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Invasor stopped cold on turn,
but dominates in stretch
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Invasor returns a winner in the Donn
(Guy Gustafson/Horsephotos.com) |
Horse of the Year INVASOR (Arg) (Candy Stripes) overcame near disaster
approaching the top of the stretch to record a tremendous victory in Saturday's
$500,000 Donn H. (G1). Rating off a quick early pace, the Kiaran McLaughlin
runner began to pick off rivals entering the far turn while rapidly advancing
along the rail, but he eventually ran out of room and was steadied sharply after
clipping heels with pacesetter Barcola (Old Trieste). Despite stumbling and
losing his momentum, Invasor regained his composure after straightening into the
stretch, rallying boldly up the inside to blow past the leaders around the
sixteenth pole under Fernando Jara. Now unbeaten in five U.S. starts, Invasor
won going away by two lengths.
"I thought he was stopped," McLaughlin said following the eventful trip. "He
showed what a superior horse he is. He finds a way to win every time. I was
worried when Fernando came up the inside, because when you're 1-5, everybody
knows who you are, and nobody wants to open the door for you.
"It was scary, but he showed why he was Horse of the Year."
The Shadwell Stable colorbearer returned $2.80, $2.40 and $2.10 as the 2-5
favorite. The late-running Hesanoldsalt (Broad Brush) got up for second by a
head at 16-1, paying $5.80 and $2.10 after edging out A. P. Arrow (A.P. Indy),
who was good for $2.10 at 15-1. The $1 exotics paid $10.10 (exacta), $43.50 (trifecta)
and $118.70 (1-6-3-4 superfecta). Chatain (Forest Wildcat), who surged to the
lead in upper stretch before weakening late, finished another half-length back
in fourth. Halos Sailing Sain (Halo's Image) came next and was followed by Tap
Dancing Mauk (Louis Quatorze), Barcola and Magna Graduate (Honor Grades). Strong
Contender (Maria's Mon) was withdrawn.
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Invasor rated in seventh behind early fractions in :22 4/5 and :46 2/5,
advanced to fourth through three-quarters of a mile in 1:10 2/5, and was third
as the leader passed the mile mark in 1:35 4/5. The once-beaten five-year-old
completed 1 1/8 miles over the fast Gulfstream Park track in 1:48 1/5.
Named Horse of the Year in Uruguay following a five-for-five campaign in
2005, Invasor was sold to his current connections and imported to North America
last season. He opened his 2006 campaign with a fourth-place finish to Discreet
Cat (Forestry) in the U.A.E. Derby (UAE-G2), but that performance looks like an
aberration given his stellar form since. The bay horse took the Pimlico Special
H. (G1) in his first U.S. appearance, then reeled off victories in the Suburban
H. (G1) and Whitney H. (G1) before concluding his Horse of the Year season with
an outstanding one-length triumph in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). He's now
earned $4,204,070 from an 11-10-0-0 line.
Bred in Argentina by Haras Clausan, Invasor is out of the Interprete mare
Quendom, who is a full sister to Group 1 heroine Reina Victoriosa (Arg) and
Group 2 king Qualified. Reina Victoriosa is herself the dam of 2006 Iowa Derby
and Zia Park Derby winner More Than Regal (More Than Ready), who also placed
third in the West Virginia Derby (G3).
A rematch with Discreet Cat is scheduled for March 31 in the 1 1/4-mile Dubai
World Cup (UAE-G1).
"We'll leave for Dubai on March 15," McLaughlin said. "It's going to be
exciting. This horse wants a mile and a quarter, and will be at equal weights
with Discreet Cat this year."
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