Hail the conquering Invasor!

Horse of the Year Invasor stormed past champion three-year-old Bernardini in the Breeders' Cup Classic (Debra Kral/Horsephotos.com) Shadwell Stables' INVASOR (Arg) (Candy Stripes) capped an outstanding North American campaign in 2006 with Horse of the Year and champion older horse honors at Monday night's Eclipse Award ceremonies at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. Unbeaten in four U.S. starts, the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner becomes the first South American-bred to be named Horse of the Year in North America and the first champion in the handicap male division to hail from that continent since *Kayak II in 1939. After opening his career with five straight wins in Uruguay in 2005, Invasor garnered Horse of the Year and champion three-year-old titles. Shadwell Stable then acquired the colt and transferred him to Kiaran McLaughlin. "When he came to us he was just a horse, to be honest with you," McLaughlin said. "He was light-framed and a bit rough, kind of skinny. We really didn't have any idea what we had on our hands. He had trained really good in the morning during the winter, trained with some real good horses too, so we were optimistic. But until you lead them over there, you don't really know what you have." The bay shipped from Florida to Dubai for his first start last season, turning in a subpar fourth-place finish behind Discreet Cat (Forestry) in the U.A.E. Derby (UAE-G2), but Invasor quickly rebounded when returning to the United States, winning the 1 3/16-mile Pimlico Special H. (G1) less than two months later. After recording a terrific 4 1/4-length victory in the 10-furlong Suburban H. (G1) in early July, Invasor headed to Saratoga for his next start in the Whitney H. (G1). "After the Suburban, we knew that we had a really good horse on our hands, one that could compete for year-end honors," McLaughlin said. Invasor recovered from a stumbling start to stalk the pace in the 1 1/8-mile Whitney and offered his run leaving the far turn, striking the front in the upper stretch. But this would be no easy win for Invasor. The late-running Sun King (Charismatic) was flying on the far outside in midstretch, with both Invasor and the victory apparently well within his grasp. That's when the heart of a champion shone. Invasor dug in along the rail and would not let Sun King pass in the final furlong, determinedly posting a nose score in an extremely gutsy performance.

Despite winning his first three starts over Grade 1 rivals in the United States, Invasor wasn't commanding a lion's share of respect from Thoroughbred racing

fans across the country as autumn approached. Preakness S. (G1) hero Bernardini

(A.P. Indy) was being labeled a superstar off spectacular victories in the

Travers S. (G1) and Jim Dandy S. (G2), and Lava Man (Slew City Slew) was

dominating the handicap ranks on the West Coast. Both horses would eventually

meet up with Invasor at Churchill Downs.

McLaughlin announced plans to use the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) as his final

prep for the Breeders' Cup Classic, but Invasor came down with a slight fever a

couple of weeks beforehand and was forced to miss the race. He trained up to the

1 1/4-mile Breeders' Cup Classic off a three-month layoff.

"I really felt that the layoff would play into our favor," McLaughlin noted.

"This horse had been to Dubai and back, had run in some tough races here in

the U.S., so I think the break helped him. Going into the Classic, I never felt

fitness was an issue."

Invasor broke from post 11 in the Breeders' Cup Classic and after stumbling

once again at the start, received a heady ride from regular jockey Fernando Jara.

He was able to save ground entering the first turn and closed boldly on the

final bend to reach contention, entering the stretch seven wide with powerful

strides. Invasor collared Bernardini in midstretch and easily drove past,

posting an authoritative one-length decision in the 1 1/4-mile event.

Bred in Argentina by Haras Clausan, Invasor is out of the Interprete mare

Quendom, who is a full sister to Group 1 heroine Reina Victoriosa (Arg) and

Group 2 king Qualified. Reina Victoriosa is herself the dam of 2006 Iowa Derby

and Zia Park Derby winner More Than Regal (More Than Ready), who also placed

third in the West Virginia Derby (G3).

The winner of nine of 10 lifetime starts, Invasor has bankrolled nearly $3.8

million. The good news for Thoroughbred racing fans is that Invasor will be back in

2007. The Argentinean-bred horse is scheduled to kick off his five-year-old

campaign in the February 3 Donn H. (G1) before contesting the Dubai World Cup

(UAE-G1) on March 31.

