Decorated Invader highlights Aqueduct’s first turf stakes of 2021 in Danger’s Hour
At 0h23, on April 9, 2021 • By AQUEDUCT
The year’s first turf stakes on the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) circuit will mark the 2021 debut of three-time graded stakes-winner Decorated Invader, who will compete as part of an eight-horse field of 4-year-olds and up going one mile in Saturday’s $100,000 Danger’s Hour at Aqueduct Racetrack.
With turf racing returning for the 11-day spring meet at the Big A that started April 1 and will run through Sunday, April 18, the sixth running of the Danger’s Hour is one of two stakes on Saturday’s card, joining the $100,000 Top Flight Invitational for older fillies and mares going 1 1/8 miles on the main track.
Decorated Invader enters his 4-year-old year after posting three victories in six starts as a sophomore, including back-to-back Grade 2 scores in the one-mile Pennine Ridge by 4 3/4 lengths in June at Belmont Park and following with a 1 1/4-length victory in the Hall of Fame in July at Saratoga Race Course.
Trainer Christophe Clement, who won his first NYRA training title at the Aqueduct fall meet, will return to the track looking to see if Decorated Invader can win his Big A debut and boast of stakes wins at all three NYRA tracks.
“I’m excited about it; he’s training well and it’s all good,” Clement said. “He had a nice winter break. Him and Gufo had the same work pattern. They’ll both run at Belmont in the spring and I’m excited about both of them. Decorated Invader has been doing really good.”
Jockey Junior Alvarado will pick up the mount for the first time, drawing post 4.
