Declaration of War

Four-for-six Decorated Invader (Declaration of War) appears awful tough to beat in Saturday's GII National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame S. at Saratoga. Second to subsequent MGSW Field Pass (Lemon Drop Kid) on local debut here a year ago, he broke through convincingly next out before notching a big win in Woodbine's GI Summer S. in September. He could only manage fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf after a tough trip that had many arguing that he might've been best, and he's lent support to that claim...

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...

8th-TAM, $20K, Msw, 3yo, 1mT, post time: 4:30 p.m. ET Frank Calabrese homebred BIG DREAMING (Declaration of War) makes his debut for conditioner Mike Stidham here. He will be the sixth foal to race out of 2006's champion 2-year-old filly Dreaming of Anna (Rahy), who is already responsible for GSW Dreamologist (Tapit); speedy GISP young sire Fast Anna (Medaglia d'Oro); and SP All Her Class (Street Cry {Ire}), who in turn produced turf SW and dirt GISP With Honors (War Front). Out of MSW and GSP Justenuffheart (Broad Brush), Dreaming...

8th-Gulfstream, $39,000, Alw (NW1$X)/Opt. Clm ($75,000), 4-24, 3yo, f, 1 1/8mT, 1:47.00, fm. EVE OF WAR (f, 3, Declaration of War--Special Thanks, by Broken Vow), sent off at 5-2 for her turf and route debut, held the advantage all the way around at to mark her return to the winner's circle Gulfstream. Cleanly away, the chestnut assumed a narrow advantage over New Day Dawning (Medaglia d'Oro), who was prompted by Secret Stash (Mukhadram {GB}) and Sky Snow (Lemon Drop Kid). Still in front through a half in :47.84, the Todd...

7th-TAM, $20K, Msw, 3yo, 1 1/16mT Frank Calabrese homebred BIG DREAMING (Declaration of War) makes his first start for conditioner Mike Stidham here. He will be the sixth foal to race out of 2006's champion 2-year-old filly Dreaming of Anna (Rahy), who is already responsible for GSW Dreamologist (Tapit); speedy GISP young sire Fast Anna (Medaglia d'Oro); and SP All Her Class (Street Cry {Ire}), who in turn produced turf SW and dirt GISP With Honors (War Front). Out of MSW and GSP Justenuffheart (Broad Brush), Dreaming of Anna is...

Trainer Christophe Clement earned his 2000th career victory Friday afternoon with a son of Declaration of War in Gufo, and picked up right where he left off Saturday, with last year's GI Summer S. hero Decorated Invader making a successful sophomore debut to give Clement his second win on the card through four races. A fast-finishing second on debut at the Spa last July, Decorated Invader broke through by daylight a month later before his visually impressive tally in Woodbine's Summer. He settled for fourth in the Nov. 1 GI...

The ruthless nature of the American bloodstock market's trend toward unproven sires combined with an increased demand in developing nations for international stock has resulted in a worrying mass exodus of middle market stallions from Kentucky in recent years. WinStar Farm sold the regally bred Take Charge Indy to South Korea in 2016 six weeks before his first crop turned two, with his support particularly in the sales ring having waned, but thanks to a clause in the contract WinStar was able to buy him back and the son of...

A somewhat puzzling and well-beaten fourth as the second betting favorite in the Jan. 24 Smarty Jones S., Ed and Susie Orr's Silver Prospector (Declaration of War) made amends in no uncertain terms in Monday's $500,000 Southwest S. at Oaklawn Park, parlaying a perfect trip into a one-length defeat of pacesetting Wells Bayou (Lookin At Lucky) at better than 9-2. Answer In (Dialed In), favored off his runner-up effort to Shoplifted (Into Mischief) in the Springboard Mile at Remington Dec. 15, checked in a distant third after racing erratically in...

The highly regarded duo of Harvey's Lil Goil (American Pharoah) and unbeaten 'TDN Rising Star' Taraz (Into Mischief) weren't the only 3-year-old fillies to strut their stuff last weekend. Eve of War (Declaration of War) announced her presence by dusting six rivals in front-running fashion on debut for trainer Todd Pletcher at Gulfstream Park Sunday. The Jeff Treadway homebred earned an eye-opening 88 Beyer Speed Figure in the six-furlong affair. For comparison, Harvey's Lil Goil was awarded an 82 Beyer in Sunday's Busanda S. at Aqueduct while Taraz earned an...

6th-Gulfstream, $43,000, Msw, 2-2, 3yo, f, 6f, 1:11.01, ft. EVE OF WAR (f, 3, Declaration of War--Special Thanks, by Broken Vow) was pounded down to even-money off a steady, if not overly quick series of drills at Palm Beach Downs (click for XBTV video), but she showed plenty of zip in the afternoon to run up the score Sunday. Slicing through foes soon after the start to take over, she sped away by several lengths heading to the turn and always appeared in a race of her own from that...

A newly turned 2-year-old filly by Declaration of War topped Tuesday's California Thoroughbred Breeders' Association January Mixed Sale at the Hinds Pavilion in Fairplex when selling for $60,000 to O.J. Jauregui as agent for Highland Yard. Consigned by Adrian Gonzalez's Checkmate Thoroughbreds, the dark bay is out of Lemarchos (Lemon Drop Kid), a half-sister to Grade I winner Celestine (Scat Daddy). She sold for $9,000 at last year's Keeneland January sale and was acquired by Jose Zulaica's Valle Las Palmas for $5,500 at last year's Keeneland September Yearling Sale. In...

Newcomer En Wye Cee (Declaration of War) had been keeping good company in the mornings, and belied 10-1 odds Saturday afternoon at the Spa to best a strong-looking group of maidens while garnering the 'TDN Rising Star' distinction. The bay sported an upbeat tab that included a 1:01 flat breeze in company over the Oklahoma training track July 19 alongside GI Whitney S. third finisher Vino Rosso (Curlin) (Click for XBTV video) and fired a 1:01 1/5 bullet with well-bred Fort McHenry (Tapit) July 11 (Click for XBTV Video). Able...