Big Invasion Tries to Prove He’s Elite in Nearctic

This time last year, Big Invasion  was a 3-year-old whose future appeared limitless. The Declaration of War  colt, owned by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, won five stakes in a row—from Gulfstream Park to Churchill Downs to Belmont Park to Saratoga Race Course, where he won two, including the Quick Call (G3T)—and was poised to join the ranks of the nation’s top turf sprinters. The Oct. 8 Nearctic Stakes (G2T) at Woodbine is his latest chance to make the jump. 

As a 4-year-old Big Invasion has looked on the verge of something all season, but since the winning streak ran its course he’s proven unable to replicate any similar success against older horses. Trainer Christophe Clement certainly campaigns him like an elite turf sprinter, having tried races such as the Turf Sprint Stakes (G2T) on the Kentucky Derby (G1) card (seventh after having to check), the Jaipur (G1T) on Belmont Stakes (G1) card (where a second between Caravel  and Casa Creed  suggests he can run with the best), and the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (G1) at the Royal Ascot meeting (13th). Last time out he was beaten a neck as the favorite in the $145,000 Harvey Pack Stakes at Saratoga. 

Big Invasion also was entered in the Oct. 7 Belmont Turf Sprint Stakes (G3T) at the Belmont at the Big A meet, but will scratch in favor of the Nearctic in hopes of finding firmer ground. That’s not necessarily assured though, as rain is possible at Woodbine this weekend, just not as certainly as it is in New York. 

Big Invasion is 3-1 on the morning line despite his last win coming five starts back, in March, in the $100,000 Silks Run Stakes at Gulfstream. The Nearctic will reveal if the next step should be the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) or time off to regroup. 

The Competition

Among other top choices will be Masen , a multiple stakes winner at one mile for trainer Chad Brown but unraced since the same date one year ago, when sixth in the Turf Mile Stakes (G1T) at Keeneland; Dream Shake , winner of the Connaught Cup (G2T) over this course in July; County Final , coming off a win in one of those Kentucky Downs allowance races with a stakes-caliber field and purse; and Oceanic , who has earned nearly $350,000 the hard way, with only four wins in 25 starts but showing up and earning a check more often than not. 

“He’s had a lot of issues and other things over the years,” Oceanic’s trainer Jordan Blair said. “But he’s a trier and he always gives you everything he’s got.”

Blair added: “One thing we noticed about Canada, is that he flourished on that turf course, and the extra half-furlong really fits his running style right now. It could make all the difference in the world.”