SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Big Invasion gave every indication he’s rounding back to the form that saw him come within a neck of winning the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint after rallying from near the rear of the field at the top of the lane to a head decision over Our Shot Monday at Saratoga in the $150,000 Harvey Pack Stakes.
Souper Quest finished another three-quarters of a length farther back in third.
Big Invasion, who was beaten a neck by Thin White Duke in last year’s edition of the Harvey Pack, closed out his 2023 campaign at the top of his game. He shipped to Woodbine and won the Grade 2 Nearctic before falling just short of catching Nobals four weeks later at Santa Anita in the BC Turf Sprint.
His 2024 campaign had been a bit frustrating through his first four starts, although he did suggest things were on the upturn with a second-place finish against allowance competition on July 4 at Aqueduct that was won in track-record time by Outlaw Kid.
“He was a top class horse last year but has been in catch-up mode all year long and I’m not sure why, although every time it was always against us,” said Christophe Clement, who trains Big Invasion for owner Dean Reeves. “I was amazingly disappointed he did not win at Aqueduct last time, although he ran very well finishing second. They actually broke the track record that day.”
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In the Harvey Pack, as usual, Big Invasion dropped well off what turned out to be a lightning fast pace set by his former stablemate High Front. Big Invasion still had only one horse beaten when fanning very wide to launch his bid into the stretch by jockey Dylan Davis, back aboard for the first time since the pair teamed up to win the Nearctic 11 months earlier.
Big Invasion still seemed to have too much left to do upon settling into the stretch before unleashing a furious rally down the center of the course to prove narrowly best at the end.
Our Shot, who finished a head behind Big Invasion when third in the last year’s Harvey Pack, rallied willingly inside the winner while on his left lead down the stretch and just missed. Souper Quest, forwardly placed from the outset, stuck his head in front at midstretch before succumbing grudgingly to the top pair in the closing yards.
Big Invasion, who completed 5 1/2 furlongs over a firm course in 1:01.37, gave Davis his eighth stakes win of the meet, tying him for second in that category with leading rider Irad Ortiz Jr. Big Invasion paid $9.50 to win.
“I’m delighted he won today. It’s been a long time since the last win and now we can go on to better things,” said Clement. “It was a great pace, my ex-horse [High Front] was in front in 21 flat. It was wonderful. He was back a long ways, six lengths at the quarter pole, and he really kicked in.
“When he’s right, he’s got that turn of foot in the stretch. He’s on his way back.”
Clement said Big Invasion would have one more start, possibly the Grade 3 Belmont Turf Sprint at Aqueduct on Oct. 5, prior to what will hopefully be a return trip to the Breeders’ Cup on Nov. 2 at Del Mar.
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