It’s thrilling when two horses duel down the stretch, particularly in a million-dollar race! Final yr, the decided Huge Invasion completed second within the sixteenth operating of the Breeders’ Cup Turf Dash by a “diminishing neck” to Nobals. However that’s not the tip of the story!
The bay 5-year-old horse is returning to the 2024 Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar as a celebrated “millionaire” with lifetime earnings of $1,114,832. As a part of the drama that solely the Breeders’ Cup can present, he has some “unfinished enterprise” and shall be gallantly circling “the place the turf meets the surf” as soon as once more within the $1 million Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Dash on Saturday, Nov 2.
He was bought in 2020 by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing on the Keeneland September yearling sale for $72,000. Dean Reeves remembers the primary time he noticed Huge Invasion. “He’s a handsome horse. He was so well-balanced. He has good hips and shoulders. I like a horse that if you take a look at him, it seems to be like every little thing suits. He’s not too lengthy, not too quick. He was simply very properly developed. You may inform from his movement when he was going to run, it was going to be good. He’s simply so properly constructed.”
Reeves was standing with coach Christophe Clement discussing the potential for names and needed to make use of “Invasion” to honor his sire “Declaration of Battle.” Clemente beneficial including the phrase “Huge” because it “works with every little thing” and that’s how Huge Invasion was named.
Out of the profitable Curlin mare Curls in Place, Huge Invasion gained his second profession begin at age 3 in 2022 and 6 of his eight races that yr. His profession wins have included the 2024 Harvey Pack Stakes at Saratoga Race Course, the Grade 2 Nearctic Stakes in 2023 at Woodbine, the 2023 Silks Run Stakes at Gulfstream Park, the 2022 Mahony Stakes at Saratoga, the Grade 3 Fast Name Stakes Offered by the Thoroughbred Retirement Basis in 2022 at Saratoga, the 2022 Paradise Creek Stakes at Belmont Park, the 2022 William Walker Stakes at Churchill Downs, and the 2022 Texas Glitter Stakes at Gulfstream. As well as, he has raced at Aqueduct, Royal Ascot, and Kentucky Downs.
He’s skilled by the Christophe Clement. Assistant coach Miguel Clement offers the next perception into Huge Invasion. “He is very simple to work with. He is acquired an amazing disposition. He loves taking naps. He is very laid again on the barn. On the races, he’s fairly the alternative and turns into vigorous in a great way. It is humorous as a result of he is the horse that you simply belief. He’s very type and simple to work with. He would sleep all day in his spherical pen in Florida and that’s the massive factor that he likes to do.
“Morning coaching is superb. He’s candy, type, and simple to work with. At race time when he will get a jock on his again, he will get on the muscle. He’s confirmed an incredible quantity of skill from day one. We’ve preferred him from the get-go. He’s all the time had class. It has been numerous enjoyable to coach him. He’s our dream to coach him. He exhibits up each time. He’s sound. He’s doing very properly, and we’re excited.”
The enjoyment of racing is necessary to Dean and Patti Reeves. In 2007, they met future horse companions Bob and Esther Ades whereas vacationing within the Turks and Caicos Islands. Patti says that they “have been long-time horse-racing fanatics from the New York space” and already had a starter within the 1992 Kentucky Derby with the possession group of Florida Derby winner Expertise. It was from this opportunity assembly that the Reeves entered the world of horse racing, and the friendship expanded to buying racehorses.
Dean defined, “Esther and Bob Ades are the explanation we acquired into horse racing. Bob provided to go along with me to the Keeneland sale to indicate me the ropes, and that’s how we acquired into the enterprise. He launched us to Jerry Bailey, who beneficial Tim and Kathy Ritvo as trainers, and we started a journey that modified our lives.” From this, the Ades and Reeves partnership was born.
Bob Ades sadly handed away in 2016 from a coronary heart complication. Dean misses his buddy and remembers lots of their horse racing adventures “Bob was one other sort of individual that considered a horse on intestine emotions. He was a superb handicapper. He taught me rather a lot after I began. He knew lots of people and he saved us from numerous early errors. He was in a position to information us within the enterprise facet of it to the individuals we must be doing enterprise with. He knew Jerry Bailey properly and directed us to Kathy and Tim Ritvo. Which was life-changing.”
Patti and Esther instantly bonded by their love of each horses and jewellery. Patti remembers her lovely diamond earrings. A chic girl, Esther all the time gave her household a cause to smile. She handed away from pancreatic most cancers in December 2022. She had devoted her life to serving to and provoking others. Her household stated, “Those that knew her ‘basked in her gentle.’ ”
Her son Michael stated, “Since her premature passing, my brothers and I have typically mentioned the methods we will proceed to honor her life. Figuring out how she lived her life, we got here to the conclusion that she would need us to offer consolation, happiness and hope to others. … With this in thoughts, we created The Esther Ades Pancreatic Most cancers Innovation Fund in partnership with Northwell Well being and its cancer-research middle in New Hyde Park, Lengthy Island [N.Y.].”
Dean and Patti Reeves are pledging a share of Huge Invasion’s winnings to the Esther Ades Pancreatic Most cancers Innovation Fund. They thought that this is able to be a beautiful technique to honor their mates. “Esther and Bob liked to handicap the horses, and we knew they might love being part of this yr’s Breeders’ Cup.
The observe is an excellent place to assemble family and friends to expertise the emotion and great thing about horse racing. Benefit from the firm of your family members round you as you hear the “Name to the Publish!” The Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar will present a historic background for Huge Invasion’s seasoned marketing campaign into the battlefield as soon as once more with those that love him encouraging him on. Because the horses cost to the end line, it’s a superb time to be grateful as you cheer on the warrior!
