2006 Breeders' Cup World Championships Day

The $3 million John Deere Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) is the richest grass race in America, a 1 1/2 mile trip around 3 turns of the Matt Winn Turf Course at Churchill Downs. There wasn’t a clear favorite as Europe’s Hurricane Run was the 3-1 choice over 7-2 English Channel from the barn of trainer Todd Pletcher. Pletcher’s "rabbit horse" Icy Atlantic set an honest pace of 47.67 and 1:12.40 while loose on the lead over the firm going, before fading on the far turn to finish last. This allowed Rush Bay to take a short lead at the top of the stretch. English Channel took advantage of his stablemate’s pace and passed Rush Bay inside the 3/16 pole, but 11-1 Red Rocks, who was far back early and wide throughout, closed well to take the lead with a 1/16 to go and hold off the late rally of 19-1 Better Talk Now to win by 1/2 a length in 2:27.32. Hurricane Run was wide throughout and could not close on the fast pace, finishing sixth.

Winning trainer Brian Meehan said, "They went really quick (up front). I was a little concerned down the back (stretch), but once they got to the bottom turn, I thought Frankie had them well covered, and I knew if the horse was right, he would finish." Jockey Frankie Dettori added, "They were going ridiculously fast. I decided to let them fight it out and then come at them. I rode him stone dead out of the back. I knew they had to stop. I took him wide in the straight. He kicked and I felt the other horse on the outside and I had to ride him a bit."
Results chart from DRF