Big Invasion wins William Walker at odds-on
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Big Invasion came through as a heavy favorite, drawing clear late in the $197,250 William Walker, the second of back-to-back Wednesday stakes at Churchill Downs.
Confidently ridden by Joel Rosario, Big Invasion won for the third straight time, finishing the 5 1/2-furlong race in 1:03.73 over firm going.
“He broke well and I got him into a rhythm” while saving ground, said Rosario. “When we turned for home, I felt pretty good we had them.”
Trained by Christophe Clement for Dean Reeves and partners, Big Invasion returned $3 in the ninth of 10 races held under cloudy skies and temperate conditions. B D Valeski, at 30-1 the longest shot in a field of seven 3-year-olds, was two lengths behind the winner while finishing late to edge one of the pacesetters, Run Curtis Run, by a half-length for second.
Big Invasion, a Kentucky-bred colt by Declaration of War, had started three times beforehand, all at five furlongs over turf at Gulfstream Park. He was second in his debut, then easily won a Feb. 19 maiden race and the March 26 Texas Glitter.
“We think we have a good one,” said Reeves, who was on hand from his Atlanta home.
The $2 exacta (5-3) paid $65.60, the $1 trifecta (5-3-6) returned $316.10, and the 10-cent superfecta (5-3-6-2) was worth $93.63.
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This was just the fourth race run over the new $10 million turf course at Churchill. Two were run on the Saturday night opening card, but Tuesday races scheduled for the grass were moved to the main track because of inclement weather. One turf race, a route for maidens, was held earlier Wednesday.
In the race before the William Walker, Top Gunner drew off in the final furlong to win the inaugural running of the $158,700 St. Matthews, a six-furlong overnight stakes contested by six older horses.
Always close to pacesetting Quick Tempo, jockey Reylu Gutierrez moved to challenge late in the turn with Top Gunner, taking over in the upper stretch while turning back a mild rally from Tulane Tryst, the even-money favorite, to prevail by by two lengths. The winner, trained by John Ortiz for 4 G Racing, paid $12.60 as fourth choice after finishing in a swift 1:08.88 over a fast surface.
Quick Tempo held third, another length back, followed in order by Bango, Manny Wah, and Tiger Dad. There were four early scratches from an original lineup of 10: Just Might, A C Expressway, Sir Alfred James, and Baby Yoda.
Top Gunner, a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding by Into Mischief, was coming off an April 15 allowance victory at Oaklawn Park, where Ortiz wintered. He now has won five of 15 starts and $344,993.
Gutierrez and Ortiz, who will team Saturday with longshot Barber Road in the first Kentucky Derby for both, also teamed to win the Wednesday opener, a maiden-claiming sprint, with Cycologist ($8.20).
* Derby week continues Thursday with an 11-race “Thurby” card highlighted by three straight stakes. First post is 12:45 p.m. Eastern.
First post both Friday and Saturday is 10:30 a.m.