LAHUDOOD WINS BREEDERS' CUP FILLY & MARE TURF!

Shadwell Stable homebred LAHUDOOD (GB) confirmed the promise of her G1 Flower Bowl Invitational win with her resounding victory in the G1 $2,000,000 Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf going a mile and three-eighths over the soft turf course at Monmouth Park!

The 4-year-old daughter of Singspiel (IRE) was in the middle of a tight group early, but she was able to find a clear path and although eager to go on, she responded to jockey Alan Garcia's steady handling and she settled four lengths off the leaders around the first of the three turns and rated just off the early leaders as the field made its way down the stretch for the first time.

The complection of the races change around the clubhouse turn, when the leader bolts and carried the other on the pace out with her. LAHUDOOD went from being covered up to a length off the lead with six furlongs left to run. She inched ever closer down the backstretch and she took the lead going into the final turn. She opened up at the top of the stretch and kept on finding more, holding off the closing charge of Honey Ryder and Passage of Time to win by three-quarters of a length.

LAHUDOOD is trained by Kiaran McLaughlin. She has won or placed in ten of her twelve career starts and she has earned $1,695,370.

AL BASHA RALLIES FROM LAST TO FIRST IN MOHAWK H.
Courtesy of NYRA -- by Jenny Kellner

As more than two inches of rain was dousing Belmont Park Friday afternoon and evening, Angel Penna, Jr. was certain the New York Showcase turf races would be moved to the main track. But when he walked the course Saturday morning, the trainer was pleasantly surprised.

“It was not bad,” said Penna. “Not bad at all.”

And although the Penna-trained AL BASHA had only competed on firm ground, the “not bad” (officially: soft) going proved to be no obstacle for the 3-year-old son of ALJABR, who rallied from last to win the 29th running of the $150,000 Mohawk Handicap for New York-breds by a half-length over Spurred.

“I was betting my life that the race would have come off the turf yesterday,” said Penna, who trains AL BASHA for Bembridge Farms. “This is a very good horse.”

Outrun early as Red Zipper towed the field of nine through moderate fractions of 25.95, 51.81 and 1:17:43, AL BASHA made a four wide move on the turn and then took off through the stretch, hitting the wire in 1:53.73 for the mile and an eighth.

“I was trying to follow the 10-horse [Spurred] because it looked like he had a lot of horse,” said winning jockey Rafael Bejarano. “The pace was slow, but my horse was pretty comfortable. He really kicked on strongly and I think he will be even better next year. This might make up for his tough loss last time out.”

The victory was the fourth in nine races for AL BASHA, who in his previous start was a very close second to Dave in his first stakes, the Ashley T. Cole Handicap for state-breds. A nose and a neck away from five straight wins, he returned $15.60 for a $2 win bet and earned $90,000.

“He doesn’t get the respect he deserves,” said Penna, who said he was surprised at the 6-1 odds. “The longer he goes, the better he is. I think he will be much better at a mile and a quarter. I’ll probably give him a little break and bring him back in Florida.”

Gimme Credit was another length and three-quarters back in third and was followed under the wire by Red Zipper, Dave, Banrock, Bestowed, Pa Pa Da, and favored Juror. Pays to Dream was scratched.

UNDEFEATED ALJABR COLT DOMINATES OLDER HORSES IN GROUP THREE!

AL KADIR, the 3-year-old son of ALJABR, remained unbeaten with his dominant victory over older horses in the Group 3, Clásico Asociación de Propietarios de Caballos de Carrera del Perú going 2,200 meters (approximately a mile and three-eighths) over the main dirt track at Hipódromo de Monterrico in Peru.

AL KADIR was favored to take his record to six-for-six and he did not disappoint. Proving to be at or near the top of the handicap division, he was nearly seven lengths clear of the second place finisher, the top mare in the country Sza Sza Gabor (PER) and more than eighteen lengths back to the third place finisher.

AL KADIR races for Stud Soribel and he is trained by Alfonso Arias. Bred in Kentucky by Stonerside Stables, he is out of the Strodes Creek mare, Goodas I Look.

DAAHER STAMPS HIS TICKET TO MONMOUTH WITH JEROME SCORE!
Courtesy of NYRA -- By Francis LaBelle Jr.

When trainer Kiaran McLaughlin put blinkers on Shadwell Stable’s DAAHER at Saratoga last month, he was rewarded with a dominating performance that lead him to believe the best was still ahead for the son of Awesome Again.

The good times started rolling on Sunday afternoon at Belmont Park when DAAHER became a graded-stakes winner by posting a 2 ¼-length victory in one of the older and more respected tests for three-year-olds, the 138th running of the Grade 2, $160,100 Jerome Handicap at a mile.

