Big Invasion Rallies to Take Nearctic Stakes by a Head
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Photo: Michael Burns
Big Invasion wins the Nearctic Stakes at Woodbine
Trainer Christophe Clement had a difficult decision on his hands.
Does he run Reeves Thoroughbred Racing's Big Invasion in the Oct. 7 Belmont Turf Sprint Stakes (G3T) or try to avoid the rain in New York for the Nearctic Stakes (G2T) at Woodbine.
While he didn't completely escape the rain, it proved a wise decision as the 4-year-old son of Declaration of War rallied down the stretch to win by a head in 1:11.31 on a yielding turf. It was a photo finish for second with Lucky Score edging Ice Chocolat .
"I actually didn't," said jockey Dylan Davis on whether he knew he had the win. "They were coming, flying on the outside there."
Sitting mid-pack hitting the stretch, Davis took his ride down the middle where he powered to the win.
It was Davis' first time in the irons aboard Big Invasion.
"I was able to settle him in into the two path for most of his turn and wheeled him back out," Davis said. "He responded great for us and fought tooth and nail to the wire."
Added Clement's assistant trainer Christophe Lorieul, "He's a cool horse that has really raw natural speed. We've seen it over and over."
Lorieul added it is too soon to say where Big Invasion will race next but that the Breeders' Cup has not been ruled out.
DID YOU KNOW?
Clement has won the Nearctic once before. Steel Light claimed the 2005 edition.