Invasor [ARG]

[clh]

You did say it was insufficient data . BUT you would be wrong to assume that folks breed appropriate mares to appropriate stallions. I remember asking one stallion farm who was standing a $100k stud if they were very specific on the mares they accepted to that stallion and they said, "No, if you had the money, they'd take your mare". So much for wanting to breed the best to the best huh? You would think if the breeders weren't smart enough the stallion farms would at least be - but nope .

My best guess with Shadwell stallions is that a large percentage of them are bred to Shadwell mares but that may only be 1/3 of them but I don't have the numbers to back that up. I just know they don't breed a lot and don't over breed any of them.

Good luck to the upcoming runners! Although I have to admit, I kind of like Vader being the top earning (ha!) but I realize someone will knock him off sooner or later.

[Brigitte]

Photon runs Jan 1 at Gulfstream in Race 1, a $12,500 mcl at a mile with a purse of $16,500. He's due for a good trip after his last.

Maybe Vader could invade Aqueduct for bucks? The $65,000 purse for Holy Invader's MSW - wow! The casino at Aqueduct must be cooking. But the inner-track in winter ... the Big Enchiladas go to Florida and return for Wood Memorial Day. It will be interesting to see the effect of $$$$$. (My father used to take me to Aqueduct as a kid. I remember being absolutely certain a horse that looked like the Black Stallion would win.)

I'm curious about Holy Invader on a smaller track and in a bigger field. He's the fifth ML choice after horses that have run/worked at AQU.

[Brigitte]

Vader's top earner spot is safe.

Holy Invader came in last at Aqueduct, the chart says he chased 3 wide, saved ground on the last turn, had no kick. He was 2nd out of the gate, soon 5th and backed up from there. Every fractional time at Aqueduct was faster by 1-2 seconds than in his last race.

Galilee was done early and was pulled up. Hope the guy is OK.

[Brigitte]

Clh: Bloodhorse Maiden Watch says his favorite Invasor is Midnight Vader – check it out! He summarizes the 2011 2 year old stats of Hard Spun, Corinthian, English Channel, Street Sense and Invasor. The comparison isn’t flattering to Invasor, but here comes 2012.
http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/maidenwatch/archive/2012/01/01/looking-back-and-forward.aspx

2012 starts with good news: Photon ran well to get second at Gulfstream. He seized the lead but was “outgamed” (whatever that means – anyone know?) by the favorite. He duked it out though, instead of fading.
http://www.equibase.com/static/chart/pdf/GP010112USA1.pdf

Princess Kiha is entered at Golden Gate on Jan 5 in an mcl at a mile on synthetic instead of turf.
http://www.equibase.com/static/entry/GG010612USA-EQB.html#RACE8

Invasor Beauty is a long shot in a $46,000 msw at Fairgrounds on Jan 5. She ran once at a mile and was 8th without ever being in contention but that was on turf Sept 3. Now the main track.
http://www.equibase.com/static/entry/AQU010612USA-EQB.html#RACE3

FiveSixteen jumps into the deep end of the pool at Aqueduct on Jan 6 in an inner-track msw for $65,000. In the field of five the sires are Invasor, Street Cry, Lawyer Ron, Corinthian and A.P. Indy. The distance is 1 1/8 mile. FiveSixteen ran at Saratoga and Belmont. He got the lead but ended up the track. A speed duel with the Corinthian? Another possibility is that, like French speed-ball Golf Juan, he’s developed since his last race in August.
http://www.equibase.com/static/entry/AQU010612USA-EQB.html#RACE3

Cayetano P makes his debut in Uruguay on Jan 6. A lot of excitement on the South American blogs – according to the comments he’s being raced by the same group that raced Invasor and one of the other entries, also making his debut, is the son of a popular racehorse, Potri Silver.

[clh]

Thanks Brigitte - I don't go to Maiden Watch that much anymore but guess I will start checking back in .