He returned $8.30 to the $2 win players among the crowd of 5,477.

In improving his career record to 3-0-1 from six starts, DAAHER was able to sit off Digger’s strong early pace, go by him approaching the quarter-pole and comfortably holding off Forefathers for the win in 1:34.28 on the fast main track.

Digger, carrying 114 pounds and jockey Eddie Castro, broke from the rail in this one-turn event and set an impossible early pace of :22.36,:44.52 and 1:08.35, while DAAHER broke with jockey Mike Luzzi from post 7 in the eight-horse field and was content to target the front-runner before putting in a professional finish.

“(Shadwell Manager) Rick Nichols is in England with the `boss’ (Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum), and they couldn’t see the race, so they asked me to call the race for them,” said winning trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. “I told them he was going easy, even though they were going fast. I told them :22 and :44 is fast, but he took the lead when everyone else was off the bridle. He’s a fast horse. Mike (Luzzi) felt like he had something left at the finish. The blinkers have made all the difference in the world.”

According to McLaughlin, DAAHER will likely make his next start at Monmouth Park in either the inaugural $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on Friday, October 26, or the undercard of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships in the Grade 3, $250,000 Pegasus for three-year-olds at nine furlongs on Saturday, October 27.

Luzzi can’t wait.

“He can do it,” Luzzi said. “He did it at Saratoga. I don’t want to call it `rating,’ but he wasn’t running off with me. He finishes, too, it’s not like he just beats everybody to it. I told Kiaran (McLaughlin) that there is still more there. If someone came to him, I still think he would fight them off. He just loves the game. He loves the running.”

Forefathers made an even rally, but never threatened the winner. Owners Manual was third, followed by favored Most Distinguished, Stunt Man, Digger, Chief’s Lake and Vitruvius.

PURIM WINS G1 SHADWELL TURF MILE!

Purim got up in time to edged Cosmonaut at the wire in an exciting edition of the $648,000, Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland!
 
Purim tracked the moderate pace to T. D. Vance through splits of :23.64, :47.21 and three-quarters in 1:11.49. He made a five wide move into the stretch and closed the gap with every stride. Cosmonaut would not go down to defeat without a fight, but Purim would not be denied. Unleashing a sub twelve second final furlong, Purim gained the advantage late to win by a neck in a final time of 1:35.56. Shadwell Stable's Shakis finished third.

The victory was the first win in a Grade 1 for winning rider, Jamie Theriot.

 “At the eighth pole, I still had plenty of horse and I thought I had a chance if I could just get to the leader (Cosmonaut),” Theriot said.  “But as soon as I got to him, he dug in.  But at the sixteenth pole, he (Purim) pulled clear.”

Purim, a son of Dynaformer has earned $372,000 for owner/breeder E.J. Sukley and he is trained by Tom Proctor. The 5-year-old horse now has won nine of 21 starts and earned $923,003.

Purim earned an automatic berth in the Breeders’ Cup World Championships on October 27 at Monmouth Park as the Shadwell Turf Mile is is part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” series.
 
Proctor said that Purim is eligible to the Breeders’ Cup but “I am not one of those guys to run just to run.”

SHADEWELL TURF MILE DRAWS A FIELD OF NINE!

A field of nine has been entered for the Grade 1, $600,000 Shadwell Turf Mile on Saturday at Keeneland.

The field, in post-position order, with jockey, weight, and trainer:

1. T. D. Vance, Ramon Dominguez, 126, Graham Motion;
2. Art Master, Rafael Bejarano, 126, Bobby Frankel;
3. Purim, Jamie Theriot, 126, Thomas Proctor;
4. Astronomer Royal, John Velazquez, 123, Aidan O'Brien;
5. Independent George, Corey Nakatani, 126, Graham Motion;
6. Istan, Robby Albarado, 126, Bill Mott;
7. Cosmonaut, Julien Leparoux, 126, Patrick Biancone;
8. Spotsgone, Earlie Fires, 126, William Fires; 
9. Shakis (IRE), Alan Garcia, 126, Kiaran McLaughlin.

SHADWELL TURF MILE SET FOR OCTOBER 6th!

For the ninth consecutive season, Shadwell is proud to sponsor the Grade 1, $600,000 Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland The race will be held on Saturday, October 6 and it  is one of the major features of opening weekend of Keeneland's prestigious fall meeting as well as being a major prep for the Breeders' Cup Mile. The eight-furlong event is open to 3-year-olds and up.

