Far Bridge strolls home in the Bowling Green (Janet Napolitano)
Christian Abdo/NYRA Press Office
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – LSU Stables’ multiple Grade 1-winner Far Bridge validated his 1-2 favoritism with a commanding victory in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Bowling Green, an 11-furlong inner turf test for older horses, at Saratoga Race Course.
Trained by Miguel Clement, the 5-year-old English Channel bay was much-the-best as he stretched back out to the distance of his Grade 2 Man o’ War triumph in May at Belmont at the Big A. He exited that performance to a last-out neck third behind stablemate Deterministic in the nine-furlong Grade 1 Resorts World Casino Manhattan on June 8 here.
“I still think he’s good enough to compete at the highest level from a mile and an eighth, a mile and three-sixteenths, to a mile and a half,” Clement said. “When they’re that good, they can handle any sort of change and obstacle. They’re top class for a reason and they can overcome any factors and adversity. He’s very good.”
The multimillionaire Far Bridge has flexed his class at longer distances, including Grade 1 scores traveling 12-furlongs last year in the Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer in August on firm Spa turf and the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic one month later on good Belmont at the Big A green.
“He can handle anything,” said Clement. “He won the Joe Hirsch from last in a complete bog last year. He won the Sword Dancer on very firm turf wire-to-wire. The ground doesn’t matter. He’s a top-class horse.”
With Hall of Famer Joel Rosario aboard per usual, Far Bridge exited the outermost post 4 smoothly and settled into second position as the Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher-trained Tucson sprinted to the front to post an opening quarter-mile in 24.44 seconds on the yielding turf.
The running order was Tucson, Far Bridge, Harrow and El Rezeen passing the wire for the first time, and it remained that way in the second turn and down the backside through splits of 48.66 and 1:14.83. Far Bridge reeled in Tucson, who led by as many as 4 1/2 lengths early, shortly into the final turn and he developed a 5 1/2-length advantage by the stretch call.
“I decided to go on the backside a little bit. It just looked like I had a lot of horse at that point, and he was moving really well,” said Rosario. “I know it was a little early but he kind of just had too much horse at that point so I kind of just have to let him find his stride, the stride that he has.”
The Dylan Davis-piloted El Rezeen launched a wide bid from third position, but there was never much doubt as Far Bridge secured a three-length victory in a final time of 2:15.38.
El Rezeen was a clear second, with Harrow edging Tucson to complete the order of finish. Starting Over, Tawny Port, Webslinger, Corruption and main track-only entrants Yo Daddy, Kuchar and Game Warden were scratched.
Randy Sarf of LSU Stables said winning at the Spa is always special, especially with a signature horse for the late Christophe Clement.
“I was screaming like it was the biggest thing in the world… People thought I was having a heart attack,” said Sarf. “I’m blessed to have a horse like that and to be part of this game and have something like this. The Clement family is a big part of Far Bridge – my parents, my kids, and everything. This was nice.”
Clement said Far Bridge will “100 percent” look for a title defense in the Grade 1, $750,000 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer on August 9 here, which awards a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf in November at Del Mar – a race Far Bridge was ninth in last year.
Far Bridge, who captured the Grade 1 Belmont Derby as a sophomore at Belmont Park, is out of the winning Kitten’s Joy mare Fitpitcher. His second dam is the winning A.P. Indy mare Teenage Temper, whose half-sister Pleasant Song produced Grade 2-winning millionaire Long Range Toddy.
He banked $110,000 in victory while improving his record to 18-9-3-3 and returning $3.10 for a $2 win bet.
Live racing resumes Sunday with a 10-race card that includes the Grade 3 Quick Call presented by Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation in Race 9. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.
