LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Invasor swept past Bernardini in the stretch of the Breeders' Cup Classic, and all but swiped Horse of the Year honors from his heavily favored rival.

Invasor's one-length victory in Saturday's $5 million race concluded a brilliant season for the 4-year-old colt bred in Argentina and owned by Sheik Hamdan, the deputy ruler of Dubai.

Invasor, who won Uruguay's Triple Crown last year before being bought by Sheik Hamdan, piled up victories in four Grade 1 races at four different tracks.

"He's a special horse and he's shown it this year," said Neal McLaughlin, the brother of Invasor's trainer Kiaran McLaughlin.

Bernardini, winner of the Preakness, Travers and Jockey Club Gold Cup, is owned by Sheik Hamdan's younger brother Mohammed, Dubai's ruler. The 3-year-old colt had reeled off six consecutive blowout victories before being left in the dust by Invasor.

"We had a great year," said Tom Albertrani, who trains Bernardini. "The winner was just a little better than we were."

The Classic didn't develop into the highly anticipated East-West showdown between Bernardini and Lava Man. Instead, it was sheik against sheik when the star-studded field turned for home in front of 72,375 cheering fans at Churchill Downs.

"It's a pretty good rivalry," Neal McLaughlin said. "Sheik Hamdan is the older brother, so he has to win once in a while."

Sheik Hamdan hasn't made up his mind about Invasor's plans for next year, although McLauglin suggested the colt might run in the Dubai World Cup in March.

Bernardini's future is even more vague.

"I don't know ... if he's going to race next year or not," Albertrani said.