The Shadwell Turf Mile-G1 is part of the inaugural Breeders' Cup Challenge entitled "Win and You're In." The winner will automatically be assured a berth in the Breeders' Cup Mile-G1 on World Thoroughbred Championship day, set for Oct. 27 at Monmouth Park.

LAHUDOOD SETS STAKES RECORD IN G1 FLOWER BOWL!
Courtesy of NYRA.com

Shadwell Stable’s LAHUDOOD got through on the rail in midstretch to overtake front-running Rosinka and give jockey Alan Garcia his first Grade 1 victory Saturday afternoon in the 30th running of the $600,000 Flower Bowl Invitational for fillies and mares at a mile and a quarter on Belmont Park’s firm inner turf course.

Stablemate Makderah, who won the Grade 2 New York here in June, was among the original 14 invitees to this important autumn race, but was sidelined with a cracked pastern. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin had sought to run LAHUDOOD in an allowance race, but was overruled by Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who now may be eyeing the $2 million Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Monmouth Park on October 27 for LAHUDOOD.

“Sheikh Hamdan kept telling me that this was the better one,” McLaughlin said. “On her European form, (LAHUDOOD) was the better one. This was the first time everything went perfect. She wants to be covered up and make a run on firm ground. Rick Nichols (Shadwell manager) told me that the boss didn’t send her over here to be an allowance horse. Alan (Garcia) gave her a great ride today. I don’t know if she is Breeders’ Cup nominated, but it wouldn’t be a problem if we had to supplement her.”

For Garcia, the victory was especially rewarding as he kept his cool and his patience.

Rosinka, an Irish-bred who brought a four-race winning streak into the Flower Bowl, grabbed the lead from the outset under jockey Jeremy Rose and settled into a reasonable early pace of :24.76, :49.13 and 1:12.74. Favored Wait a While, under jockey Garrett Gomez, raced outside to the pacesetter and seemed ready to pounce at any time.

Garcia, however, stayed close to the pace and on the rail, which was out 18 feet. When the hole opened on the rail, he shot his mount through for a three-quarter-length victory in 1:59.05. The winning time eclipsed the previous stakes record of 1:59.33 set by Auntie Mame in 1998.

“I was down inside,” Garcia said. “I was watching the favorite (Wait a While) the whole time. I knew Garrett had some horse. Around the turn, I just tried to be patient. In the stretch, there was some room to go inside, so I sent her through. She really responded. She ran so good.”

STUD FEES SET FOR INVASOR AND JAZIL

The 2008 stud fees for reigning Horse of the Year INVASOR (ARG) and the recently retired Classic winner JAZIL have be set.

INVASOR, winner of eleven of twelves lifetime starts, six consecutive Grade 1 races including the Breeders' Cup Classic and the Dubai World Cup, will stand for a fee of $35,000.

JAZIL, hero of the GI Belmont S. in 2006, will stand for a fee of $12,500. The 4-year-old is a half-brother to this year's Belmont S. winner Rags to Riches.  

CLASSIC WINNER JAZIL RETIRED TO SHADWELL

JAZIL, winner of the 2006 Belmont Stakes (G1), has been retired and will stand the 2008 breeding season at Shadwell Farm in Lexington.

A half brother to 2007 Belmont Stakes winner Rags to Riches, JAZIL is a son of Seeking the Gold out of Grade 2 winner Better Than Honour, by Deputy Minister. JAZIL's multiple Grade 1-winning second dam, Blush With Pride, has also produced two group stakes winner as well as Grade 1-placed winner Maryinsky (Ire), dam of Irish and English classic winner Peeping Fawn.

JAZIL became a player on the 2006 Triple Crown trail with a runnerup finish in the Wood Memorial Stakes (G1) at Aqueduct for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. Following a fourth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1), JAZIL scored his most important career win in the Belmont Stakes.

JAZIL rallied from last in the 12-horse field with a sweeping six-wide move and drew clear to a 1 1/4-length score in the Belmont.

"It's right there at the top of the list," McLaughlin said after the Belmont about where the win ranked among his career highlights.

"Sheikh Hamdan is just a great friend and like a father figure, and Shadwell has been by far my biggest supporter for 13 years, so it's great to win your first American classic for people that you care about."

JAZIL won or placed in seven of his eleven career starts and he earned $890,532. He placed twice this season before being sidelined after the Fifth Third Elkhorn Stakes (G3) at Keeneland.

"After discussion with Sheikh Hamdan, we felt it in the best interest of the horse to retire him, not risking further injuries," said Rick Nichols, vice president and general manager of Shadwell.

A stud fee will be announced at a later date.

DAAHER ROMPS IN SARATOGA ALLOWANCE!