BERNARDINI lost his chance for Horse of the Year

honors when finishing second to Invasor

as the even-money favorite in the Breeders' Cup Classic, but the Darley homebred

still managed to claim the three-year-old title following a successful season in

which he won six of eight starts, beating out Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Barbaro

in the balloting

by a sizable margin. After dropping his career bow in

January, finishing fourth in a maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park,

Bernardini went on a sensational roll.

Following a 7 3/4-length maiden conquest, Bernardini made his initial

stakes foray in the Withers S. (G3), winning by 3 3/4 lengths. His connections

then ambitiously placed him in the Preakness, his first start around two turns.

After Barbaro suffered his catastrophic breakdown, Bernardini patiently rated

off the pace, then surged to the lead in upper stretch en route to a 5 1/4-length triumph.

Following a two-month freshening, Bernardini returned to the races with a pair

of spectacular wins at Saratoga, leading all the way to take the Jim Dandy by

nine lengths and the Travers by 7 1/2 lengths.

The Tom Albertrani charge made his first start against older horses in the

Jockey Club Gold Cup and never appeared to break a sweat while recording a 6

3/4-length blowout. He entered the Breeders' Cup Classic as the overwhelming

favorite, but the bay colt was facing a full field for the first time since his

debut and didn't enjoy a smooth trip. Rating between horses while getting dirt

kicked in his face entering the first turn, Bernardini launched what many felt was a

premature move for the lead near the completion of the backstretch. Bernardini

still managed to finish a clear second, but the aura of invincibility was lost.

His connections made plans to retire him before the Breeders' Cup, and

Bernardini heads to stud with a bankroll of $3,060,480. With his pedigree and

race record, the Kentucky-bred is a strong candidate to earn much more as a

stallion. He's out of the Grade 1-winning Cara Rafaela (Quiet American),

who ran second in the 1995 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) and placed in the

next year's Kentucky Oaks (G1), Ashland S. (G1), Santa Anita Oaks (G1), Mother

Goose S. (G1) and Las Virgenes S. (G1). The 14-year-old mare has also produced

2002 Santa Anita Oaks third-placer Ile de France (Storm Cat).

Wait a While first stamped herself as an exciting performer in the American Oaks (Benoit Photo) Arindel Farm's WAIT A WHILE (Maria's Mon) took an unorthodox route to the three-year-old fillies' crown, which she garnered by a 30-vote spread over the traditionally campaigned but ill-fated Pine Island (Arch) (138 to 108 first-place votes). Although the Todd Pletcher-trained gray was a classy performer on the dirt, she showcased her exceptional talent on the turf, routing her opponents in a manner seldom seen on that surface. It was by an act of nature that Wait a While was campaigned on the main track. After breaking her maiden impressively on the turf as a juvenile, she was entered in the grassy Miss Grillo S. That contest wound up being taken off the turf, but she still bolted home by 6 1/2 lengths on the good track. Hence Pletcher kept her on the dirt. She kicked off her sophomore season with a 14-length romp in the sloppy Davona Dale S. (G2), then placed in the Bonnie Miss S. (G2), Ashland and Kentucky Oaks, promoted to third via disqualification in the latter. Pletcher tried to switch her to the lawn for the Sands Point S. (G3) at Belmont Park, but that event was rained off the turf, and she once again showed her affinity for an off track with a facile 4 1/2-length score. That was the beginning of a four-race winning streak. Wait a While had to wait no longer to return to the turf, invading Hollywood Park for the American Oaks Invitational S. (G1). In a smashing display of pure power, the gray decimated the field by 4 1/2 lengths. She lined up next in the Lake Placid S. (G2) at Saratoga, and in a virtual replay of her Hollywood triumph, she drove to a 4 3/4-length decision. Having established her supremacy against the best turf fillies in her own age group, Wait a While took aim on the older set in the Yellow Ribbon S. (G1) at Oak Tree, again thrashing her rivals by 4 1/2 lengths. She wasn't able to duplicate that performance in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1), finishing fourth in her final outing of a busy season.

