LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Bring on Lava Man, Invasor and the rest of the world's best horses — Bernardini has been waiting for the chance to prove he surely is racing's undisputed champion.
Today's $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic, scheduled to go off at 3:20 p.m., will provide the brilliant 3-year-old colt with just that opportunity.
"If he were to win, he would certainly get national attention and be voted Horse of the Year," trainer Tom Albertrani said Friday morning outside his barn at Churchill Downs. "I definitely think he'll go down in the history books as one of the all-time greats.
"Let's hope he has one more good day. Hopefully, he'll come through one more time."
Bernardini has rolled to six straight victories by a combined 40 lengths, including the Preakness, the Travers and the Jockey Club Gold Cup. He has won with such ease, he is already being compared to some of racing's greats.
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"Those are like Secretariat-type videos when you watch him run, just pulling away from the rest," Lava Man's trainer, Doug O'Neill, said.
Nick Zito has mentioned Bernardini in the same breath with Secretariat, Seattle Slew and Spectacular Bid. The Hall of Fame trainer was so impressed after Bernardini's 6 3/4-length win in the Gold Cup, he almost started applauding.
But it will be the 1 1/4-mile Classic that defines Bernardini's career.
The highlight of the eight-race, $20 million Breeders' Cup World Championships, the Classic field of 13 includes West Coast whiz Lava Man, the nearly perfect Invasor, a pair of European stars in George Washington and David Junior and even 2005 Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo.
Bernardini has never faced stiffer competition.
"This is going to be the most difficult task for him," Albertrani said. "But I still believe they are going to have to step up to beat him."
Bernardini, owned by Dubai crown prince Sheik Mohammed's Darley Stable, is the even-money favorite, with Invasor at 5-1 and Lava Man at 6-1.
Invasor has won 8 of 9 races but will be making his first start since winning the Whitney two months ago.
Bernardini, with Javier Castellano aboard, leaves from the No. 3 post position. Invasor, ridden by Fernando Jara, drew the No. 11 post, and Lava Man and jockey Corey Nakatani will leave from the No. 8 post.
UA graduate Todd Pletcher has a record 17 starters in seven races, with high hopes of improving on his 2-for-24 Breeders' Cup record. The nation's leading trainer has two morning-line favorites, Circular Quay in the $2 million Juvenile and Fleet Indian in the $2 million Distaff. He also has three other choices in Scat Daddy (Juvenile), Wait a While ($2 million Filly & Mare Turf) and English Channel ($3 million Turf). He also has Flower Alley and Lawyer Ron in the Classic.
Today
● What: Breeders' Cup
● Where: Louisville, Ky.
● When: 10 a.m.
● TV: ESPN
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