Shadwell Stable's DAAHER put on an eye-catching, wire-to-wire performance in the 4th race at Saratoga, a $68,000 allowance going a mile and one-eighth over the fast main track at Saratoga.

DAAHER galloped strongly away from the gate and had a two and one-half length lead after the opening quarter of :23. He was up on the filed by five after a half-mile in :46 3/5. Passing six furlongs with an additonal length added to his lead, caller Tom Durkin described his performance thus far as "ambitious."

He hadn't seen anything yet. DAAHER kept rolling and by midstretch his lead was a dozen. He crossed the wire unchallenged and fourteen lengths best in a final time of 1:49 2/5.

DAAHER was bred in Ontario by Yvonne Schwabe and Dagmar Schwabe. He is a full brother to multiple G1 winner, Spun Sugar.

SHAKIS SETS NEW COURSE RECORD IN BERNARD BARUCH!

Shadwell Stable's SHAKIS (IRE) unleashed a dazzling turn of foot that carried him to a record setting victory in the Grade II, $200,000 Bernard Baruch Handicap going a grassy mile and one-eighth at Saratoga Race Course.

SHAKIS broke from the inside post and was given a ground saving ride by jockey Alan Garcia. Midpack until the top of the stretch, he was full of run and dashed through when a hole opened along the hedge. His instant acceleration was a sight to behold. He blew past the leaders and outran the other closers to the wire, winning by three-quarters of a length. His final time of 1:45.33 took down the old course record of 1:45.40, set twenty-four seasons ago by Tentam and later tied by Waya four years later.

“They went faster than I thought they would,” said winning trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. “There was a lot of pace. I don’t think the pace was as big a deal as the trip. He’s a real professional seven-year-old. He has done everything right in the past. I was happy he was willing, and he had plenty to get through the inside. We’ll keep him at eight or nine furlongs.”

The son of Machiavellian is a Shadwell homebred. He is out of the winning Nashwan mare, Tawaaded (IRE).

TAJDEEF, the 2-year-old son of ALJABR, opened his career with dazzling victory in the 1:10 at Newbury, a six furlong maiden over the good to firm going that is a benchmark race for juveniles every season.

TAJDEEF raced close up for the first four furlongs. The strongly made colt moved to the lead a furlong and a half from home and exploded with a closing kick that carried him to an impressive five length score.

"He's been doing everything right at home and has a nice temperament," said winning trainer Barry Hills told the Racing Post. "He's certainly above average and it was a good time. We'll see how he is when we get him home but I would look to go seven furlongs next time. He could go down the Acomb/Champagne Stakes route or alternatively head for either the Mill Reef or the Middle Park."

TAJDEEF is a Shadwell homebred. He is out of the graded stakes-placed Mujtahid mare, Tabheej (IRE).

TWO-TIME HORSE OF THE YEAR INVASOR RETIRED

In his last major work in preparation for next Saturday’s Grade 1 Suburban H., Shadwell Stable’s reigning Horse-of-the-Year INVASOR suffered a career-ending injury to his right hind ankle and has been retired from racing. Rick Nichols, vice president and general manager of Shadwell Farm reported that the work went very well, and the injury was not readily apparent until the horse was back at the barn, cooling out after the workout. Xrays revealed a fracture to the top of the sesamoid, a bone in the ankle and an area he had previously injured as a young horse Although at this point surgery does not seem to be indicated, Nichols said that the connections elected to retire their world champion from racing. Nichols continued, “he’s done everything we’ve ever asked of him. This is a huge disappointment for all of us as well as for the racing world.”

In 12 starts, INVASOR, posted 11 wins, including six consecutive Grade 1 victories, earning over $7.8 million. A5-year-old son of Candy Stripes, INVASOR won the 2005 Triple Crown in Uruguay and was named Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old male in that country. After being privately purchased by Shadwell in 2006, INVASOR dominated the North American racing world with victories in the Whitney H.-G1, Pimlico Special-G1, and Suburban H.-G1. His championship season culminated with a thrilling victory in the $5,000,000 Breeders’ Cup Classic-G1 at Churchill Downs in November and was voted the Eclipse Awards as Horse of the Year and Champion Older Male.

His 2007 campaign started with a two-length win in the Donn H.-G1 under a hand ride. The champion’s major objective was the world’s richest race, the $6,000,000 Dubai World Cup-G1. On this world stage, INVASOR wore down his rivals to win by nearly two lengths, posting his sixth consecutive Grade 1 victory. INVASOR will stand at Shadwell Farm in Lexington, Kentucky in 2008.

