. Bred by Frank C. Calabrese. Trainer: Wayne M. Catalano. Owner: Frank Carl Calabrese.

$2 EXACTA (1-4) PAID $50.80

$2 SUPERFECTA (1-4-7-12) PAID $9,380.20

$2 TRIFECTA (1-4-7) PAID $597.60

$2 PICK THREE (5-7-1) PAID $215.20

ROBYN NORWOOD’S COMMENT

Dreaming Of Anna’s owner, Frank Calabrese, isn’t satisfied for his filly to beat only the girls and said she might take on the boys in the Kentucky Derby here next May. “If she stays sound, that’s where I’ll go with her,” he said. “You can tell she’s a good athlete, like a good basketball player or a good football player.” Dreaming Of Anna already has beaten males in Canada in Woodbine’s Summer Stakes. “She doesn’t know the difference,” Calabrese said.

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JUVENILE

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SIMULCAST RACE--1 1/16 miles, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, 2-year- olds, purse $2 million.

*--* Horse and PP 1/2 3/4 St r. Fi n. To $1 Jockey Street 1 12 hd 9 1 1 4 1 10 15.20 Sense, Borel Circular 9 14 7 hd 3 1 1/2 2 2 1/4 3.00 Quay, Gomez Great 7 9 2 1/2 5 2 2 hd 3 2 3/4 7.00 Hunter, Nakatani Scat Daddy, 3 4 1/2 3 2 5 3 4 3/4 3.70 Velazquez Stormello, 2 2 hd 2 1/2 4 hd 5 6 1/4 9.90 Dsrmeaux C P West, 5 8 1 4 1 1/2 6 1 1/2 6 6 3/4 10.20 Bejarano U D Ghetto, 12 13 1 1/2 14 8 1/2 7 9 3/4 30.70 Smith King of the 4 7 hd 13 3 13 8 8 1 1/4 17.50 Roxy, Pdo Skip Code, 14 11 4 12 hd 11 2 1/2 9 hd 60.80 Husbands Teuflesberg, 8 10 1 10 2 9 1/2 10 2 1/4 78.40 Albarado Pegasus 10 3 1 1 hd 7 6 11 2 3/4 10.30 Wind, Luzzi Malt Magic, 13 6 1 6 1 10 hd 12 9 53.40 Court Got Last 11 5 hd 8 hd 12 2 13 65.80 Laugh, Dgs Principle 6 1 hd 11 1 14 df 6.50 Secret, Espza

*--*

Scratched-none.

*--* 1-STREET SENSE...32.40 12.60 8.00 9-CIRCULAR QUAY...5.00 3.20 7-GREAT HUNTER...4.40

*--*

Time-23.07, 46.67, 1.11.74, 1.36.50, 1.42.59. Clear & Fast. Winner-Street Sense Dbb.c.2 by Street Cry out of Bedazzle, by Dixieland Band. Bred by James Tafel. Trainer: Carl A. Nafzger. Owner: James B. Tafel.

$2 EXACTA (1-9) PAID $181.20

$2 SUPERFECTA (1-9-7-3) PAID $3,915.80

$2 TRIFECTA (1-9-7) PAID $996.00

$2 DAILY DOUBLE (1-1) PAID $137.80

$2 PICK THREE (7-1-1) PAID $631.20

NORWOOD’S COMMENT

The glamour horses were in front, but 15-1 shot Street Sense shot through a hole with Calvin Borel aboard and ran away from the field by 10 lengths, the largest margin in BC Juvenile history. “He looked like a blur,” said Circular Quay’s rider, Garrett Gomez. No winner of the Juvenile has ever gone on to win the Kentucky Derby, however. “You figure the odds,” trainer Carl Nafzger said. “You have to be ready on this Saturday and that Saturday, and there are 18,000 other colts trying to do it too.”

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FILLY AND MARE TURF

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SIMULCAST RACE--1 3/8 miles on turf, Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, 3-year-olds & up, fillies & mares, purse $2 million.

*--* Horse and PP 3/4 1 St r. Fi n. To $1 Jockey Ouija Board, 2 7 hd 6 hd 1 1 1/2 1 2 1/4 1.40 Dettori Film Maker, 4 4 hd 4 1 4 3 1/2 2 nk 8.30 Prado Honey Ryder, 5 9 hd 8 hd 6 3 3 1 3/4 8.80 Vlzquez Wait A While, 7 5 1 3 hd 3 hd 4 1 2.30 Gomez Satwa Queen, 9 6 hd 7 2 5 hd 5 nk 9.50 Thulliez My Typhoon, 8 2 1/2 1 1/2 2 hd 6 4 1/2 30.00 Albrado Mauralakana, 3 10 9 1/2 7 2 7 2 1/4 20.80 Lparoux Dancing Edie, 1 1 1/2 2 1 1/2 8 3 8 6 1/2 36.50 Nakatani Quiet Royal, 6 8 1 1/2 10 9 4 9 12 42.20 Peslier Germance, 10 3 1/2 5 hd 10 10 17.30 Soumillon

*--*

Scratched-none.