Bred by W. S. Farish and W. Temple Webber Jr. in Kentucky, Wait a While was

sold for $260,000 at the 2005 OBS February sale as a two-year-old in training.

She is the first foal from the winning A.P. Indy mare Flirtatious, who has also

produced a yearling colt by Pleasantly Perfect. Wait a While's granddam is Grand

Charmer (Lord Avie), a Grade 3 winner on the grass. The family traces to the

Northern Dancer mare Sleek Dancer, whose notable descendants include 1987 Irish

Derby (Ire-G1) hero Sir Harry Lewis, 1994 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) (Jpn-G1)

winner Chokai Carol, multiple stakes victor and sire Northern Prospect and 2000

Ramona H. (G1) queen Caffe Latte (Ire).

Wait a While sports a mark of 13-7-1-3 with a bankroll totaling $1,323,916.

Pletcher has indicated that the Eclipse Award winner will stick to the turf for

her 2007 campaign, which will likely get under way in March.

Paul Saylor's

FLEET INDIAN (Indian Charlie), who ran her winning streak to

eight while posting tallies in such prestigious events as the Beldame S. (G1), Personal Ensign S.

(G1) and Delaware H. (G2), was crowned champion older female. The only blemish

on her resume in 2006 came when she suffered an injury in the Breeders' Cup

Distaff (G1) and had to be pulled

up, but the classy mare did more than enough

to win top honors in her division by a resounding margin.

After capturing her final two starts for other trainers in 2005, the mare was

transferred to Pletcher for 2006 and reeled off six straight stakes wins,

taking the Next Move H. (G3),

Sixty Sails H. (G3) and Obeah H. with ease before cruising in the Delaware H. by 5

1/2 lengths in mid-July. Fleet Indian followed that front-running victory with

another impressive wire-to-wire tally in the Personal Ensign, and then showcased

her versatility by winning the one-turn Beldame from off the pace. The dark bay

won those six races by a combined margin of more than 31 lengths.

The New York-bred mare won 13 of 19 career starts, retiring with $1,704,513

in earnings. Fleet Indian is out of Hustleeta (Afleet), who is a half-sister to

multiple stakes winner and Grade 3-placed Cherokee Wonder (Cherokee Colony),

herself the dam of Grade 3 hero and millionaire Cherokee's Boy (Citidancer).

James Tafel's homebred

STREET SENSE (Street Cry [Ire]) parlayed a smashing

10-length victory in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) into the Eclipse Award for

champion two-year-old male. Conditioned by Carl Nafzger, Street Sense broke his

maiden in his second start and then recorded a third in the Arlington-Washington

Breeders' Cup Futurity (G3). The dark bay colt turned in a commendable effort

next time out against a strong field in the Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland,

rallying boldly to the lead in upper stretch before weakening slightly to finish

third to Great Hunter (Aptitude), missing second by only a nose to Grade 1

winner Circular Quay (Thunder Gulch).

In the Juvenile at Churchill Downs, Street Sense moved forward significantly

off that effort, leaving Circular Quay and Great Hunter far behind in second and

third, respectively. Street Sense rated near the back of the pack

under regular rider Calvin Borel before beginning to rapidly pick off foes on

the far turn, and the Kentucky-bred exploded into the stretch, quickly hitting

the front and opening up on the field. He continued to widen his advantage while

cruising to the finish line, recording the largest winning margin in Juvenile

history and the second-largest ever in the Breeders' Cup. A leading Kentucky

Derby hopeful, Street Sense will likely race twice this year before the

first Saturday in May, according to Nafzger.

The first foal from the winning Bedazzle (Dixieland Band), Street Sense hails

from the family of multiple Grade 3 victor, 1995 Breeders' Cup Sprint

(G1) runner-up and successful sire Mr. Greeley. He's earned $1,178,200 from a 5-2-1-2

mark.