SHADWELL TURF MILE-G1 SCHEDULED FOR KEENELAND

Keeneland Race Course recently announced the storied track's fall schedule, highlighted by FallStars weekend from Oct. 5-7. Four G1 races will be run over that weekend, traditionally featuring some of the most prestigious Breeders' Cup preps in the country. Richest on the weekend, and in fact for the entire fall meet, is the Shadwell Turf Mile-G1, worth $600,000 to 3-year-olds and up. The G1 event will be run on Saturday, Oct. 6. ESPN and ESPN2 will provide television coverage.

The Shadwell Turf Mile-G1 is part of the inaugural Breeders' Cup Challenge entitled "Win and You're In." The winner will automatically be assured a berth in the Breeders' Cup Mile-G1 on World Thoroughbred Championship day, set for Oct. 27 at Monmouth Park.

Turning in his first recorded workout since annexing the Mar. 31 G1 Dubai World Cup, Shadwell Farm’s Invasor (Arg) (Candy Stripes) breezed an easy half-mile yesterday over Belmont Park’s main track in :50.84. America’s reigning Horse of the Year is scheduled to return to racing in Belmont’s GI Suburban H. June 30. “We’re very happy to get him back on the work tab,” said trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. “He doesn’t require a lot of work, but we do need to get him going again. Everything’s going great and he’s good to go. He’ll have several more works, but not every week because he doesn’t need it.” McLaughlin said that colt rebounded from his trip to Dubai with few problems. “He travels really well, but he did lose a little weight coming back from Dubai,” the conditioner said. “He was just a little dehydrated. [But] he quickly came back around and put the weight back on.”

McLaughlin was asked about another Shadwell star in his stable, last year’s GI Belmont S. hero Jazil (Seeking the Gold). McLaughlin said the June 16 GI Stephen Foster H. at Churchill was the short-term target for Jazil, who recently disappointed when last of 12 in Keeneland’s Apr. 27 GIII Elkhorn S. in his grass debut. “He’s definitely going back to the dirt,” he said. “We’ll look at the Foster because I want to keep him and Invasor apart. I wouldn’t mind running in an allowance race before that.”

DAYJUR REGISTERS CAREER WINNER #250

DAYJUR notched the milestone 250th winner of his sire career when sophomore filly DAY ROMANCE (04 f, o/o Star of Romance, by What a Romance) captured a maiden contest at Fairmount Park. Going five furlongs on the dirt, she broke on top and set all the pace en route to a one length victory as the favorite. Bred in Kentucky by David Lopez Jr., DAY ROMANCE campaigns in the colors of Beulah and Donald Irvin. She is trained by John Brandenburg.

In addition to 250 individual winners, DAYJUR has 27 stakes winners (half of which are group or graded winners) and a total of 55 stakes horses.

INVASOR TRIUMPHS IN $6 MILLION DUBAI WORLD CUP-G1

Horse of the Year INVASOR (ARG) entered the $6 million Dubai World Cup-G1 as the impressive winner of five straight G1 events in the U.S. The Shadwell Stable colorbearer will come home with the one of the world's most prestigious, and certainly the richest, races under his belt as well.

"The duel in the desert" was billed as a match-up between INVASOR and the only horse to ever defeat him, Discreet Cat. But in the end, INVASOR more than avenged his only loss and found a new adversary at Nad al Sheba instead.

He raced much closer to the pace than usual and it almost appeared to be a match race down the stretch between INVASOR and the horse that finished third behind him in last year's Breeders' Cup Classic-G1, Premium Tap. In the last furlong, INVASOR relentlessly wore down his challenger and drew clear to finish 1 3/4 lengths the best, with the third-place finisher another eight lengths back.

"I had a lot of horse, but I could see that Premium Tap was moving so easily, that I had to take the race to him a little earlier than I planned," said regular rider, 19-year-old Fernando Jara.

INVASOR, who has now won 11 of his 12 career starts, got the 1 1/4 mile distance in 1:59 4/5, the second fastest in the history of the race behind only Dubai Millennium's 1:59 2/5. The Argentinean-bred earned $3.6 million from the win which boosted his career earnings to $7,804,070, fourth-best in racing history.

"What a horse!" exclaimed trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. "Tonight was a great year, not just a great night. Sheikh Hamdan is a great owner and person, and to win this for him after working for him here (in Dubai) for ten years... to bring him this, means so much to me. I always knew this horse was special and that was a very good, brave effort."

INVASOR will soon return to the U.S. McLaughlin said his next goal might be the Suburban-G1 on June 30 at Belmont, a race he won last year en route to championship honors.

