Far Bridge's Versatility Should Help in Bowling Green

The path to becoming one of the top turf horses in the United States began for Far Bridge during the Saratoga Race Course summer meet with a win in the Sword Dancer Stakes (G1T) last year. As this year's summer meet, he looks to keep the ball rolling July 12 in the $200,000 Bowling Green Stakes (G2T). The 1 1/2-mile Sword Dancer, which he won in gate-to-wire fashion, kicked off an impressive few months in which the LSU Stables star won four of six starts, including two grade 1s. The key to that success has come from the horse's versatility, according to trainer Miguel Clement. "(His versatility is) fantastic, it gives (jockey) Joel (Rosario) all the options on race day and enough to call an audible as well," Clement said of the 5-year-old English Channel horse. "Joel knows the horse inside out. The two of them have won races going wire to wire and have won grade 1s coming from last. He's versatile and it's up to Joel to figure it out." That ability to overcome adversity has led Far Bridge to be listed as a clear 6-5 morning-line favorite in the drawn field of eight. Three horses are also entered as main-track-only participants should weather shift the race to dirt. The eight-horse field is likely to shrink by the time they enter the gate Saturday afternoon. Clement said his other entry, Tawny Port, could potentially scratch and point to the $600,000 United Nations Stakes (G2T) at Monmouth Park July 19 over the same 1 3/8 miles as the Bowling Green. As of the morning of July 9, he was still talking over the decision with owner Peachtree Stable. Meanwhile, Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse said he plans to scratch Corruption in favor of running him in the United Nations, leaving his Bowling Green hopes on D. J. Stable's Webslinger. It is no secret that the 5-year-old Constitution gelding is a closer, with his turn of foot leading him to four stakes wins—one at the grade 2 level—three grade 1 placings, and more than $1.4 million in earnings. However, it could also be an Achilles heel if the pace doesn't set up for him. That could possibly be the case Saturday as he makes his second start of the season following a runner-up finish in Woodbine's Eclipse Stakes (G2) May 31. "He's training great for this race, my concern is the turf course has not been playing to kindly to closers," Casse said. "I thought his last race was great at Woodbine. It was just kind of a prep, first time running on synthetic. I thought he ran super." Webslinger has only reached the winner's circle once in his last 11 starts, but has never finished further back than 4 1/4 lengths. That victory was the only race in that period in which Jose Ortiz sat in the saddle, and he returns Saturday. Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher also enters a pair in Shadwell Stable's El Rezeen, third in last fall's Jockey Club Derby Invitational Stakes (G3T) at Aqueduct Racetrack, and Winstar Farm and Rock Ridge Racing's Tucson, who was eighth in Saratoga's Manhattan Stakes (G1T) last month after a trio of wins at the maiden and allowance levels. Averill Racing's Harrow and Nice Guys Stables' grade 2-winning Starting Over round out the field exiting the Cape Henlopen Stakes at Delaware Park June 14 where they were second and third, respectively. Insights from Thoro-Graph Starting Over did just that in his second start for Brittany Russell, running the best race of his life at the age of eight. With the rail going three turns, running back to that one would put him right in this, and grass horses don't bounce as much as dirt horses. El Rezeen and Tucson—both Pletcher horses would have to improve substantially to make an impact here. Tawny Port would be a factor on last year's form, but both efforts this year have been terrible. Webslinger is about as solid as they come. With a break in the weights, every figure he's run in the last 18 months would make him a strong contender here. Harrow comes out of the same strong Delaware race as Starting Over, and ran about the same figure. He's seven, and coming off a bigger new top he's a little more likely to bounce than that one, making him a borderline contender. Far Bridge continued his remarkable run last time of being on the rail for the last nine turns he's seen, which should get Joel Rosario a special Eclipse Award. He's going to be hard pressed to pull that off here from an outside post and he's going three turns, but even if he can, Far Bridge spots weight to Webslinger, who is just as good, and others are competitive as well. Corruption is very solid, but would need to improve to contend. Thoro-Graph performance figures are calculated based on a race's time with adjustments for beaten lengths, track speed, ground loss, weight carried, and, when necessary, wind. The lower the number, the better the race. Complimentary sheets for the Stephen Foster Handicap can be found online at Thoro-Graph. Learn more about how to analyze Thoro-Graph data at www.thorograph.com/basics.