Thor's Echo Pulls Breeders' Sprint Upset

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) Thor's Echo took the lead at the top of the stretch and went on to an upset victory in the $2.1 million Breeders' Cup Sprint on Saturday. <br/><br/>Thor's Echo defeated

Saturday, November 4th 2006, 3:46 pm

By: News On 6

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) Thor's Echo took the lead at the top of the stretch and went on to an upset victory in the $2.1 million Breeders' Cup Sprint on Saturday.

Thor's Echo defeated Friendly Island by 4 lengths. Todd Pletcher, who trains Friendly Island, had a record 17 starters in Saturday's races.

Sent off at 15-1 odds, Thor's Echo paid $33.20 to win. The 4 year-old gelding covered 6 furlongs in 1:08.80.

Henny Hughes, the 8-5 favorite, finished last in the 14 horse field.

â€œI got away actually really good,â€ winning jockey Corey Nakatani said. â€œHenny Hughes didn't get away that well and I was down on the inside and I said, 'This track, as good as my horse is handling it, I was going to get him in the clear without going too wide.â€™â€

It was the second career Breeders' Cup win for trainer Doug O'Neill and the first for owner Royce Jaime, both of whom are based in California.

The victory, worth $1,150,200, increased Thor's Echo's career earnings to $2,192,990, with 4 wins in 17 starts.

Nightmare Affair was 3rd, followed by Bordonaro, Attila's Storm, Too Much Bling, War Front, Siren Lure, Pomeroy, Kelly's Landing, Lewis Michael, Malibu Mint, Areyoutalkintome (O'Neill's other starter) and Henny Hughes.