NY Shipper Big Invasion Looms Large in Franklin-Simpson

Big Invasion 's strike rate is hard to disregard when looking at the overflow field entered in the Sept. 10 Franklin-Simpson Stakes (G2T) for 3-year-olds going 6 1/2 furlongs over the Kentucky Downs turf.

The 3-year-old son of Declaration of War  has only failed to win once in seven starts this year, running second in a maiden special weight race in January at Gulfstream Park first time out.

On his next try in February, he was successful and the wins have piled up. His past five starts have all been in stakes, including the March 26 Texas Glitter Stakes, May 4 William Walker Stakes, May 29 Paradise Creek Stakes, July 17 Quick Call Stakes Presented by the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (G3T), and last out in the Aug. 14 Mahony Stakes.

The Christophe Clement trainee, purchased by Taproot Bloodstock, as agent, for $72,000 from the Vinery Sales consignment to the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, has earned $444,045 for owner Reeves Thoroughbred Racing. 

Big Invasion is the 8-5 morning-line favorite under regular rider Joel Rosario.

Looking to knock down the colt's nearly perfect record is Richard Mandella trainee Sumter  whose last few starts have shown the colt's capabilities.

Though it took him four attempts to break his maiden, the War Front   colt progressed to win the Feb. 19 Pasadena Stakes and the April 2 Singletary Stakes to kick off his 2022 season. Last out, he was third in the Aug. 7 La Jolla Handicap (G3T) at 1 1/16 miles.

The Perry Bass II and Ramona Bass homebred has earnings of $207,600 from a record of 3-2-1 from seven starts. Jockey John Velazquez will ride Sumter, who is 9-2 on the morning line.

Another contender vying to add a North American stakes win to his record is Rebecca Hillen's Asymmetric , winner of the 2021 Unibet Richmond Stakes (G2) at Goodwood.

The 3-year-old Showcasing  colt recorded a second in the Tattersalls July Stakes (G2) and a third in the Darley Prix Morny (G1) in 2021 before his first start in the U.S. May 29 at Belmont Park, where he was runner-up in the Paradise Creek Stakes.

Most recently, he finished fifth in the Quick Call. From a record of 3-2-1 from eight starts, Asymmetric has earned $230,907. Wesley Ward, who began training Asymmetric this year when he came to the U.S., has named Irad Ortiz Jr. to ride the colt.

Also of note among the entries are 2021 Futurity Stakes (G3T) winner Run Curtis Run  and multiple stakes winner Stitched .

Completing the 12-horse body of the field are Call Me Midnight , Chanceux , Tejano Twist , Heaven Street , All in Sync , Coinage , and One Timer . Four other horses are also-eligibles.

Entries: Franklin-Simpson S. (G2T)

Kentucky Downs, Saturday, September 10, 2022, Race 12

• Grade IIT
• 6 1/2f
• Turf
• $600,000
• 3 yo
• 5:55 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Call Me Midnight (KY)	Adam Beschizza	118	J. Keith Desormeaux	30/1
2	2Chanceux (KY)	Tyler Gaffalione	118	Todd A. Pletcher	15/1
3	3Tejano Twist (KY)	Francisco Arrieta	118	Chris A. Hartman	30/1
4	4Heaven Street (KY)	Vincent Cheminaud	122	Brendan P. Walsh	30/1
5	5All in Sync (KY)	Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.	122	Steven M. Asmussen	10/1
6	6Big Invasion (KY)	Joel Rosario	124	Christophe Clement	8/5
7	7Run Curtis Run (NY)	Ricardo Santana, Jr.	118	Michael J. Maker	6/1
8	8Sumter (KY)	John R. Velazquez	122	Richard E. Mandella	9/2
9	9Stitched (KY)	Florent Geroux	122	Gregory D. Foley	8/1
10	10Asymmetric (IRE)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	124	Wesley A. Ward	8/1
11	11Coinage (NY)	Julien R. Leparoux	124	Mark E. Casse	15/1
12	12One Timer (KY)	E. T. Baird	122	Larry Rivelli	15/1
13	13Evan Sing (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	118	Albert M. Stall, Jr.	8/1
14	14Sky and Sand (KY)	Joel Rosario	118	Steven M. Asmussen	12/1
15	15Cadamosto (IRE)	Tyler Gaffalione	118	Joseph Patrick O'Brien	9/2
16	16Hunter John (KY)	Reylu Gutierrez	118	John Alexander Ortiz	15/1