Decorated Invader too much to handle in Pennine Ridge Stakes

ELMONT, N.Y. - Decorated Invader asserted his class edge in a major way Saturday at Belmont Park, laying closer to the pace than usual, then finding another gear along the inside in the stretch to win the Grade 2, $150,000 Pennine Ridge Stakes.

Sitting within two lengths of the pace-setting Proven Strategies, Decorated Invader, under Joel Rosario, confronted that one along the rail when an opening presented itself at the top of the lane and drew clear in the final furlong to a 4 3/4-length score.

Proven Strategies finished second by 1 3/4 lengths over Mr Kringle. Vanzzy was fourth, followed by Famished and Venezuelan Hug. Maroon Maniac scratched.

The win was the second in as many starts this year for Decorated Invader and fourth from six overall. Decorated Invader is a son of Declaration of War owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, William Freeman, William Sandbrook and Cheryl Manning and trained by Christophe Clement.

“Listen, he’s an exciting horse,” Clement said. “I thought he won great.”

Decorated Invader has typically won by coming from well off the pace. Saturday, he was within two lengths of the leader before making his move.

“He was so relaxed, I decided to let him be there because it looked like no pace in front,” Rosario said. “I kind of made the move before the turn. I could see the horse inside, he came off the rail a little bit. I wasn’t sure what he was doing, so I let [Decorated Invader] go on with it and he looked very good.”

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Decorated Invader covered the mile in 1:33.06 and returned $3.20 as the favorite.

“My only instructions to Joel today were if you have two choices to be four or five out of it or 10 lengths out of it, I’d prefer to be four to five out of it,” Clement said. “He was only two out of it.”

Clement said he would look to run Decorated Invader in both the Grade 2 National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Stakes on July 18 and the $500,000 Saratoga Derby on Aug. 15.