Decorated Invader (Declaration of War) was hammered down into heavy favoritism for the GII Pennine Ridge S. and ran to the money, charging through late for a dominant score. Handier than usual from third as Proven Strategies (Sky Mesa) set opening splits of :23.86 and :47.50, the bay saved ground all the way under a patient Joel Rosario. Spotting an opening on the fence approaching the bend, Rosario sent Decorated Invader through and the colt responded with a brave punch, pushing past the pacesetter and rolling clear to score.
“I've always liked him since day one and I think he's been a tremendous horse since the beginning,” said Clement. “He's been a top-class horse, even last year. He was very unlucky in the Breeders' Cup. He won a Grade I in Canada. He won at Gulfstream this year. He won one today and I think he's good enough to do a mile, a mile and a quarter. I could be wrong, but I think he'll stay.”
Following his second-out graduation with a win in the GI Summer S. at Woodbine in September, the bay rallied from next to last to be fourth, beaten 1 1/2 lengths, in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Nov. 1, covering a whopping 60 feet (about six lengths) more than the victorious Structor (Palace Malice). He kicked off this year with a win in Gulfstream's Cutler Bay S. Mar. 28.
Pedigree Notes:
Decorated Invader is one of 27 stakes winners and 15 graded winners for his expatriated sire Declaration of War. His dam Gamely Girl had a Violence colt in 2019, who died, and a Distorted Humor filly this term. She is also the dam of stakes winner Jubilant Girl (Henrythenavigator). The winner hails from the family of SW and sire Stormy Atlantic (Storm Cat) and Grade I winner Bandini (Fusaichi Pegasus).
Saturday, Belmont Park
PENNINE RIDGE S.-GII, $150,000, Belmont, 6-20, 3yo, 1mT, 1:33.66, fm.
1–DECORATED INVADER, 122, c, 3, by Declaration of War
1st Dam: Gamely Girl, by Arch
2nd Dam: Helstra, by Nureyev
3rd Dam: Hail Atlantis, by Seattle Slew
($200,000 Ylg '18 KEESEP). O-West Point Thoroughbreds,
William T. Freeman, William Sandbrook & Cheryl Manning;
B-Redmon Farm, LLC (KY); T-Christophe Clement; J-Joel
Rosario. $82,500. Lifetime Record: GISW, 6-4-1-0, $370,535.
*1/2 to Jubliant Girl (Henrythenavigator), SW, $107,067.
Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Proven Strategies, 120, c, 3, Sky Mesa–Stormbeforethecalm,
by Quiet American. ($55,000 Ylg '18 FTKOCT; $77,000 RNA 2yo
'19 OBSAPR). O-D. J. Stable LLC, Jonathan I. Green & Empire
Racing Club; B-A. Francis & Barbara H. Vanlangendonck &
Etarip Stables, Inc. (FL); T-Mark E. Casse. $30,000.
3–Mr. Kringle, 120, c, 3, Shakin It Up–South Wing, by Dixie
Brass. ($35,000 Wlg '17 FTNMIX; $10,000 Ylg '18 SARAUG).
O-That's Amore Stable, Michael J. McMahon & Bob Weeks;
B-Cheryl Prudhomme & Dr. Michael Gallivan (NY); T-John P.
Terranova II. $18,000.
Margins: 4 3/4, 1 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 0.60, 3.15, 12.90.
Also Ran: Vanzzy, Famished, Venezuelan Hug. Scratched: Maroon Maniac. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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