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Decorated Invader Wins Hall Of Fame As Heavy Favorite

Decorated Invader sat off Get Smokin's pacesetting effort before overtaking the front-runner from the outside in the stretch and pulling away for a 1 1/4-length win in the Grade 2, $150,000 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame for 3-year-olds on a sun-swept day at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, William Sandbrook, William Freeman and Cheryl Manning, Decorated Invader won for the fifth time in seven career starts for trainer Christophe Clement and improved to 3-for-3 as a sophomore. The Declaration of War colt, who won the Grade 1 Summer and ran a competitive fourth in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile as a juvenile, started 2020 with wins in the Cutler Bay in March at Gulfstream and followed with a 4 3/4-length score in the Grade 2 Pennine Ridge on June 20 at Belmont Park.

Returning to Saratoga for the first time since breaking his maiden at second asking last August, Decorated Invader sat in second position as Get Smokin surged to the front, opening up seven lengths on the five-horse field through an opening quarter-mile in 23.85 seconds on the firm inner turf. Get Smokin, under Jose Ortiz, pushed forward, posting a half-mile in 48.98 and three-quarters in 1:13.52.

Out of the final turn, jockey Joel Rosario set down Decorated Invader, taking command with the Chad Brown-trained Domestic Spending making a late move to his outside. But Decorated Invader pressed on and handled his first attempt at 1 1/8 miles with aplomb, hitting the wire in 1:49.29 to give Rosario his third Hall of Fame win in the last four runnings.

“When I got to the horse on the lead [Get Smokin] turning for home, he kept running a little bit,” Rosario said. “He had been all alone on the lead but I could feel I had a lot of horse underneath me and he was moving much the best.

“I thought I would be a little closer, but the other horse was off the rail and in the middle of the track,” he added. “I followed him for a little bit but I ended up letting my horse be comfortable. I took my time and made my move when it was the right time to move.”

Off as the 2-5 favorite, Decorated Invader paid $2.80 on a $2 win wager. He improved his career bankroll to $453,035.

“He's a top-class horse and has been since Day One for me,” Clement said. “I love him. I love the way he trains. I love the way he races. It's a different scenario every time we run him, but the final outcome is the same. I thought he looked better in the last sixteenth of a mile than he did before that. He actually won going away at the end.”

With three graded stakes wins, Decorated Invader could now be a possibility for the $500,000 Saratoga Derby, part of NYRA's Turf Triple Series, on August 15.

“That is one of the targets,” Clement said. “We'll have to see how he comes out of this and see how he trains, but that's a logical spot at the moment.”

Get Smokin, trained by Tom Bush, edged Domestic Spending by a nose for second. He has finished as the runner-up in both career graded stakes appearances, starting with the Grade 3 Kitten's Joy in January at Gulfstream.

“He ran big. The first quarter of a mile we went a little faster than I wanted to because he's so used to going a mile [and running splits] in 45 or 46 and that's why I kept him off the rail,” Ortiz said. “When I got to the turn he relaxed and I dropped in a little bit. On the backside, I had him where I wanted him. I tried to get the jump on the other horse [Decorated Invader] but the other horse is a very nice horse. I think my horse's game is a mile flat. It was a lot to ask him to go a mile and an eighth, but he showed up.”

Moon Over Miami and Ever Dangerous completed the order of finish. Gufo and main-track only entrant Money Moves were scratched.

Live racing resumes Sunday with a 10-race card showcasing the Grade 2, $150,000 Lake Placid for 3-year-old fillies in Race 9 at 5:46 p.m. Eastern. First post is 1:10 p.m. ET.

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Viadera Outfinishes Brown Stablemate Noor Sahara To Win De La Rose

An extra eighth of a mile appeared to make all the difference for Juddmonte Farms' Viadera, who chased a slow pace under jockey Joel Rosario and made up ground at the right time, edging stablemate Noor Sahara by a neck in the $85,000 De La Rose at one mile over Saratoga Race Course's inner turf on Friday in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Trained by Chad Brown, Viadera arrived off a distant fourth to Grade 1-winning stablemate Newspaperofrecord in the Grade 3 Intercontinental at seven furlongs on June 6, marking her first start in North America and contested over a yielding turf at Belmont Park.

“She kind of lost herself back in the field in her last race,” Brown said. “We expected her to get better position this time. I thought Joel did a great job. She just lost her way [last time out] and lost contact with the field. She didn't really show much interest until late when she made a little run. Coming out of that race, she trained a lot sharper.”

The 4-year-old bay daughter of Bated Breath broke sharply from the gate under Rosario and tracked in fourth to the outside of Noor Sahara while Xenobia set the pace through a leisurely opening quarter-mile in 24.95 seconds, with 8-5 favorite Catch a Bid a length behind in second. With the half-mile in 49.60 seconds, Xenobia extended her advantage to 1 ½ lengths while Viadera continued to maintain her position on the course labelled good.