INVASOR DRAWS OUTSIDE POST FOR DUBAI WORLD CUP

The world's richest race, the $6 million Dubai World Cup-G1, will be run on Saturday, March 31, and Shadwell Stable's INVASOR (ARG) drew the outside post of seven at today's post position draw. Regular rider Fernando Jara will be aboard.

Nad al Sheba's 1 1/4 mile event, a sparkling jewel among the world's most elite races, is being billed as a sensational matchup of INVASOR, the reigning American Horse of the Year, against Discreet Cat, the unbeaten wonder based in Dubai. Discreet Cat is the only horse to have beaten INVASOR, a victory earned in the UAE Derby-G2 on last year's World Cup undercard. Since that race, INVASOR went on to win five straight G1 events, including the Breeders' Cup Classic-G1 and this year's Donn H.-G1.

"It’s a good position for us, it's outside, and hopefully out of trouble," said trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. "We're happy there are only seven in there. We would have liked to have had more in there to have a faster pace ­- but then we've only got six to beat."

Invasor 'Once in a Lifetime' Horse, Says McLaughlin

(from Dubai World Cup report)
Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin has tightened a girth around a lot of good horses, from the time he was an assistant to D. Wayne Lukas and worked with 1986 American Horse of the Year Lady’s Secret and two-time champion Open Mind through the years he was leading trainer in the UAE three times.

Yet he has never seen one quite like his Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) favorite Invasor. One of the reasons why is the son of Candy Stripes has an amazing lung capacity and rarely seems to have to take many deep breaths – even in the toughest competitions.

“He’s very unusual in that he never blows at all,” McLaughlin said on Tuesday. “He can go a mile and a quarter in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) and he’s cooled out in five minutes. That’s one thing that makes him very special.

“I tell my brother (assistant trainer) Neal and (sister-in-law and assistant trainer) Trish that we’ve got to soak this up every day as much as we can because this horse is once in a lifetime.”

Barry Downes, an exercise rider who works for McLaughlin and who has ridden Invasor prior to major triumphs in America, echoed the trainer’s assessment.

“He’s just real special,” Downes said of the 2006 American Horse of the Year. “It’s a pleasure to ride him.”

However, the Argentine-bred Invasor can be a bit of a challenge because, like many horses bred and raced in South America, he tends to gallop with his head held high and sometimes turned to the side. Additionally, he’s always thinking about how to keep Downes on his toes.

“He’s very smart—he’s really too smart at times. He tries to get away with things,” Downes said, smiling at the kind of memories that only he and fellow exercise rider Danny Wright possess. And occasionally, “if you’re not paying attention, he might just bite you.”

Since he has come to know the horse so well from his perch in the saddle, Downes has been in a unique position to observe Invasor’s development from a gangly colt to a muscular Adonis of a Thoroughbred. At the same time, he has felt a change in Invasor’s attitude.

“As last year went on, he started getting his confidence up and he started to show off,” Downes related. “He knows what he’s done. He knows he’s good.”

SAHM DIES AFTER LONG ILLNESS

Shadwell sire SAHM, a record-setting graded stakes winner by Mr. Prospector and out of a champion racemare, died this morning after a long illness. The sire of 2007 3-year-old stakes winner Irish Dreamer, 2006 multiple graded stakes winner Mustameet, and nine other stakes horses from just four crops to race, SAHM suffered from an illness invading his intestinal tract. The popular 13-year-old stallion will be greatly missed.

BELMONT-G1 WINNER JAZIL SECOND AT GULFSTREAM

Classic winner and Shadwell Stable runner JAZIL finished a good second behind Corinthian in an allowance race today at Gulfstream Park. The now 4-year-old was making just his second start since a stirring victory in the Belmont S.-G1 at 1 1/2 miles last June. The Gulfstream allowance was contested at just 1 1/8 miles.

As is his trademark running style, JAZIL took his time early near the back of the field, then unleashed a powerful rally. He split horses on the far turn while making his patented move, but couldn't quite catch the winner on the day. JAZIL was the morning-line favorite at 4-5 under regular rider Fernando Jara.

"We were second best today," said trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. "We ran into a buzzsaw. I think we found ourselves closer to the front because the pace was so slow, but there wasn't much we could do."

JAZIL ENTERED THURSDAY AT GULFSTREAM

The eagerly-anticipated return of Belmont S.-G1 winner JAZIL will continue when he makes his second start of the year on Thursday at Gulfstream Park. He is entered in a contentious allowance at 1 1/8 miles and breaks from the seventh position in a field of eight.

The Shadwell Stable colorbearer made his first start since his classic victory in early January at Aqueduct, finishing a strong second. JAZIL's trainer, Kiaran McLaughlin, has said the Gulfstream Park H.-G2 on March 3 is the main target of early spring for the Seeking the Gold colt.

