Horse of the Year INVASOR (Arg) (Candy Stripes), a Grade/Group 1 star on
three continents, sent out his first winner as a freshman sire when Wonder of It
All got up late in Monday’s
5TH
race at Ellis Park. Under Calvin Borel, the 9-5 favorite made up more than 10
lengths in her last-to-first move, forcing her head in front in the nick of
time. The Fred Seitz pupil covered the one-mile maiden claimer on the firm turf
in 1:43 2/5, a final time that reflected pedestrian early fractions.
Invasor was an unbeaten sensation in Uruguay. A 6 3/4-length debut winner
sprinting six furlongs at two, he reappeared with a 2 1/2-length score in the
Clasico Ensayo (Uru-G3) in his sophomore bow. By conquering the 2005 Polla de
Potrillos (Uru-G1) by 5 3/4 lengths, the Gran Premio Jockey Club (Uru-G1) by 3
1/2 lengths and the Gran Premio Nacional (Uru-G1) by 6 1/2 lengths, he swept the
Triple Crown en route to Horse of the Year honors in Uruguay.
Purchased privately by Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum, Invasor was
transferred to Kiaran McLaughlin. He was sent to Dubai for the 2006 U.A.E. Derby
(UAE-G2), but surprisingly failed to land a blow and wound up a non-threatening
fourth. He would never taste defeat again.
Invasor made his U.S. debut against older horses in the Pimlico Special (G1).
Despite still being physically a three-year-old, the bay rallied strongly in
deep stretch to score by 1 1/4 lengths. He was even more emphatic in the
Suburban H. (G1), where he rolled to a 4 1/4-length decision. Following a
determined photo-finish score in the Whitney H. (G1), Invasor was expected to
contest the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1), only to spike a fever and have to be
withdrawn.
Thus Invasor entered the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), and a showdown with
Horse of the Year rival Bernardini, without the benefit of a recent prep. It
made no difference. Held up farther back than usual off a testing pace, Invasor
struck top gear down the stretch to overpower Bernardini and won going away by a
length.
Honored as the Horse of the Year and champion older male of 2006, Invasor
also topped that year’s World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings. He stayed in
training in 2007 with the Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) as his primary early-season
goal. In his tune-up in the Donn H. (G1), he overcame a near-disastrous clipping
of heels on the far turn and galloped by two lengths.
Invasor then returned to Nad al Sheba, the scene of his only career loss, and
obliterated that unhappy memory by driving to a 1 3/4-length victory in the $6
million World Cup. His final time for 1 1/4 miles on the dirt was a sharp 1:59
4/5, just off the mark of 1:59 3/5 set by Dubai Millennium in the 2000 running.
Unfortunately, the Dubai World Cup ended up being his swan song. In his final
workout ahead of a title defense in the Suburban, Invasor fractured a sesamoid
and was promptly retired.
An earner of $7,804,070 from his sparkling 11-for-12 lifetime mark, Invasor
recorded triple-digit BRIS Speed and Late Pace ratings in all five of his U.S.
starts.
Bred by Haras Clausan in Argentina, Invasor is out of the Interprete mare
Quendom. She is in turn a full sister to Argentinean Group 1 heroine Reina
Victoriosa (Arg), herself the dam of U.S. stakes winners More Than Regal and
Ready Ruler, both by More Than Ready. Quendom and Reina Victoriosa are also full
sisters to Argentinean Group 2 victor Qualified.
Invasor hails from the family of South African Horse of the Year Illustrador
(Cipayo), Argentinean champions Ivory Tower (Arg) (Southern Halo) and Di
Escorpion (Digression) as well as Group 1 winners Twine (Cipayo), Inter Red
(Rincon Red), Indalecio (Arg) (Cipayo), Ishkra (Arg) (Cipayo), Thano (Southern
Halo) and Miss Twins (Numerous).
The female line descends from the immortal Pretty Polly (Gallinule), who
appears as Invasor’s 11th dam.
The nine-year-old stallion stands at Shadwell Farm near Lexington, Kentucky,
for $20,000, live foal.