[Brigitte]

Peony Perfect f
http://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbHorseInfo.cfm?refno=8547927&registry=T

She makes her debut Jan 3 in a $26,000 7f MSW at Charles Town.
http://www.equibase.com/static/entry/CT010312USA-EQB.html#RACE2

Also, I gave the wrong address for the Invasor Beauty Fairgrounds race Jan 5 entries. Here's the right one:
http://www.equibase.com/static/entry/FG010512USA-EQB.html#RACE8

Maidenwatch was expecting great things from Holy Invader, who threw a clunker. But Holy Invader was second in slow 5 horse races, not promising for Aqueduct. FiveSixteen demonstrated speed on the big stage - his 2 races were clunkers because he lacked endurance. Also, I saw an image of him trying to dump his jockey. If he's matured physically and mentally there's more Aqueduct upside to him. We'll soon see.

[Brigitte]

Peony Perfect's debut race involved a lot of bumping. She was on the receiving end at the start, saved ground then moved five wide and made it to fifth of ten.

Invasor Beauty moved forward. She was no factor in her first race, but in this one she chased the leader in second through the far turn, then tired to be fourth of nine, got $2270.

There's a new Invasor worker:
Fortin c
http://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbHorseInfo.cfm?refno=8625161&registry=T

[Brigitte]

He was a terrific second. He got to first place at the half with the winner in tandem a head back. The winner passed him and he started to fall back, 1/2 length, 1 1/2 length in the stretch - then, something new happened - Five Sixteen came back at him, missed by a neck. It was 4 1/2 lengths to the third horse.

The winner, Raconteur by A.P. Indy, trained by Pletcher, went off at 0.20, Five Sixteen went off at 12.20. He earned $13,000. He's matured and he gets 1 1/8.

If I still liven in NY I'd have seen it for myself ...

[Brigitte]

http://www.equibase.com/static/chart/pdf/AQU010612USA3.pdf

[BargainBlueblood]

Agreed. Five Sixteen ran huge and almost caught Pletcher's heavily bet runner by surprise. Is it crazy to start daydreaming he might be a Belmont Stakes kind of horse?

[clh]

Sounds like a nice run and certainly nothing to be alarmed about.

[BargainBlueblood]

Brigitte, I'm gonna beat you to the punch on this one: Princee Khia just anihilated her field. The march of the Invasor 3-year-olds continues!

[Brigitte]

Not a turf horse? Won by 8 on synthetic - dirt next? She's super consistent and so deserves her win.

The Belmont for Five Sixteen makes sense, Invasor won at that distance. Let's dream!

Talk about dreaming crazy, look at this from DRF Countdown to the Crown Week 1:
"... As is tradition, we begin by checking in on the undercard races of note for the weekend before our more in-depth stakes analysis. ...
Today (Friday, Jan. 6), maiden route races will be offered at Aqueduct (race 3), Fair Grounds (race 7) and Turfway Park (race 9). Todd Pletcher’s pair of RACONTEUR and RED BENDEL highlight the Aqueduct test at nine furlongs. Raconteur, by A.P. Indy, has been knocking on the door. Red Bendel is a second-time starter by Street Cry out of the multiple juvenile stakes winner Magicalmysterycat. ..."

Hope Five Sixteen came out of the race well, it must have been a hard race for him. I bet they run him in a stakes as a maiden ...

[Brigitte]

Cayetano P won his debut in Uruguay at 1100 m (5.5 f) by "minima" - must have been a photo finish - over Cafe Silver. They have the video but it won't play - wrong plug-in.

Same owners as Invasor and I think it's the same first race Invasor won by 6 - but his son is younger. That's some party they must be having!

[Brigitte]

She's entered on 1/11 in a $35,000 mcl at Aqu. 6 f on the inner track, purse $34,000.

Maidenwatch has a link to Cayetano P's race. Also, here is the finish photo - "minima", no kidding!
RATZ, don't know how to put an image in.

Look here, it's the 3d image from the top, Cayetano P is 11.
http://www.uruguayturfline.com/central.htm