Far Bridge Notches Bowling Green Win for Miguel Clement

Even before Christophe Clement's death from cancer May 25, LSU Stables' Far Bridge was a revered horse in the barn for his career accomplishments, including having won five races and four graded stakes in 2024-25 in the waning years of the trainer's life. As the final horse Clement saddled for a race before his health deteriorated, Far Bridge has added meaning for Clement's son, Miguel, who has taken over head training responsibilities with his father's death. Miguel's pride in watching Far Bridge roll to an effortless victory July 12 over El Rezeen in the $186,000 Bowling Green Stakes (G2T) was apparent at Saratoga Race Course Saturday. Calling it "rewarding" to see Far Bridge triumphant, Miguel said, "He's the leader of the division. He's top class." His class was on display in the 1 3/8-mile Bowling Green, though Far Bridge beat just three rivals in a scratch-reduced contest on yielding turf after morning rain. Far Bridge was widely expected to dominate as the heavy favorite and did. Tracking Tucson through the first turns of the three-turn race over the inner turf, as Tucson was loose on the lead through splits of :24.44 and :48.66, Far Bridge went when Tucson slowed the pace to 1:14.83 for six furlongs. Tucson tried to keep pace down the final portion of the backstretch, but by the time Far Bridge hit the mile marker in 1:39.17, a rout was on. He opened up a 5 1/2-length midstretch lead under Joel Rosario, feeling only one strike of the riding crop as the jockey largely hand rode him to the wire. Far Bridge crossed the finish line three lengths in front of late-running El Rezeen, who belatedly cut into the winner's lead. Far Bridge was clocked in 2:15.38 and returned $3.10 for a $2 win wager. Harrow, 3 1/4 lengths behind the runner-up, edged Tucson in a show photo. Far Bridge is 5-for-7 since Rosario reunited with Far Bridge last summer. The horse's only poor performance over that stretch was a ninth-place finish against some of the world's best in the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) last fall at Del Mar. The Hall of Fame jockey, who previously won the 2018 Bowling Green aboard the Bill Mott-trained Channel Maker, called it "very special" to win the Bowling Green for Miguel, "not having his dad here—and I had a lot of success with him and his father—and missing him and not being able to see him around," he said. Bred in Kentucky by Calumet Farm, Far Bridge is a 5-year-old horse bred for success on grass, being by the late sire English Channel out of the Kitten's Joy mare Fitpitcher. Far Bridge, trained by Todd Pletcher through a portion of his 3-year-old season, improved his career record to 9-3-3 in 18 starts and advanced his earnings to $2,372,980. More opportunities are on the horizon, including one at Saratoga. Asked if Far Bridge could be expected to seek a victory in the Aug. 9 Sword Dancer Stakes (G1T) after the horse's success in the race last year, Miguel Clement replied, "100%. We will be there." Randy Sarf of LSU Stables added, "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."