Big Invasion's win streak climbs to six with Mahony Stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - It looked the same as several of his previous wins, but trainer Christophe Clement felt Big Invasion's three-length victory in Sunday’s $150,000 Mahony Stakes at Saratoga was his best race to date.

Sitting fifth, seven lengths off the rapid early pace established by Parx Racing invader That’s Right, Big Invasion rallied four-wide down the center of the Saratoga turf course to win the Mahony with matter-of-fact ease under Joel Rosario.

It was the sixth straight win for Big Invasion, who four weeks ago won the Grade 3 Quick Call here by 2 3/4 lengths.

Despite Big Invasion having won his previous five races, Clement felt there was more development mentally from the 3-year-old son of Declaration of War. Clement saw improvement in that area Sunday.

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“Today was his best race,” Clement said. “He’s a very good horse, he keeps winning, so there’s no doubt about it, but today I thought he behaved better than he’s ever done, he looked better than he’s ever [looked]. He broke well, [Rosario] took him back, he behaved well and he finished very well, so I’m thrilled.”

Even Rosario noted that Big Invasion was more willing to settle Sunday than he’d been in his previous races.

“He relaxes, but sometimes he can jump in the bridle a little bit, but he was all good today,” Rosario said. “They got away from me a little bit, but he was off the bridle nice and he came with a run.”

Big Invasion, owned by Dean and Patti Reeves, covered the 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:01.42 and returned $2.70 to win.

Cadamosto, who chased That’s Right from second, did indeed hold second by a half-length over Determined Kingdom. Sky and Sand was fourth, followed by Surprise Boss, That’s Right and Editorial Comment.

Big Invasion has won six times from seven starts this year, his campaign kicking off on Jan. 7 with a two-length defeat at Gulfstream Park.

The Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Keeneland on Nov. 5 is likely the year-end target for Big Invasion and Clement said he wouldn’t mind freshening the colt and just training the horse up to that race.

“That would be the feeling I have today, but let’s see how he comes out of it and we can go from there,” Clement said.

For Rosario, the Mahony was his 12th stakes victory of the Saratoga meet. John Velazquez is believed to hold the record for stakes wins at a Saratoga meet with 15 (2005). Rosario has won 10 graded stakes, one shy of the Saratoga record shared by Velazquez and Javier Castellano.

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