The buzz was all about the Godolphin duo lined up for the Sword Dancer Stakes (G1T) Aug. 24 at Saratoga Race Course but a change of tactics and a generous pace scenario helped Far Bridge lead them both home.
Measured Time, winner of the Manhattan Stakes (G1T) in his previous start, was the hot favorite as the Sword Dancer field entered the gate with his Godolphin stablemate, Silver Knott, second in the mutuels. Far Bridge was dispatched at 8-1 odds.
Far Bridge, trained by Christophe Clement, bounded right out to the front for jockey Joel Rosario, with Measured Time and Silver Knott racing behind him and alongside one another. Without pressure, Rosario allowed Far Bridge to lope along through easy fractions.
As the pace picked up on the third turn, Silver Knott began to lose ground but Measured Time tested trainer Charlie Appleby's hopes he could handle the 1 1/2 miles, ranging up with a belated challenge to the long-time leader. By then, however, the die was cast and Measured Time settled for second, one length back of the winner, with Silver Knott another 3 1/4 lengths adrift in third.
Far Bridge had come up short in his last three races while running from off the pace. In the Turf Classic Stakes (G1T) at Churchill Downs in May, he finished fifth, beaten four lengths. In the Manhattan at Saratoga June 8, he was third, beaten 2 1/4 lengths as Measured Time got the big check. And in the July 20 United Nations Stakes (G2T) at Monmouth Park, he was ninth, beaten four lengths.
Clearly, a change in tactics was called for and Randy Sarf of winning owner LSU Stables was emphatic in explaining that after the Sword Dancer.
"We fought this year. What we went through," Sarf said. "We were in Kentucky. We were in a different track with him. We were at Monmouth. There was always a problem. And Joel and Christophe and Miguel (Clement) and my dad and my mom, we spoke ...
"Go to the lead. Even my son told me, 'Send him to the lead. Let them catch him.' And Joel did a great job. And we did it! We won and are going to the Breeders' Cup."
The race was a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series event, providing an automatic, fees-paid berth to the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) Nov. 2 at Del Mar.
"Let's enjoy it and go from there," Clement said.
Rosario said Far Bridge got with the program right out of the gate.
"He broke well and we were looking to see if somebody wanted to go. He was game today. The other horse came on the outside, but he was so happy and he enjoyed what he was doing."
The enjoyment was aided by the fact none of his four rivals challenged Far Bridge on the lead. The field moved in parade fashion well beyond the first mile of the 1 1/2-mile event with Far Bridge clocking 1:17.21 for the first six furlongs, 1:42.50 for the mile, and 2:06.39 for 1 1/4 miles.
When the running started, he had plenty left to sprint home, finishing in 2:29.51.
Appleby had entered both his turf stars as insurance one would be able to negotiate the three-turn trip. Silver Knott was experienced at the distance but Measured Time's Manhattan victory came at 1 3/16 miles and his only previous run at 1 1/2 miles was on the Kempton Park all-weather track in England. He reported second in that.
"We're very confident he will get it," Appleby said before the race. "But until he's been over the trip, you don't really know. In the Manhattan, they challenged him off the turn and the most impressive part of his run was the last 100 meters. He put it to bed and was never going to be caught from there on."
After the race, jockey William Buick took a slightly different view.
"I expected them to go a more solid pace," Buick said. "The winner got the run of the race up front. My horse was probably doing a little bit too much. He might just be a mile-and-a-quarter horse, my horse."
Soldier Rising, who finished second to Silver Knott in the Bowling Green Stakes (G2T) July 28 at the Spa, was scratched, leaving a field of just five for the Sword Dancer.
Far Bridge, a 4-year-old English Channel colt out of the Kitten's Joy mare Fitpitcher, was bred by Calumet Farm.
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