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner

DREAMING OF ANNA (Rahy)

overwhelmed her rivals on the track and in the voting for champion two-year-old

filly, taking home the Eclipse Award in near unanimous fashion. Owned and bred

by Frank Calabrese, the Wayne Catalano-trained lass proved to be a dynamo on

both dirt and turf in 2006, winning all four starts. She broke her maiden on the

main track at Arlington Park before recording a pair of stakes wins on the

grass, the Tippett S. in course record-setting time (1:01 3/5 for 5 1/2

furlongs) at Colonial Downs and the Summer S. (Can-G3) versus males at Woodbine.

All three victories were convincing, front-running tallies, and the chestnut

filly was in complete command from the start of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile

Fillies, winning wire-to-wire by 1 1/2 lengths.

Out of the multiple stakes-winning Broad Brush mare Justenuffheart, Dreaming

of Anna is a full sister to stakes winner and Peter Pan S. (G2) runner-up Lewis Michael. Justenuffheart

is a half-sister to 2004 champion turf

horse Kitten's Joy (El Prado [Ire]) and Precious Kitten (Catienus), winner of

the November 18 Mrs. Revere S. (G2) in her latest venture.

The Kentucky Oaks is Dreaming of Anna's main objective this spring, and

Catalano has said that the versatile filly will likely race on dirt, all-weather

tracks and turf in 2007. She's earned $1,266,240.

In the span of exactly one year,

MIESQUE'S APPROVAL (Miesque's Son) went from trudging home sixth in a

$50,000 claiming race at Aqueduct to slamming an international field in the

Breeders' Cup Mile (G1). That victory sewed up champion male turf horse honors

as a seven-year-old, prevailing in a tight vote over The Tin Man (Affirmed) (74

versus 69 first-place votes). A Live Oak Plantation homebred, Miesque's Approval became the oldest winner in

this division since the legendary John Henry, who took this Eclipse Award as a

nine-year-old in 1984. Making his achievement even more unusual, Miesque's

Approval is not a gelding.

The man responsible for his remarkable renaissance is trainer Marty Wolfson,

who took charge of Miesque's Approval in late 2005. In his 2006 debut, and his

second outing for Wolfson, the bay unleashed a powerful closing kick to collar

Silver Tree (Hennessy) and upset the Sunshine Millions Turf S. at 48-1. At the

time, the race seemed significant only because Silver Tree was Hall of Famer

Jerry Bailey's final ride, and Miesque's Approval came from the clouds to spoil

the fairy tale ending. Few could have thought that it was the opening salvo in a

championship campaign.

Next time out, Miesque's Approval rallied for an honorable second in the

Canadian Turf H., beaten three-quarters of a length by fellow Eclipse finalist

English Channel (Smart Strike). He would then rack up three straight stakes

scores. After nailing 2005 Breeders' Cup Mile winner Artie Schiller on the line

in the Maker's Mark Mile S. (G2), Miesque's Approval engineered come-from-behind

victories by greater margins in the Firecracker Breeders' Cup H. (G2) and Red

Bank S. (G3).

Things did not go smoothly for him when shipping from his Florida base to

Keeneland for the Shadwell Turf Mile S. (G1), and he wound up dead-heating

fourth in his only off-the-board effort of the year. Wolfson was adamant that

those travel snafus had exhausted his charge too close to the race, and he was

equally certain that Miesque's Approval would run much better in the Breeders'

Cup Mile.

The horseman's view was completely vindicated at Churchill. Scoffing at his

24-1 odds, Miesque's Approval produced a dizzying burst of speed from near the

tail of the field to upend his better fancied rivals and win going away by 2 3/4

lengths.

The Florida-bred was produced by the winning With Approval mare Win Approval,

whose youngest offspring is a yearling filly by Running Stag. Miesque's Approval

is a half-brother to Canadian Grade 2-winning millionaire Revved Up (Sultry

Song), an 11-time stakes winner who is exiting a repeat score in the Bonnie

Heath Turf Cup H. The nine-year-old Revved Up will try to emulate his

half-brother by taking Saturday's Sunshine Millions Turf.

A Grade 3 winner as a sophomore in 2002, Miesque's Approval has compiled an

overall record of 39-12-10-5 with earnings of $2,645,879. He will get the chance

to add to his record as an eight-year-old this season, and Wolfson has penciled

in a rematch with English Channel in the Canadian Turf H. (G3) as its starting

point.

