Two years ago, our team came away with Decorated Invader on the fourth day of the Keeneland September yearling sale. He was a son of Declaration of War, tucked away on a far corner of the sales grounds, but he caught our attention and went on to win the Grade 1 Summer Stakes almost exactly a year later for trainer Christophe Clement.

Flash forward to the marathon fourth session that wrapped up Book 2 at Keeneland September this year. After about 9 hours, he was one of the last few horses to go through the sales ring Thursday, and quite appropriated was already named Longest Day. But he was well worth the wait to keep the ball rolling one more time with WPT, Clement, and Declaration of War, who moved to Japan after siring the foal crop of 2019 that includes this colt.

Christophe is a strict judge, and he gave a thumbs up to this colt, as did our bloodstock agent David Ingordo. Christophe sure does know the sire: he trains two of the best turf three-year-olds in the country, and they are both by Declaration of War. That would be Decorated Invader and his regular workmate Gufo, who became a Grade 1 winner himself in the Belmont Derby on October 3.

The first Saturday in October continued a torrid run for Declaration of War. His son Fire At Will is now one of the leading contenders for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, after winning both the With Anticipation Stakes on dirt at Saratoga and the Grade 2 Pilgrim Stakes on the grass at Belmont, which came on the same card as Gufo’s Belmont Derby. Also on October 3 at Belmont, the Declaration of War 2-year-old filly Fort Drum donned cap and gown, breaking her maiden second-time out. And a day later at Belmont, the 2-year-old Declaration of War filly Chocolate Cookie scored her second straight with a dominant allowance victory. Declaration of War also is the sire of West Point’s well-regarded 2-year-old Warn, who is currently preparing for his debut for Clement.

The new colt is a half brother to stakes winner Five Iron, who was a multiple graded stakes winner on the turf in New York.

Price includes all acquisition costs and all training, veterinary, and insurance expenses until January 1, 2022.