*--* 2-OUIJA BOARD...4.80 3.40 2.60 4-FILM MAKER...5.80 4.40 5-HONEY RYDER...4.40

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Time-25.14, 49.77, 1.14.80, 1.38.91, 2.02.64, 2.14.55. Clear & Firm. Winner-Ouija Board Dbb.m.5 by Cape Cross out of Selection Board, by Welsh Pageant. Bred by Stanley Estate and Stud Co. Trainer: Edward A.L. Dunlop. Owner: Lord Derby.

$2 EXACTA (2-4) PAID $33.20

$2 SUPERFECTA (2-4-5-7) PAID $262.00

$2 TRIFECTA (2-4-5) PAID $121.20

$2 PICK THREE (1-1-2) PAID $384.00

NORWOOD’S COMMENT

Ouija Board won the Filly and Mare Turf for the second time in three years, and was second last year coming off an injury. “She’s undoubtedly the best filly in the world now,” jockey Frankie Dettori said. The 5-year-old mare from Great Britain is expected to race in Japan and Hong Kong before being retired at the end of the year to be bred to Kingmambo in Kentucky. Ouija Board is owned by the 19th Earl of Derby -- whose family name is the origin of the term “Derby” for a horse race.

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SPRINT

SIMULCAST RACE--6 furlongs, Breeders’ Cup Sprint, 3-year-olds & up, purse $2 million.

*--* Horse and PP 1/4 1/2 St r. Fi n. To $1 Jockey Thor’s Echo, 1 3 hd 1 hd 1 1 1/2 1 4 15.60 Nakatani Friendly 2 6 1/2 4 hd 4 2 2 1/2 58.60 Island, Dmgz Nightmare 7 7 hd 6 hd 5 2 3 hd 29.10 Affr, Prdo Bordonaro, P 6 2 1 3 2 2 hd 4 nk 4.10 Vzuela Attila’s 13 1 hd 2 hd 3 1 1/2 5 2 1/4 42.10 Storm, Vsqz Too Much 9 9 1/2 9 hd 8 hd 6 ns 7.40 Bling, Gmz War Front, 10 5 1 7 hd 9 2 7 2 15.40 Santos Siren Lure, 11 14 11 1 1/2 11 1/2 8 1 1/4 6.20 Solis Pomeroy, Castro 8 4 1/2 5 1 1/2 6 1/2 9 hd 12.50 Kelly’s 14 8 hd 8 2 7 hd 10 1/2 23.00 Landing, Bjno Lewis Michael, 3 12 1/2 12 hd 13 2 11 3/4 68.90 Dgls Malibu Mint, 12 10 1/2 13 hd 10 1/2 12 1 1/2 49.60 Kaenel Areyoutalktome 5 13 1/2 14 14 13 3 1/4 55.00 , Espza Henny Hughes, 4 11 hd 10 1/2 12 1/2 14 1.60 Vquez

*--*

Scratched-none.

*--* 1-THOR’S ECHO...33.20 15.80 10.20 2-FRIENDLY ISLAND...50.00 32.80 7-NIGHTMARE AFFAIR...15.20

*--*

Time-21.55, 44.40, 56.24, 1.08.80. Clear & Fast. Winner-Thor’s Echo Ch.g.4 by Swiss Yodeler out of Helen of Troy, by Mr. Integrity. Bred by Fast Lane Farms & Block & Forman. Trainer: Doug F. O’Neill. Owner: Royce S. Jaime Racing Stable, Inc. and Suarez Racing.

$2 EXACTA (1-2) PAID $955.40

$2 SUPERFECTA (1-2-7-6) PAID $113,911.80

$2 TRIFECTA (1-2-7) PAID $10,611.80

$2 PICK THREE (1-2-1) PAID $1,269.80

$2 PICK FOUR (1-1-2-1) 4 PAID $6,845.40

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NORWOOD’S COMMENT

A classic East-West battle in the sprint went to the West, with trainer Doug O’Neill’s Thor’s Echo upsetting a field led by East Coast star Henny Hughes, who stumbled at the start and finished last. “If Henny Hughes would have run his race, he would have been very tough to beat,” O’Neill said. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said Henny Hughes appeared to be fine after the race.

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MILE

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SIMULCAST RACE--1 mile on turf, Breeders’ Cup Mile, 3-year-olds & up, purse $2 million.