Two-time European Horse of the Year Ouija Board, shown winning in Hong Kong in 2005, is now a two-time Eclipse Award winner (Photo courtesy of Hong Kong Jockey Club) Lord Derby's homebred OUIJA BOARD (GB) (Cape Cross [Ire]) made just one start in the United States last year, but her emphatic 2 1/4-length victory in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Churchill was enough to secure her second Eclipse Award as champion turf female by an overwhelming margin. The Ed Dunlop-trained superstar joined Miesque (1987-88) and Flawlessly (1992-93) as the only two-time winners of this award since its inception in 1979, when it was separated from the champion turf horse voting and made a division of its own. Ouija Board is the first to take the honors in non-consecutive years. She garnered her initial Eclipse in 2004, also on the strength of a score in the Filly & Mare Turf, which was then contested at Lone Star Park. Ouija Board was also hailed as Europe's Horse of the Year in both 2004 and 2006. Her first title came as a sophomore, when she captured the Epsom Oaks (Eng-G1) and Irish Oaks (Ire-G1) and finished a troubled third in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1). Her four-year-old season in 2005 was interrupted by a splint injury to her left fore, which she sustained while checking in a distant seventh in her seasonal reappearance in the Prince of Wales's S. (Eng-G1). Many other owners may well have retired the dark bay there and then, considering her enormous value as a broodmare, but the sporting Lord Derby wanted to give Ouija Board more opportunities to cover herself in glory on the world stage. The brilliant mare was glad to oblige and handsomely rewarded his faith in her, ending the year as England's highweight older mare at 11-14 furlongs. In between scores in the Princess Royal S. (Eng-G3), her comeback, and Hong Kong Vase (HK-G1) versus males, her 2005 finale, she finished a valiant second when attempting to defend her title in the Filly & Mare Turf at Belmont. The winner was a loose-on-the-lead Intercontinental (GB), who was voted champion turf female. Ouija Board thrived on her demanding, globetrotting campaign in 2006, racing nine times in six countries on three continents. All of those starts came in Group/Grade 1 company, seven of them against males. After a fourth in the Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-G1), she flew home late in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (HK-G1) and just missed by a neck. Back in her native England, she gave Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) winner Shirocco (Ger) a stiff challenge when second in the Coronation Cup (Eng-G1), then overhauled Dubai World Cup hero Electrocutionist to claim the Prince of Wales's at Royal Ascot. Ouija Board bounced back from a rough-trip fifth in the Eclipse S. (Eng-G1) to take the Nassau S. (Eng-G1) in a photo-finish, prevailing after an epic duel with multiple Group 1 queen Alexander Goldrun. In her final European appearance, she was just denied by Irish Derby (Ire-G1) victor Dylan Thomas (Ire) (Danehill) in the Irish Champion S. (Ire-G1).

Returning to the United States, she became the first two-time winner of the

Filly & Mare Turf. Ouija Board traveled to the Far East to close out her

illustrious career, finishing third to Japanese phenom Deep Impact in the

November 26 Japan Cup (Jpn-G1). On the eve of defending her title in the Hong

Kong Vase, she went lame when her old splint injury flared up again, and she was

retired.

Ouija Board amassed more than $6.2 million in earnings from her 22-10-3-5

line, boasting seven Group/Grade 1 tallies among her nine overall stakes wins.

She also placed in seven stakes, six of them Group/Grade 1 events.

The dark bay is out of the Welsh Pageant mare Selection Board, who is herself

a full sister to 1985 Arlington Million S. (G1) hero Teleprompter (GB). This is

the family of champions Red Camellia (Polar Falcon) and Ibn Bey (GB) (Mill

Reef), a multiple Group 1 winner who was second in the 1990 Breeders' Cup

Classic (G1).

"I've never had a horse like this in training," Lord Derby said after the

2006 Breeders' Cup, adding, "I'll probably never have another horse as good as

this. She's quite literally changed the lives of all the connections. She's

touched us all."

Ouija Board is expected to begin her broodmare career by visiting Kingmambo.