HORSE OF THE YEAR INVASOR WINS DONN-G1 DRAMATICALLY

Shadwell Stable runner and reigning Horse of the Year INVASOR (ARG) made a dramatic and awe-inspiring return to the races, overcoming major trouble at the top of the stretch to win the $500,000 Donn H.-G1 at Gulfstream Park in compelling fashion.

INVASOR broke well from the rail in the 1 1/8 mile G1 event and settled kindly at the back of the field under regular rider Fernando Jara. He rated patiently, finally slipping through a hole on the rail on the turn, before finding himself what appeared to be hopelessly boxed in behind a wall of horses. With no warning, he suddenly clipped heels and had to check hard. Most horses would call it a day at that point, but INVASOR battled on. He somehow extricated himself from the wall of horses in front of him, powering through and finding another gear. The Champion Older Horse of 2006 absolutely overwhelmed the field before gearing it down by the time he hit the wire. Under highweight of 123 pounds, INVASOR won the G1 Donn by two lengths as the prohibitive favorite.

"And how good is INVASOR?," exclaimed Gulfstream's track announcer Larry Collmus in his call. "He was stopped and he wins the Donn in hand! A triumphant return for INVASOR!"

With the victory, INVASOR, trained by Kiaran McLauglin, won his fifth consecutive G1 stakes in the U.S. He boosted his earnings to over the $4 million mark and his resume to 10 wins from 11 starts. The Argentinean-bred son of Candy Stripes is scheduled to leave Florida in mid-March for the $6 million Dubai World Cup-G1.

INVASOR's scintillating return was a hot topic throughout the industry, with superlatives flowing.

"In a performance more than worthy of his status as the reigning Horse of the Year, INVASOR overcame a near-disastrous trip to register a heart-stopping two-length victory," wrote Daily Racing Form.

INVASOR RETURNS SATURDAY IN DONN-G1

Freshly-minted Horse of the Year INVASOR (ARG) will make his 2007 debut in the Feb. 3 Donn H.-G1 at Gulfstream Park. The $500,000 race, a G1 in its own right, is historically an early-season target for top horses with major spring goals in mind. Like former Horse of the Year Cigar over a decade ago, INVASOR is aiming for the Dubai World Cup-G1 in late March.

The Shadwell Stable champion will carry top weight of 123 pounds in the Donn, and with four straight G1 victories plus a Horse of the Year title fresh in everyone's mind, he is the 6-to-5 morning line favorite.

"It's a handicap and he's carrying 123 pounds, and that's always a concern, but you can't argue the weight when you've got the Horse of the Year," trainer Kiaran McLauglin said. "If he gets beat by a lightweight, so be it. Our main goal right now is Dubai."

INVASOR will take on eight rivals in the Gulfstream feature and will break from post one. He gives between five and 13 pounds to each horse in the field. Regular rider Fernando Jara will be aboard in the 1 1/8-mile Donn, which is scheduled to go off at 5:23pm as the ninth race. This is INVASOR's first start since his Breeders' Cup Classic-G1 victory approximately 90 days ago.

At the 36th Annual Eclipse Awards in Beverly Hills, America's championship night, the horse taking home the coveted golden Eclipse as the 2006 Horse of the Year was Shadwell Stable's INVASOR (ARG). He also won an Eclipse statuette as the Champion Older Male.

Shadwell's Rick Nichols, vice president and general manager, accepted both awards. These were the first Eclipses for Shadwell and they came with a horse undefeated in the U.S. INVASOR was also champion in Uruguay last year and has won four straight G1 races, including the Breeders' Cup Classic-G1, on U.S. soil. INVASOR was a decisive winner for Horse of the Year, capturing 228 of the possible 271 votes.

In his acceptance speeches, Nichols thanked the teams surrounding the champion. He closed the Champion Older Male speech by saying, "Most importantly, INVASOR, thank you for a great year."

And, he closed the Horse of the Year acceptance speech with the words, "All of us at Shadwell will never forget this night or this year."

Nichols and trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said INVASOR is currently on a van to Florida, where he is scheduled to make his 2007 debut in the Donn H.-G1 at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 3. His main goal for the spring is the Dubai World Cup-G1 in late March.

Immediately after the awards ceremony, The Blood-Horse had a lovely write-up about racing's newest Horse of the Year on its site. It highlighted what a special horse INVASOR is, saying in part, "By winning the Breeders' Cup Classic - Powered by Dodge (gr. I), INVASOR inscribed his name, and the names of his trainer, owner, and jockey, in the history books.

