Eclipse Award finalists include Invasor, Barbaro

Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) hero

INVASOR

(Arg) (Candy Stripes) and Kentucky Derby (G1) winner

BARBARO

(Dynaformer) highlight the list of 2006 Eclipse Award finalists released on Wednesday. Invasor, who heads the older male division, is also the

leading Horse of the Year candidate, but the finalists in that division won't be

announced until the Eclipse Awards ceremony on January 22 at the Beverly

Wilshire Four Seasons hotel in Beverly Hills, California.

Barbaro, who remained unbeaten with a dominating performance in the Kentucky

Derby, faces a strong challenge in the three-year-old division from

BERNARDINI (A.P. Indy). A Darley homebred, Bernardini captured the Preakness

S. (G1) after Barbaro broke down and went on to win the Travers S. (G1) and

Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) before rounding out his career with a runner-up finish

in the Breeders' Cup Classic.

DISCREET CAT (Forestry) is a finalist in both the three-year-old and sprint

divisions. While he might end up being overshadowed by Barbaro and Bernardini for

top three-year-old honors, the unbeaten colt is immensely talented, easily

winning the Cigar Mile H. (G1) last time out. It's just a shame that Barbaro,

Bernardini and Discreet Cat never got the opportunity to settle matters on the

track. Instead, it's left up to the Eclipse voters to decide who's best in 2006.

STREET SENSE (Street Cry [Ire]) and

DREAMING OF ANNA (Rahy), winners of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) and

Juvenile Fillies (G1), respectively, are both expected to win Eclipse Awards,

and the Breeders' Cup has a profound impact upon the Eclipse Awards each year.

Filly & Mare Turf (G1) queen

OUIJA

BOARD (GB) (Cape Cross [Ire]), Sprint (G1) victor

THOR'S

ECHO (Swiss Yodeler), Mile (G1) winner

MIESQUE'S APPROVAL (Miesque's Son) and Distaff (G1) heroine

ROUND

POND (Awesome Again) are among the finalists in their respective divisions.

The 2006 Eclipse Award finalists (in alphabetical order) are:

Two-Year-Old Male:

CIRCULAR QUAY (Thunder Gulch),

NOBIZ LIKE SHOBIZ (Albert the Great), Street Sense

Two-Year-Old Female: Dreaming of Anna,

OCTAVE (Unbridled's

Song),

POINT ASHLEY (Point Given)

Three-Year-Old Male: Barbaro, Bernardini, Discreet Cat

Three-Year-Old Female:

BUSHFIRE

(Louis Quatorze),

PINE

ISLAND (Arch),

WAIT A

WHILE (Maria's Mon)

Older Male: Invasor,

LAVA MAN

(Slew City Slew),

PREMIUM

TAP (Pleasant Tap)

Older Female:

ASI

SIEMPRE (El Prado [Ire]),

FLEET

INDIAN (Indian Charlie), Round Pond

Sprinter: Discreet Cat,

HENNY

HUGHES (Hennessy), Thor's Echo

Male Turf Horse:

ENGLISH CHANNEL (Smart Strike), Miesque's Approval,

THE TIN

MAN (Affirmed)

Female Turf Horse:

GORELLA

(Fr) (Grape Tree Road [GB]), Ouija Board, Wait a While

Steeplechase:

MCDYNAMO

(Dynaformer),

MIXED UP

(Carnivalay),

SUR LA

TETE (Sky Classic)

Owner: Darley Stable, Lael Stables, Shadwell Stable

Breeder: Adena Springs, Darley, Mr. & Mrs. Roy Jackson

Trainer: Kiaran McLaughlin, Doug O'Neill, Todd Pletcher

Jockey: Russell Baze, Garrett Gomez, Edgar Prado

Apprentice Jockey: Martin Garcia, Julien Leparoux, Rosie Napravnik