THOR'S ECHO (Swiss Yodeler), who closed out the 2006 season on an excellent

note, capturing the Breeders' Cup Sprint and Frank J. De Francis Memorial

Dash S. (G1), was recognized as champion sprinter. Campaigned by Royce S. Jaime

Racing Stable and Suarez Racing, the California-bred gelding raced all over the

United States and in Dubai last year under the direction of trainer Doug

O'Neill, winning more than $1.8 million from seven starts. Thor's Echo's overall line

reads 18-5-4-5, $2,372,990.

After opening last year with a fourth-place finish to Bordonaro (Memo [Chi])

in the Sunshine Millions Sprint S. at Gulfstream Park, Thor's Echo recorded a

runner-up placing behind Grade 1 winner Proud Tower Too (Proud Irish) in the

Sensational Star H. at Santa Anita. He then shipped to Nad al Sheba and finished

second again to the same horse in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1) in late

March. Following a lengthy freshening, the chestnut returned to the races in

mid-August, and in his second start back, posted a good second behind Bordonaro in the Ancient Title

Breeders' Cup S. (G1) Thor's Echo would exact a

measure of revenge over Bordonaro while easily trumping a top-class field in the

Breeders' Cup Sprint next time out.

After pushing the pace down the backstretch, Thor's Echo made his move for

the lead three wide on the far turn at Churchill Downs and entered the stretch

run in complete command, drawing clear to a four-length decision while

completing six furlongs in a respectable in 1:08 4/5. He then traveled to Laurel

Park for the De Francis and dispatched his opponents as

the heavy favorite, finishing six panels in 1:08 3/5. Those victories were

enough for Thor's Echo to easily win championship honors.

Bred by Fast Lane Farms & Block & Forman, Thor's Echo is out of the unraced

Helen of Troy (Mr. Integrity). The five-year-old was recently purchased by Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed al Maktoum and transferred to trainer Satish Seemar in Dubai, where he's being

prepared for another attempt in the Golden Shaheen.

Michael Moran's

MCDYNAMO

(Dynaformer) took home his third Eclipse Award as champion steeplechaser,

following his earlier titles in 2003 and 2005, to become the seventh three-time

steeplechase champion in history.

The Sanna Hendriks-trained bay began the year inauspiciously by leaving the

course and failing to finish the Royal Chase for the Sport of Kings (NSA-G1) at Keeneland,

but he didn't put a foot wrong in his three subsequent starts. Reappearing five

months later in the Somerset Medical Center Hurdle H. (NSA-G2) at Meadowlands,

McDynamo surged to a 6 1/4-length score.

His performance next time out in the 2 5/8-mile Breeders' Cup Steeplechase

(NSA-G1) was simply breathtaking. McDynamo was five lengths in front of his

nearest rival heading into the final turn and easily continued to extend his

margin from that point, eventually crossing the wire a 22-length winner to notch

an unprecedented fourth consecutive victory in the race. At the same time, McDynamo made history

in another sense, surpassing Hall of Famer Lonesome Glory to become the all-time

leading American steeplechaser in career earnings.

McDynamo concluded his nine-year-old season with a determined, one-length win

in the Colonial Cup (NSA-G1) over 2 3/4 miles at Springdale Race Course, his

third title in that event. His archrival for championship honors, 2004 Eclipse

winner Hirapour (Ire) (Kahyasi), finished third.

Bred in Kentucky by Richard Fox, Nathan Fox and Richard Kaster, McDynamo was

sold to Moran for $82,000 at the 1998 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Produced by the unraced Rondonia (Monteverdi [Ire]), he is a full brother to

1995 Generous S. (G3) winner Old Chapel. McDynamo boasts a lifetime steeplechase

mark of 14 wins from 22 races, and he's earned an American steeplechase record

of $1,163,104 in lifetime prize money.

Horseman Todd Pletcher, who topped the year-end standings with a record

$27,640,243 in stable earnings, walked away with his third straight Eclipse

Award for leading trainer. He was represented by champions Fleet Indian and Wait

a While during Monday's ceremonies, and counted English Channel,

Honey Ryder (Lasting Approval), Scat Daddy (Johannesburg), Bluegrass Cat,

Circular Quay and Spun Sugar among his Grade 1 winners last season. Based

primarily in New York, Pletcher maintained divisions in California, Kentucky and

Florida last year. In August, he received the New York Turf Writers

Association's Woody Stephens Award as the outstanding trainer for the fifth time

overall and fourth time in a row.

