SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.— West Point Thoroughbreds, William T. Freeman, William Sandbrook and Cheryl Manning’s multiple graded stakes winner Decorated Invader, who has been away from the races for nearly 16 months, returned to Saratoga Race Course’s Oklahoma turf training track Sunday for his first breeze over grass since returning from his hiatus.
The 5-year-old son of Declaration of War worked a half-mile in 49.21 seconds, the eighth fastest of 49 recorded works. As a 2-year-old, Decorated Invader made the grade in the Grade 1 Summer at Woodbine Racetrack. He was a respectable fourth in his subsequent start, the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf to close out that campaign.
His sophomore campaign began 3-for-3, beginning in the Cutler Bay at Gulfstream Park and followed by Grade 2 success in the Pennine Ridge at Belmont Park and the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame at the Spa.
Miguel Clement, son and assistant to trainer Christophe Clement, said Decorated Invader has progressed ahead of schedule.
“To be honest, we thought he was more for the later fall,” said Clement. “But with the way he is training at the moment and the way he just worked now we might be more inclined thinking sooner than later.
“It’s exciting to get him back in the fall training campaign mode,” Clement added. “He’s a top class horse and hopefully we can get him back to the same level before we had to have a bit of a break.”
Decorated Invader has banked $525,035 in 12 career starts, going 5-2-1 in that span.
Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Peter and Patty Searles’ New York-bred graded stakes winner City Man is entered in Monday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Bernard Baruch Handicap, for 3-year-olds-and-up going 1 1/16 miles on the turf.
The 5-year-old son of Mucho Macho Man scratched out of the August 26 West Point when it was forced off the turf. In his last start, City Man made the grade in the Grade 3 Forbidden Apple on July 15 at the Spa after previously being graded stakes-placed in the 2021 running of the Grade 2 Fort Marcy at Belmont.
With rain in the forecast again for Monday, Clement said they will consult with ownership and make a determination about running the day of. He referenced possible backup races at Kentucky Downs and Woodbine, the latter being the Woodbine Mile on September 17, a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” race to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile in November at Keeneland.
“We’ll have to speak with Mr. Reeves and come up with a plan,” said Clement. “Our best option is to run City Man here as long as it is on the turf. That is our preference. He can handle a little bit of cut in the ground, it just can’t be a bog for him.”
NYRA Press Office
Main photo: Decorated Invader wins the Grade 2 Hall of Fame in 2020 (Chelsea Durand)
