Northern Invader rebounds with Gio Ponti victory
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Northern Invader ran back to his impressive maiden win Friday, when he darted to a one-length victory over Ohana Honor in the $135,000 Gio Ponti for 3-year-olds at Aqueduct. It was another seven lengths back in third to Bat Flip.
The Gio Ponti, which was run at one-mile on turf, shared a card with a second turf stakes, the $135,000 Ashley T. Cole won by Spirit of St Louis.
Northern Invader ($6.30) was an eight-length maiden winner in July at Belmont Park, putting up a Beyer Speed Figure of 94 in his turf debut. The effort made him the favorite in the Grade 2 Secretariat in August at Colonial Downs, a race in which he finished fifth. He was able to nail down his first stakes win in the Gio Ponti.
Northern Invader tracked leader City Fever through an opening quarter in 23.74 seconds, then took over through a half-mile in 47.65 seconds and continued to maintain his advantage through six furlongs in 1:11.65. He quickened in the stretch, and finished up the distance on turf rated firm in 1:35.25.
“I didn’t want to fight him too much and he put his ears up on the backside and was very relaxed,” winning jockey Jose Ortiz told the publicity department for the New York Racing Association. “I’m happy we got the win.”
Ortiz was aboard for Cherie DeVaux, who trains Northern Invader for the partnership of West Point Throughbreds and David Ingordo.
West Point Thoroughbreds also co-owns Ohana Honor, who rallied to complete the $1 exacta that paid $10.60. Shug McGaughey trains Ohana Honor.
“Both horses ran huge,” Tom Bellhouse, executive vice president of West Point Thoroughbreds, told NYRA. “Northern Invader bounced back from the effort down in Virginia and really showed his true form. Ohana Honor is a horse on the come up for us. I think Shug has really figured him out. It’s taken some time and I think he’ll be a horse that makes some noise when we go down to Florida for the winter.”
Northern Invader is a son of Collected. His winning dam, Androeah, is a full sister to Grade 1 Arkansas Derby winner Archarcharch. Northern Invader has now won 2 of 5 starts for earnings of $168,600.
The next start for Northern Invader is to be determined, the connections told NYRA.
Spirit of St Louis takes Cole
Spirit of St Louis became a stakes winner in the Ashley T. Cole, when he emerged with the lead from between horses and went on to a 1 1/4-length victory over Jerry the Nipper. It was another neck back in third to 4-5 favorite City Man.
Spirit of St Louis ($4.90) was content to stalk the pace set by Un Ojo, who put up fractions of 23.36 seconds for the opening quarter, 48.29 for the half-mile and 1:12.92 for six furlongs in the 1 1/8 miles for 3-year-olds and up bred in New York.
Spirit of St Louis moved to the lead in the stretch run and covered the distance on firm turf in 1:48.29.
“He was traveling so comfortable,” winning rider Manny Franco told NYRA. “It was just a matter of time. I had a good position, clean break. He took me to where I wanted to be - close. By the five-sixteenths pole, I took a peek back because I wanted to know where City Man was because I knew he was outside me. At the quarter-pole, I went all in with my horse and he responded to the wire.”
Chad Brown trains Spirit of St Louis for the partnership of Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, and Richard Schermerhorn.
Spirit of St Louis is a son of Medaglia d’Oro and a full brother to Bar of Gold, the winner of the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint who earned $1.5 million. Spirit of Louis has now won 4 of 6 starts for earnings of $260,650.
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