Saddling 1,170 horses, Pletcher surpassed a pair of 19-year-old marks in 2006

that were established by his mentor, Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas,

winning a total of 100 stakes and 57 graded events. He also ranked second

nationally by wins with 294. Pletcher shattered the previous earnings mark,

which he set in 2005, by more than $6 million. He was the leading trainer for

the fifth consecutive year at Saratoga and captured his third straight title at

Gulfstream Park.

A native of Dallas and the son of veteran trainer J.J. Pletcher, the

39-year-old conditioner grew up around horses and worked as an assistant for

Charlie Whittingham and Henry Moreno while at the University of Arizona.

Following a seven-year stint with Lukas, Pletcher went out on his own at the end

of 1995 and won his first race in 1996.

Edgar Prado, whose 2006 highlights included victories in the Kentucky Derby

and Breeders' Cup Distaff, garnered his first Eclipse Award for leading jockey.

He finished second nationally with $19,765,013 in earnings, winning riding

titles at Saratoga and Belmont's spring/summer meet as well as tying for first

in Belmont's fall meet. Prado was also honored with the 2006 Mike Venezia Award

in September, which rewards "extraordinary sportsmanship and citizenship."

A native of Lima, Peru, Prado also counted Grade 1 winners Cacique (Ire), Silver

Train, Dubai Escapade, Bushfire (Louis Quatorze) and Wonder Lady Anne L (Real

Quiet) among his 2006 mounts, but the 39-year-old rider will always be

associated with Barbaro. After guiding the unbeaten colt to a 6 1/2-length

victory in the Kentucky Derby, the largest winning margin in 60 years, Prado is

credited with helping save Barbaro's life in the Preakness by pulling him up

quickly following a catastrophic injury after the start.

Julien Leparoux, who led the nation with 403 wins from 1,740 starts in 2006,

was named champion apprentice jockey. A native of Chantilly, France, Leparoux

came to the United States in 2003 to work as an exercise rider for fellow

Frenchman Patrick Biancone and became the trainer's first-call rider following

Gary Stevens' retirement at the end of 2005. Leparoux's best mounts included

Eclipse finalists Gorella (Fr) (Grape Tree Road [GB]) and Asi Siempre (El Prado

[Ire]), as well as Happy Ticket, and he

finished eighth nationally by earnings with $12,491,316. He lost his apprentice

"bug" on September 25.

Lael Stables and Darley Stable tied for the Eclipse Award for outstanding

owner, the first tie for this award in Eclipse history. Lael Stables, the nom de

course of Roy and Gretchen Jackson, raced Grade 1

winners and millionaires Barbaro and Showing Up (Strategic Mission) in 2006.

Their care and devotion to Barbaro's recovery is well-documented, and they've

been involved in the Thoroughbred industry for nearly 30 years. Trainers Michael Matz and

Barclay Tagg both condition Lael Stable runners. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid

al Maktoum's Darley Stable topped the North American earnings list in 2006,

grossing more than $6.3 million, and recorded 60 wins from 277 starts.

Bernardini and Dubai Escapade were among the best runners in 2006, and Darley

used Albertrani and Eoin Harty as trainers.

Frank Stronach's Adena Springs won its third straight and fourth overall

Eclipse Award for outstanding breeder. With breeding and stallion operations in

Kentucky, Florida and Ontario, Adena was North America's leading individual

breeder in 2006 with earnings of $13,146,955, the fourth consecutive year that

the operation has topped the list, and bred the winners of 510 races from 3,043

starts.

The year-end championship honors are named after the great 18th century

racehorse and foundation sire Eclipse, who was undefeated in 18 starts.

2006 ECLIPSE AWARD VOTING

The tallies below represent only first-place votes from members of the

consolidated voting entities, NTRA/Equibase, Daily Racing Form and

National Turf Writers Association. For each division, the three horses, or

people, with the most first-place votes are listed.