After Christophe Clement upset the 2014 Belmont Stakes (G1) with Tonalist, he was no longer pigeon-holed as a turf trainer. But it was with grass runners that the Frenchman made his mark in America, and two-time Eclipse champion Gio Ponti was his best.
Clement died May 25 of a rare eye cancer, and the last horse he saddled was Far Bridge in the May 10 Man o' War Stakes on the grass at Aqueduct. He won the 1 3/8-mile Grade 2 by a length, a fitting finale for the 59-year-old Frenchman.
His son and longtime assistant, Miguel, has excelled since taking over the stable. “My father loved Far Bridge,” he said. “He thought he was the best turf stayer in the country.”
That opinion is nearly unanimous, and Far Bridge can validate it further Saturday at Saratoga if he can repeat last year's victory in the 1 1/2-mile Sword Dancer Stakes (G1). He led all the way in slow fractions, a departure from his usual stalking style. Besides being versatile, he handles any course condition, with victories this year on firm, good, and yielding ground.
“He's a tough horse,” Miguel Clement said. “Regardless of the surface or the distance, he tries very hard.”
Far Bridge is the 9-5 morning-line favorite against eight opponents going three turns at the Spa, where he has two wins and three thirds in five starts. His main competition should come from the uncoupled entry of Nations Pride (3-1) and El Cordobes (4-1), trained by Charlie Appleby for international superpower Godolphin. If Far Bridge is his usual self, the battle will be for second in a race whose winner will earn a spot in the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) Nov. 1 at Del Mar. The Sword Dancer is among the automatic qualifying races in the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series.
For those who like to bet on horse racing, here are some observations about the Sword Dancer (post time 5:44 p.m. ET).
He's the wild card, a proven stayer with a terrific distance pedigree (by Frankel out of a Sea the Stars mare). He's 2-for-4 at 1 1/2 miles, including a decisive Group 2 win last time at Newmarket. It's his Grade 1 debut, but besides Far Bridge and Nations Pride, the competition is unimpressive. Appleby's take on this 4-year-old gelding with tactical speed and lots of upside: "He's a more unexposed horse, but he travels well, loves quick ground, and sees the trip out really well. We're just sort of getting a feel of it [Saturday] with him." Price should be solid on an underdog with potential.
He's 0-for-5 in graded stakes, including two finishes behind Utah Beach, who'll be double-digit odds in this race. He's 1-for-5 this year, winning a 1 3/8-mile listed stakes at Churchill Downs, in over his head.
Makes Grade 1 debut after winning his only try at 1 1/2 miles two starts ago in a listed stakes at Delaware Park. Negative: The runner-up and third-place finishers are 2-for-19 and 5-for-28. Belongs in lesser stakes.
This 1-for-12 colt ran respectable thirds at 11 and 12 furlongs against Far Bridge, beaten four and six lengths at odds of 43-1 and 12-1. Class, not distance, is the problem, because he's 0-for-3 in graded stakes.
Multiple-stakes winner (11-for-22 overall, $3.6 million) is only 2-for-7 the past two years. Likely underlay lost six of his last eight races, and the 6-year-old's best days appear to be behind him. He's 1-for-3 this season, winning at 1 1/8 miles in a Meydan Grade 2 whose runner-up is 2-for-19.
Classy 5-year-old is a neck away from being 4-for-4 this year. Only one off-the-board finish in his last seven starts was a bad-trip ninth in the Breeders' Cup Turf. Clement's take: “He's doing great. He's a versatile horse in tip-top shape, and I'm bullish about him and hoping for the same result as last year.”
Solid stayer was in the money in the last five starts, four at 1 3/8 or 1 1/2 miles. Made up three lengths late in a three-length second to Far Bridge last time out. Like the favorite, he's a son of stamina influence English Channel, and he's a must-use in trifectas and superfectas.
Lost eight of his last 10, including seven in a row, and he's 0-for-3 in Grade 1. Fits much better in Grade 2s, where he ran second twice in the past year. Unlikely to outrun more accomplished stablemate El Rezeen.
Yet another son of English Channel, hero of the 2007 Breeders' Cup Turf. Gray gelding is 8-for-13 in the exacta on grass, with two stakes victories this year. They were at 1 1/2 miles versus weak rivals, so don't expect him to earn his first Grade 1 trophy at age 5.
The field for the $750,000 Sword Dancer Stakes (G1), from the rail out, with jockey, trainer, odds:
