2006 Breeders' Cup World Championships Day

The $2 million Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Distaff features top older fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on the main track. Fourteen made the gate in this event, but when the top two favorites, 5-2 Fleet Indian and 3-1 Pine Island, both failed to finish the race, longshots lit up the tote board. 16-1 Healthy Addiction set a brisk pace of 22.91 and 46.75 while saving ground on the rail around the clubhouse turn. Entering the backstretch, Pine Island broke down and had to be humanely destroyed after the race. 12-1 Pool Land, who had stalked Healthy Addiction, took the lead at the 3/4 mark, but the fast pace set the race up for a closer. 14-1 Round Pond, who was unhurried for the first 5/8 mile, passed horses on the inside on the turn, and drew off late to win by 4 1/4 lengths over late-running 11-1 Asi Siempre, who was 1/2 a length ahead of 15-1 Happy Ticket. The time of the race was 1:50.50. Asi Siempre had interfered with eventual fourth place finisher 9-1 Balletto, so she was disqualified to fourth. Fleet Indian was never in contention and, feeling a mis-step, jockey Jose Santos pulled up her at the quarter pole.

Winning trainer Michael Matz said, "Nobody ever likes to see a horse get hurt. It's very hard to see. I've been in that situation myself. She (Round Pond) went into this race better than any race I've had her. She's a very, very nice filly with a huge heart. She's a real winner and a real champion." Jockey Edgar Prado added, "I got a beautiful trip. I was able to sit in behind the speed. She was a little anxious, especially on the turns, but she settled in nicely and ran very hard to win."
Results chart from DRF