Around the far turn, Viadera received her cue from Rosario as she began inching her way into contention. Noor Sahara put her head in front just past the sixteenth pole, but Viadera made up ground at the right time to hit the wire in 1:38.17. Noor Sahara finished three-quarters of a length ahead of Passing Out.

Completing the order of finish were Clara Peeters, Catch a Bid, Xenobia and Hogan's Holiday. Blowout and main track only entrant Bridlewood Cat were scratched.

“The longer distance today helped. She was very good today,” said Rosario, who guided fellow Juddmonte Farms color-bearer Filimbi to victory in the 2014 De La Rose. “I followed Irad [Ortiz, Jr. aboard Noor Sahara] and there were two horses in front of him. It was a great trip and she was able to finish with a galloping finish.”

Now a four-time winner of 11 starts, Viadera kept a perfect record over a flat mile intact and is unscathed in three starts at the distance.

“I was really pleased with her trip. Joel [Rosario] got to know her that first time out,” Rosario said. “It's been frustrating. She's been ready to run for months now and with cancelations and such, we had to just sprint her the first time. She got a race under her belt, but she trained much sharper the second time out, and she showed that leaving the gate.”

Viadera rewarded her backers in returning $14.40 for a $2 win bet and cashed a $46,750 check while improving her lifetime earnings to $156,441.

Brown offered praise for runner-up Noor Sahara, who also was making her second start in North America.

“She got a perfect trip really. She was right there,” Brown said. “There was a little jockeying when the horse on the outside took the lead and Tyler [Gaffalione, aboard No. 1, Catch a Bid] took back. There was a little musical chairs there for a bit, but I thought all three of my horses had good trip. Viadera was just best.”

On fifth-place finisher and post time favorite Catch a Bid, Brown noted that the moisture in the turf may have contributed to her run.

“It was a little disappointing down the lane that she didn't punch,” Brown said. “We'll have to reevaluate. But also, this turf, there's some moisture in it today and it's probably not for every horse. Some horses moved up and some horses moved down.”

A Great Britain homebred, Viadera is out of the Beat Hollow broodmare Sacred Shield.

Live racing returns on Saturday with an 11-race card which features the Grade 2, $150,000 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame for 3-year-olds over the inner turf and the Grade 1, $350,000 Coaching Club American Oaks for 3-year-old fillies over the main track. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.

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Turf-Bred Altaf Going After Kentucky Oaks Points In CCA Oaks

When reading the pedigree of Shadwell Farm's Grade 1, $350,000 Coaching Club American Oaks aspirant Altaf, one would be led to believe that she would likely find a home on grass. But such has not been the case thus far.

Following a seventh-place effort on debut over the lawn at Gulfstream Park, the bay daughter of Medaglia d'Oro raced at Churchill Downs over the main track, which appeared to make a huge difference as she powered home a 5 ¼ length-victor under jockey Joel Rosario.

Trained by Chad Brown, Altaf is out of the Smart Strike broodmare Fawaarek, who was a winner on grass. Her grand dam was three-time turf Grade 1-winner and 2002 Champion Turf Mare Golden Apples, who produced graded stakes winner on turf Habaya, as well as turf graded stakes-placed Hatheer.

“Golden Apples was a very good turf mare. I guess the Medaglia d'Oro is coming out in her a bit,” said Shadwell Farms' general manager Rick Nichols. “She had worked well on the grass. Chad thought that's where she should start out at. But she didn't seem to like it all that much. The jockey [Joel Rosario] liked her the day he rode her, but he too didn't think she cared for it that much. We brought her back on the dirt and it was impressive.”

How impressive? Enough to really catch Nichols' attention.

“Once you've seen as many horses as I have over the years, it's hard for me to be too impressed, and I was impressed,” Nichols said.

The Coaching Club American Oaks, offering 100-40-20-10 points to the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks, will be quite the step up in class from Altaf's maiden victory. But Nichols said that his filly is up for the task. Brown won last year's CCA Oaks with Guarana, who in her prior start won the Grade 1 Acorn off of an impressive maiden victory.

“It's a big step, but I like the fact that we have a nice small field and Chad is very, very pleased with her,” said Nichols. “He loves her. He's always thought a lot of her. After that race, we all like her a little bit more.”

A big run on Saturday could result in Altaf targeting the lilies on the First Friday in September for the Kentucky Oaks.

“If she wins on Saturday and comes out of it well, we'll speak to Sheikh Hamdan and I'm sure he would love to give her a try in the Oaks,” Nichols said.

Altaf will be ridden by Joel Rosario from post 3.

