Making only his fifth start, Northern Invader looked a potential top-notcher when winning the Gio Ponti Stakes at Belmont At The Big A on Friday for Cherie deVaux.
The Collected colt is out of Androeah, who was purchased by Chad Schumer as agent for just $18,000 while carrying a full sibling at the 2020 Keeneland November Sale.
Northern Invader ran out the easy eight-length maiden at Belmont Park in July, for which he was given a 94 Beyer, prior to running fifth in the G2 Secretariat Stakes.
Back in New York on Friday, Northern Invader made most of the running, kicking clear under a steady drive to win by a length.
“It took him quite a bit to mature into himself and now that we finally have him going, he’s proving that all the waiting was worth it,” said Adrianne DeVaux, assistant to trainer Cherie DeVaux. “This is awesome. Everyone’s been really high on this horse, especially after he ran decent, big numbers on dirt and then the number he did on turf. Doing it the way he did and to have that backed up with this is really great.”
Northern Invader becomes the sixth stakes winner for his first crop sire Collected. He was bred by Anderson Farms out of Androeah, a winning Arch full-sister to Grade 1 winner Archaracharch.
Northern Invader‘s win came on the same day that Winters Lion took his earnings to approximately $180,000 with a win in an allowance at Belmont At The Big A. The stakes-placed Accelerate 3yo is out of This Girl Rocks, who was purchased by Chad Schumer as agent while carrying the colt for $24,000.
