Decorated Invader one of few confirmed runners for Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf

In a world of Juvenile Turf uncertainty, at least Decorated Invader looks pretty good.

The Christophe Clement-trained, New York-based colt ran a strong losing race making his career debut at Saratoga, won a maiden there in decisive fashion, and returned Sept. 15 at Woodbine to capture the Grade 1 Summer Stakes, ridden out to a 1 3/4-length victory.

“As of today, the Breeders’ Cup is the plan,” Clement said Wednesday morning from Belmont, where he plans to get Decorated Invader back on the work tab with an easy Sunday drill.

Decorated Invader, by Declaration of War out of the Arch mare Gamely Girl, debuted in a route race and has found early success despite his body and development type rather than because of it.

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“He’s a scopey, tall horse, very good looking. I think he’s improved over time, and it’s nice timing from the Summer to the Breeders’ Cup,” said Clement.

We’re dealing here with emerging, lightly raced 2-year-olds, so the next three weeks or so are the key period shaping the Juvenile Turf field. That’s especially true in Europe, where possibly no horseman has yet circled the race in pen. Expect trainers Aidan O’Brien and Charlie Appleby to have runners at Santa Anita, but upcoming September and October stakes like the Tattersalls, the Royal Lodge, the Beresford, the Jean-Luc Lagardere, the Dewhurst, and the Autumn will yield considerably more clues. There’s a good chance that the Joseph O’Brien-trained Vitalogy, who was third in the Summer, will return for the Juvenile Turf.

Another North American turf-route stakes winner of note is Fighting Seabee, who set a slow pace leading all the way in the Grade 3 With Anticipation Stakes at Saratoga. He will make his next start in the Bourbon Stakes at Keeneland.

Also pointed to the Bourbon is Peace Achieved, who won the $500,000 Juvenile over one mile at Kentucky Downs on Aug. 31. He is 2 for 2 since being stretched out from sprints.

“I know his numbers aren’t that fast, but I really like this horse,” said trainer Mark Casse.

Casse also has the Juvenile Turf in mind for Prince of Thieves, who rallied into a speed-favoring course to finish third in the Juvenile Turf Sprint at Kentucky Downs and will be stretched to a route for his next start.

Fenwick Station was second to Peace Achieved at Kentucky Downs and could also end up in the Bourbon. Art Collector only has a maiden win from two starts, but won a 6 1/2-furlong maiden race well on Sept. 5 at Kentucky Downs and is bred to stretch out.

California-based 2-year-olds have struggled to make their mark in the Juvenile Turf. Encoder won Del Mar’s most important race in the division, the Del Mar Juvenile Turf, by a head, and figures to have the Zuma Beach at Santa Anita on his agenda.