"He became the first horse in the history of the Breeders' Cup to win the Classic off a layoff of as long as 13 weeks, the only horse ever to win the Classic coming off three consecutive grade I victories at three different distances (at three different racetracks), and the only champion bred and raced in another country to win the Classic.

"In winning the Classic, he defeated the winners of 21 grade I stakes, including three classic winners and two Travers winners. And he proved himself to be the most versatile Classic winner ever by winning at distances from 5 1/2 furlongs to 1 9/16 miles.

"Shadwell became the first owner ever to win a classic (the Belmont Stakes, gr. I, with Jazil) and the Breeders' Cup Classic in the same year with two different horses."

INVASOR RATED TOP IN THE WORLD

A week before North America's Eclipse Awards, the World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings for 2006 were unveiled with Shadwell Stables' INVASOR topping the Northern Hemisphere section. INVASOR was given the highest ranking of the year at 129 pounds.

The ratings are given by a panel of official international handicappers to horses who campaigned during the calendar year of 2006, drawn from all countries racing in the Northern Hemisphere season. INVASOR was rated above such international stars as Japan's Deep Impact, France's Hurricane Run, Dubai World Cup winner Electrocutionist, and worldwide superstar Ouija Board. U.S.-campaigned Bernardini, Discreet Cat, and Barbaro also were ranked below INVASOR.

British Horseracing Board head handicapper Nigel Gray had the following to say to The Blood-Horse's Mark Popham, "INVASOR has an unblemished record in North America, winning four G1s, the Pimlico Special, the Suburban, the Whitney, and then topping it off with his best performance so far in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Churchill Downs. It is great news that he is carrying on in 2007 and we are looking forward to seeing if he can maintain the progress he has made so far."

JAZIL STRONG SECOND IN RETURN

Belmont-G1 winner JAZIL made his return to competition in a second-level allowance at Aqueduct after time off since his classic win in June for a bruised cannon bone. He closed strongly from the back of the field in the 1 1/16 mile allowance and went four wide into the stretch. The Shadwell Stable runner rallied well but was unable to catch the frontrunner on the historically speed-favoring inner track. He settled for the runner-up position in a strong effort.

We anticipated this a little bit," said trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. "He needed the run--it's been six months. He was running at the end; I'm happy enough. That's tough on these turns to make up that kind of ground. We'll look for bigger and better things, and we have all year to go. The Gulfstream Park H.-G2 (on March 3) will probably be next."

SHADWELL, INVASOR, MCLAUGHLIN AMONG ECLIPSE NOMINEES

Three finalists in each category for racing's Eclipse Awards, the highest honor bestowed in North American Thoroughbred racing, were announced yesterday with Shadwell, INVASOR (ARG), and Kiaran McLaughlin among the nominees. Shadwell Stable is one of the finalists for leading owner, with the year highlighted by the exploits of INVASOR and JAZIL.

INVASOR is a finalist in the contentious Older Male category. Steve Haskin of The Blood-Horse wrote, "INVASOR's victory over Bernardini in the Breeders' Cup Classic Powered by Dodge (gr. I) makes him the favorite in the Older Male division, as well as Horse of Year. His victory in the Classic capped a four-race winning streak in which the Argentine-bred also captured the grade I Pimlico Special, Suburban Handicap, and Whitney Handicap."

And finally, Kiaran McLaughlin, the conditioner of both INVASOR and JAZIL, is a finalist in the Trainer division. Haskin pointed out that McLaughlin is only the second trainer in history to win the Breeders' Cup Classic and a classic (Belmont Stakes) in the same year with different horses, a feat he accomplished with INVASOR and JAZIL.

SHADWELL STARS LEAVE FLORIDA FOR NEW YORK

Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin has shipped his stable stars, Shadwell's Breeders' Cup Classic-G1 winner INVASOR (ARG) and Belmont-G1 winner JAZIL, from Palm Meadows in Florida to Belmont Park in New York due to a recent rash of equine herpesvirus in Florida. With an eye on the $6 million Dubai World Cup-G1 in March, McLaughlin and Shadwell general manager Rick Nichols wanted to protect both horses from any possible travel restrictions placed on Florida due to the outbreak.

In related news, JAZIL is entered on Friday, January 5 for his first start since his classic win. He is entered at Aqueduct in a $48,000 second-level allowance at 1 1/16 miles after being sidelined with a bruised hind cannon bone.

"We wanted to get him started," said McLaughlin. "He's doing very well, but I don't know if he has to win. If he runs well, we'll be happy...The only thing that worries me is that the inner track can be speed favoring. But at least he's won over it already."

JAZIL has once previously raced over Aqueduct's inner track, resulting in his maiden victory.