*--* Horse and PP 1/2 3/4 St r. Fi n. To $1 Jockey Miesq 10 13 3 10 1 3 1 1/2 1 2 3/4 24.30 Approval, Castro Aragorn, 7 9 1/2 9 1 1/2 5 1 2 hd 4.00 Nakatani Badge Of 8 2 1 2 1 1/2 2 1/2 3 nk 14.60 Silver, Prado Sleeping 4 11 1/2 12 2 8 hd 4 nk 21.50 Indian, Solis Rob Roy, 9 14 13 1/2 9 1 1/2 5 hd 23.50 Dominguez Silent Name, 2 1 2 1 1/2 1 hd 6 hd 31.80 Espinoza Gorella, 12 12 hd 11 hd 6 1 1/2 7 1 1/4 3.60 Leparoux Aussie Rules, 14 10 1/2 8 1/2 7 1/2 8 nk 11.00 Gomez Araafa, 3 6 1/2 4 1/2 4 1/2 9 1 1/4 3.00 Velazquez Librettist, 13 7 hd 7 1/2 10 1 1/2 10 4 1/4 16.20 Soumillon Free Thinking, 5 4 1/2 6 hd 11 2 11 nk 36.70 Santos Super Frolic, 11 8 hd 14 14 12 1 65.90 Brdgmhn Ad Valorem, 1 3 1/2 5 hd 12 hd 13 hd 25.40 Spencer Echo Of Light, 6 5 1 3 hd 13 1 1/2 14 9.70 Dettori

*--*

Scratched-none.

*--* 10-MIESQUE APPRVL...50.60 17.20 10.40 7-ARAGORN...5.80 4.40 8-BADGE OF SILVER...9.80

*--*

Time-23.32, 46.76, 1.10.98, 1.22.99, 1.34.75. Cloudy & Firm. Winner-Miesque’s Approval B.h.7 by Miesque’s Son out of Win Approval, by With Approval. Bred by Live Oak Stud.

$2 EXACTA (10-7) PAID $246.00

$2 SUPERFECTA (10-7-8-4) PAID $98,585.40

$2 TRIFECTA (10-7-8) PAID $4,781.60

$2 PICK THREE (2-1-10) PAID $2,594.80

NORWOOD’S COMMENT

Miesque’s Approval, a 7-year old who ran sixth in a $50,000 claiming race last year at Aqueduct and making the 39th start of his career, upset a field led by Araafa, Gorella and Aragorn, the winner of the Oak Tree Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita. “The turf course was really sandy and loose,” Aragorn’s jockey, Corey Nakatani, said after finishing second. “He ran as good as he did strictly on class and because he’s got a lot of heart.”

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DISTAFF

--

SIMULCAST RACE-- 1 1/8 miles, Breeders’ Cup Distaff, 3-years & up, fillies & mares, $2 million.

*--* Horse and PP 1/2 3/4 St r. Fi n. To $1 Jockey Round Pond, 1 4 1 1/2 4 1 1 1 1 4 1/4 13.90 Prado DQ-Asi 12 10 2 9 1 1/2 5 hd 2 1/2 11.30 Siempre, Leparoux Happy 13 9 1/2 7 hd 2 1/2 3 1 14.80 Ticket, Gomez Balletto, 14 11 8 10 4 7 3 1/2 4 nk 8.90 Nakatani Lemons 5 13 12 hd 8 1 5 1/2 24.00 Forever, Gdry Sharp Lisa, 4 3 hd 3 1/2 3 hd 6 nk 39.40 P Vlzuela Baghdaria, 8 5 1 1/2 5 1 4 1 1/2 7 2 3/4 40.00 Bejarano Spun Sugar, 6 7 1/2 6 1 9 6 8 6 1/4 11.60 Luzzi Pool Land, 9 2 1 1/2 1 1 6 hd 9 4 1/4 11.80 Velazquez Hollywood 10 12 1 1/2 13 10 2 10 20 44.80 Sty, Flores Bushfire, 11 6 1 8 1/2 11 hd 11 2 3/4 35.20 Solis Healthy 3 1 1/2 2 hd 12 12 15.50 Addtn, Espza Fleet 7 8 1 1/2 11 8 df 2.70 Indian, Santos Pine Island, 2 df 2.90 Castellano

*--*

DQ-Disqualified and placed fourth. Scratched-none.

*--* 1-ROUND POND...29.80 14.00 9.00 13-HAPPY TICKET...14.20 9.20 14-BALLETTO...5.60

*--*

Time-22.91, 46.75, 1.11.59, 1.37.53, 1.50.50. Cloudy & Fast. Winner-Round Pond B.f.4 by Awesome Again out of Gift of Dance, by Trempolino. Bred by Trudy McCaffery & John Toffan. Trainer: Michael R. Matz. Owner: Fox Hill Farms, Inc. $1,039,015

$2 EXACTA (1-13) PAID $446.00

$2 SUPERFECTA (1-13-14-12) PAID $38,595.20

$2 TRIFECTA (1-13-14) PAID $4,355.40

$2 PICK THREE (1-10-1) PAID $9,933.80

NORWOOD’S COMMENT

Marred by the death of Pine Island after the 3-year-old filly broke down on the backstretch, the Distaff went to Round Pond, trained by Michael Matz and ridden by Edgar Prado -- the pair who watched their own Barbaro suffer a career-ending injury in the Preakness. Another horse, Fleet Indian, suffered an injury that was not life-threatening and is expected to be retired to become a broodmare.