NEW YORK’S SARATOGA SPRINGS -Big Invasion won the Grade 3, $175,000 Quick Call Prize for 3-year-old turf sprinters on Sunday at Saratoga, extending his winning streak to five and earning his first graded stakes.The pacesetters Surprise Boss and Run Curtis Run were passed in midstretch by Big Invasion, who had started the race fifth of six early and was trailing a quick early pace under Joel Rosario. Big Invasion was then taken in hand late.His 5 1/2-furlong final time of 1:00.80 seconds was just 0.59 seconds slower than the course record set by Carotari in 2019.[thrive_2step id=’1134152′]​Get Free Saratoga Picks via email Click here[/thrive_2step]
The 4-5 favorite, Big Invasion, a son of Declaration of War owned by Dean Reeves and trained by Christophe Clement, brought up $3.70.He received a Beyer Speed Figure of 100.Run Curtis Run beat Surprise Boss by half a length. Fourth place went to Sky and Sand, then Asymmetric, then Nobals.Senbei and Hagler, who entered only for the main track, Dance Code, and One Timer were all disqualified.Big Invasion profited from a fiercely competitive pace that saw Surprise Boss and Run Curtis Run finish the half-mile in 43.83 seconds.The result was almost certainly inevitable once Big Invasion was able to split horses without incident around the turn.Rosario, who won three races on Sunday’s card and has a meet-leading seven from 22 mounts after the first week, said, “He broke really well, it looked like there was a little speed in front of me and he settled nicely behind and kind of made the move on the turn and had to continue his move and he did great.””I was only a passenger turning towards home.Big Invasion added the Quick Call to victory in the Texas Glitter at Gulfstream Park, the William Walker at Churchill, and the Paradise Creek at Belmont.All of that happened following his second-place showing in his debut at Gulfstream in January.He’s evolving into a really versatile, mature, and serious horse, according to Clement.He’s still a little young and a little immature, but he’s incredibly swift, so if I can keep him sound, he should get even better from 3 to 4.He’s a great horse if we can keep that speed under control.
[thrive_2step id=’1134152′]Get Free Saratoga Picks via email Click here[/thrive_2step]Big Invasion will be given consideration for the $1 million Turf Sprint for 3-and-up going six furlongs at Kentucky Downs on September 10 and/or the $150,000 Mahony for 3-year-olds going 5 1/2 furlongs here on August 14.