Decorated Invader has options in Hall of Fame Stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Christophe Clement has two bullets to fire in Saturday’s Grade 2, $150,000 National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Stakes, but it’s more than likely he’ll just put one in the chamber.

Decorated Invader and Gufo have combined to win eight of 11 starts, including five stakes. While Decorated Invader has been pointing to this race since he won the Grade 2 Pennine Ridge at Belmont Park on June 20, Gufo would be running back just two weeks after he won the Grade 3 Kent at Delaware Park. Clement said he is more likely to train Gufo up to the $500,000 Saratoga Derby Invitational on Aug. 15.

Decorated Invader should be all Clement needs to win the Hall of Fame, which is run at 1 1/8 miles over the inner turf. A son of Declaration of War, Decorated Invader has won four of six starts and is 2 for 2 this year with victories in the Cutler Bay at Gulfstream Park in May and the Pennine Ridge. Both those races were at a mile. He won the Cutler Bay by rallying from 15 lengths back. He won the Pennine Ridge from a stalking third. Joel Rosario rode Decorated Invader in both races and will be aboard on Saturday.

“He was very impressive at Belmont,” Clement said. “I thought Joel was always in control. He’s a good horse; he’s not an okay horse.”

As far as running style, Clement said Decorated Invader “is versatile.”

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“He can win going forward, he can go from behind,” he said. “Joel has all the freedom to do whatever he wants.”

Decorated Invader breaks from the outside post. Provided Gufo scratches, there will be only five runners if the race remains on turf.

Get Smokin could be the speed of the Hall of Fame Stakes. At Gulfstream Park this winter, he finished second in both the Grade 3 Kitten’s Joy and Dania Beach and was third in the Cutler Bay, two lengths behind Decorated Invader. Most recently, he finished fifth in a first-level allowance.

Jose Ortiz rides Get Smokin from post 3 for trainer Tom Bush.

Domestic Spending, a son of Kingman trained by Chad Brown, has won both of his starts, both at a mile.

“He’s a little bit of a quirky horse,” Brown said. “We got him in a nice rhythm of training now and he’s a lot more focused and professional about what he’s doing.”

Brown believes Domestic Spending trains like he’ll get a mile and an eighth.

“He’s bred to do it,” Brown said.

Moon Over Miami, who gave trainer Bill Mott his 5,000th career victory winning an allowance at Churchill, and Ever Dangerous, fourth to Domestic Spending in an allowance race, complete the field.

Money Moves, 2 for 2, would run only if the race is moved to the main track.