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Invasor adds Suburban to budding resume
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Invasor captured his second straight Grade 1 in the Suburban
(Debra Kral/Horsephotos.com) |
Shadwell Stable's INVASOR (Arg) (Candy Stripes) made it look easy in
Saturday's $400,000
Suburban H. (G1), recording a 4 1/4-length decision under
confident handling from Fernando Jara. A sharp winner of the Pimlico Special H.
(G1) in his previous outing, the four-year-old colt improved to two for two in
the United States and has now won seven of eight career starts. The Kiaran
McLaughlin trainee covered 1 1/4 miles over the fast Belmont Park track in 2:01
1/5."He was most impressive. I was impressed last time and surprised, but today I
was even more impressed," McLaughlin said. "He's the real deal."
Invasor bobbled at the start but quickly settled into a stalking trip in
third as Noble Causeway (Giant's Causeway) went to the lead and set the pace
in :24 1/5, :47 3/5 and 1:11 1/5 with pressure from Wilko (Awesome Again) to his
inside. The pacesetter still led by a head through a mile in 1:36, but Invasor
was moving splendidly to his outside as they turned for home and it was clear
that Jara had plenty beneath him at the top of the stretch. Invasor cruised to
the lead as his rider gave him his cue and quickly opened up on the rest of the
field, dominating the final eighth of a mile in a very strong showing.
Wild Desert (Wild Rush) outfinished Andromeda's Hero (Fusaichi Pegasus) by a
length for second, and it was another 4 1/2 lengths back to Noble Causeway in
fourth. Tap Day (Pleasant Tap), Rathor (Ire) (Machiavellian) and Wilko rounded
out the order of finish.
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Favored at 6-5, Invasor paid $4.50, $3.10 and $2.50. Wild Desert, the 7-2
second choice, was good for $4.80 and $3.40, and Andromeda's Hero gave back
$5.40 at 19-1. The exotics returned $16.40 (exacta) and $116.50 (6-1-3 trifecta).
Winner of the Uruguayan Triple Crown last year, Invasor has now earned
$754,070. He suffered his only career setback when finishing fourth to Godolphin's Discreet Cat (Forestry) in the U.A.E. Derby (UAE-G2) in late March.
Bred in Argentina by Haras Clausan, the bay hails from Quendom (Interprete),
who is a full sister to Group 1 heroine Reina Victoriosa (Arg) and Group 2 king
Qualified. Reina Victoriosa is herself the dam of Friday night's Iowa Derby
winner More Than Regal (More Than Ready).
McLaughlin has now combined to win two of Belmont's most prestigious stakes
races this meet with the 18-year-old Jara, who earned only the second graded
stakes win of his career when piloting the Shadwell-owned and McLaughlin-trained
Jazil (Seeking to Gold) to victory in the June 10 Belmont S. (G1).
"(Jara) is a very good rider, he just needs the horses," McLaughlin
explained. "We're trying to give him a good jump start."
He also said they would take a serious look at the $750,000 Whitney H. (G1),
which is expected to attract Grade 1 winners Flower Alley (Distorted Humor) and
Brass Hat (Prized), on August 5 for Invasor's next start.
"Right now, we're not going to duck anybody," the ebullient conditioner said.
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