Invasor takes inside track

Invasor, the reigning horse of the year, did what he was supposed to do in his 2007 debut, but not without some anxious moments.

Full of run behind a wall of horses nearing the stretch of the $500,000 Donn Handicap on Saturday at Gulfstream Park, Invasor clipped the heels of 36-1 longshot Barcola and, for a split second, looked to be in danger of falling under young jockey Fernando Jara.

Jara, the Argentine-bred’s regular rider during most of 2006, didn’t panic. Invasor, the son of Candy Stripes, eventually found room along the inside and powered home to his 10th career win in 11 starts.

“It was scary, but he showed why he was horse of the year,” said Kiaran McLaughlin, who trains Invasor for Shadwell Stable. “He demonstrated what a superior horse he is. He found a way to win.”

Next for Invasor is a rematch with the unbeaten Discreet Cat in the $6-million Dubai World Cup on March 31 in the United Arab Emirates. Discreet Cat handed Invasor his lone loss last year in the UAE Derby last March 25.

Two races before the Donn, Nobiz Like Shobiz, the choice of many as the leading contender for the Kentucky Derby, won the $150,000 Holy Bull by 1 1/2 lengths for his third win in four starts.

Making his first appearance since winning the Remsen more than two months earlier in New York, the Albert The Great colt defeated 27-1 longshot Drums Of Thunder and six others under jockey Cornelio Velasquez. The 7-10 favorite ran the mile in 1:35.47 for owner-breeder Elizabeth Valando and trainer Barclay Tagg.

“It was exactly what I wanted,” said Tagg, who won the 2003 Kentucky Derby with Funny Cide. “I wanted to get a good race into him without undue stress to win the race. We’ll see how he comes out of this race. We might go in the Fountain of Youth next.” The Fountain of Youth will be run March 3 at Gulfstream.

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The winners in the other graded stakes at Gulfstream were: Keyed Entry (Deputy Minister), Adore the Gold (Swale), Giant Wrecker (Canadian Turf Handicap) and Naissance Royale (Suwanee River). Miesque’s Approval, the male turf champion of 2006, was fifth as the 4-5 favorite in the Canadian Turf.

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Having run well over synthetic surfaces at Keeneland and Hollywood Park, Ravel demonstrated he could handle traditional dirt at Santa Anita.

Establishing himself as one of California’s best hopes for Triple Crown success, the 3-year-old Fusaichi Pegasus colt and jockey Garrett Gomez handled 2-1 favorite Liquidity and five others in the $101,500 Sham.

A $950,000 yearling purchase by owners Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, Ravel, the 5-2 second choice, won for the second time in three starts, winning by one length in 1:48.91 for the 1 1/8 miles.

Trained by Michael McCarthy, Todd Pletcher’s chief local assistant, Ravel finished second in his debut in Kentucky, before defeating maidens on Dec. 3 over the Cushion track at Hollywood Park.

“I had high hopes for him from the first time I rode him,” Gomez said. “He finished up like a mature colt. I like him.”

Gomez completed a graded stakes sweep later in the day when he guided Arson Squad to a 1 1/4 -length victory in the $300,000 Strub Stakes.

Fourth in the San Fernando on Jan. 13 in his first collaboration with Gomez, Arson Squad, a 4-year-old Brahms gelding, was kept closer to the pace on Saturday and was able to outfinish longshot Spring At Last to win for the fifth time in 11 starts.

The 3-1 third choice in the Grade II ran the 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.65 for Mace and Samantha Siegel’s Jay Em Ess Stable and trainer Bruce Headley. Brother Derek lost his eighth in a row since winning the Santa Anita Derby last April 8. The California-bred finished third.

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Jockey Norberto Arroyo Jr. suffered apparent eye and shoulder injuries after being involved in an accident in the fifth race at Aqueduct.

Arroyo was thrown to the ground when Cadillac Cruiser, the favorite in the $7,500 claimer, broke his right front leg. Eddie Martin Jr., who was riding Jimmy O, also was thrown but escaped injury. Cadillac Cruiser had to be euthanized and Jimmy O suffered a fatal neck injury. The remainder of the card at Aqueduct was canceled and the program for today was canceled.

This was the second ugly spill in three days at Aqueduct. On Thursday, jockeys Jose Santos and Ramon Dominguez were injured in a mishap that also involved Martin, who was not hurt.

Santos will be sidelined indefinitely because of fractures in his back, broken ribs and a broken nose. Dominguez hurt his right knee and is expected to be out a minimum of two weeks.

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bob.mieszerski@latimes.com