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Decorated Invader Takes On Stablemate Gufo In Saturday’s Hall Of Fame Stakes

Trainer Christophe Clement will saddle a formidable pair of graded stakes winners in Decorated Invader and Gufo, both of who will carry winning streaks into Saturday's 36th running of the Grade 2, $150,000 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame over the inner turf at Saratoga Race Course.

Owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, William Freeman, William Sandbrook and Cheryl Manning, Decorated Invader arrives at the 1 1/8-mile event for 3-year-olds off a victory in the Grade 2 Pennine Ridge on June 20 at Belmont Park, where the son of Declaration of War tracked the pace while saving ground along the rail, made his move at the quarter pole and drew off to a 4 ¾-length triumph.

The win, which netted a career-best 93 Beyer Speed Figure, came after a victory in his 2020 debut in the Cutler Bay on March 28 at Gulfstream Park, where he was 15 lengths off the pace and made a five wide move to secure a three-quarter length score.

After finishing second on debut to subsequent graded stakes winner Field Pass over Saratoga's inner turf, he followed up with a turf maiden victory at the Spa over next-out winner and eventual graded stakes placed Summer to Remember.

Decorated Invader took things to the next level in striking Grade 1 gold in the Summer at Woodbine en route to a fourth in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita.

“The challenge is when you have a horse that's a standout in a short field, there's going to be a target on his back,” said Terry Finley of West Point Thoroughbreds. “The break and the first eighth of a mile will be important. Ultimately, it will be up to [jockey] Joel [Rosario]. He really fits the horse. When they walk out of the paddock, you just have so much confidence and no concerns that you'll get a top class ride from him. It's very good to have the option to be a closer, but we have seen time and time again where you have the best horse in the race, and they [the pacesetters] don't come back.”

Decorated Invader will be stretching out to 1 1/8 miles for the first time.

“He's doing very well,” Clement said. “He had a good work last Sunday at Belmont [half-mile in 47.79 seconds over the inner turf]. A mile and an eighth should be a good distance for him. We're excited to see him back.”

Finley said that the distance will not be an issue and said that the horse could even be capable of going beyond 1 1/8 miles.

“You can never be certain. Sometimes horses that show you and give you that indication are just not the same horse once they stretch out past a mile and an eighth,” Finley said. “It's a fascinating part of our business and our industry. I would be kind of surprised if he were to not relish the added distance, but I wouldn't be stunned if he didn't. We've seen it many times. That question is still to be answered and I think we'll get a lot of answers on Saturday.”

Jockey Joel Rosario, who piloted Bricks and Mortar (2017) and Raging Bull (2018) to Hall of Fame wins, will retain the mount aboard Decorated Invader from post 7.

Decorated Invader will square off against fellow Clement trainee Gufo, who won his last four starts and is a perfect 2-for-2 when going 1 1/8 miles.

Following a maiden victory on December 29 at Gulfstream Park, Otter Bend Racing's Gufo, who also is by Declaration of War, defeated winners at the South Florida oval en route to a score in the English Channel on May 2, where he gave Clement his 2,000th career victory.

Owned by Otter Bend Stables, Gufo will arrive at the Hall of Fame off two weeks rest having last raced when shipping to Delaware Park to win the Grade 3 Kent on July 4, where made up nearly 10 lengths off a slow pace, began moving into contention around the far turn and made a five wide move to secure the win by a half-length.

Clement was originally planning on training towards the $500,000 Saratoga Derby Invitational on August 15 with Gufo. But he said he likes the way his horse is training and believes that the possibility of Friday showers in the forecast could be to the horse's benefit.

“The original idea was to target the Saratoga Derby, but there's possible rain in the forecast on Friday and he came out of his last race in good order,” Clement said. “It just keeps our options open, so we'll have a look at the race.”

Jockey David Cohen will be aboard Gufo from post 5.

Trainer Chad Brown will seek his sixth win in the Hall of Fame when he saddles Domestic Spending for Seth Klarman's Klaravich Stables.

Unbeaten in two starts, the son of Kingman bred in Great Britain by Rabbah Bloodstock won on debut at Tampa Bay Downs on February 12 over next-out winner Maroon Maniac and returned to victory off a four-month layoff to defeat winners over a firm Widener turf course at Belmont Park on June 7.

Jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. won two of his three Hall of Fame victories for Brown and will pilot Domestic Spending from post 1.

Completing the field are Moon Over Miami [post 2, Junior Alvarado], Get Smokin [post 3, Jose Ortiz] and Ever Dangerous [post 6, Javier Castellano].

Money Moves [post 4] has been entered for main track only.

The National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame is slated as Race 3 on Saturday's 11-race card, which offers a first post of 1:10 p.m. Eastern. Saratoga Live will present daily television coverage of the 40-day summer meet on FOX Sports and MSG Networks. For the complete Saratoga Live broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule.

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