Far Bridge Seeks Encore Victory in Sword Dancer

Even some of the best Thoroughbreds are one-dimensional. They want to race on the lead or from the back of the pack, and taking them out of their comfort zone can lead to upsetting results. Then there's Far Bridge, who trainer Miguel Clement calls a "jockey's dream." He can win on the front end, from last, and anywhere in between. Not to mention on firm, good, or soft turf. "He's amazingly consistent," Clement said about LSU Stables' multiple grade 1 winner. "He always turns up." Up next for the English Channel 5-year-old is a bid to post back-to-back wins in the $750,000 Sword Dancer Stakes (G1T) Aug. 9 at Saratoga Race Course. Far Bridge could face up to eight rivals, including a pair from the overseas Godolphin barn of trainer Charlie Appleby, in the 1 1/2-mile grass test that will award the victor an automatic, fees-paid berth in the Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) at Del Mar as part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In. Far Bridge and jockey Joel Rosario won last year's Sword Dancer in front-running fashion in a race with limited pace, but considering his versatility, there's no telling where he'll be at any stage of the race. "He's quite versatile, which makes it interesting. Joel can win on the front end with him. He has tactical speed out of the gate; he has high cruising speed and a lethal turn of foot if needed. It's really up to Joel to react to what happens in the race," Clement said. "He won the Sword Dancer on the front end and has an affinity for Saratoga. Then he won the Joe Hirsch from last. The other day, he stalked in midpack and then made a very early middle move five-eighths from home and opened up from there." That last win was a three-length victory in the July 12 Bowling Green Stakes (G2T) at Saratoga that was Far Bridge's third win in four 2025 starts. His only loss came in the June 8 Manhattan Stakes (G1T) at the Spa when he ran third, just a neck and a head behind stablemate Deterministic and Integration, who is favored in Saturday's Arlington Million Stakes (G1T) at Colonial Downs. Overall, Far Bridge has won nine of 18 starts. The private purchase from breeder Calumet Farm has earnings of $2.3 million. He has played a key role in Clement's successful handling of the stable since taking over after the devastating May 25 death of his father, Christophe Clement, a superb horseman who built the stable into one of New York's very best outfits. So far, in a little more than two months, Miguel has 26 wins from 115 starts with earnings of $3 million and four graded stakes wins. He entered this week fourth at the 40-day Saratoga meet with nine wins and second in earnings with $1.2 million. "On the outside it looks good. We're going good. The horses are running well. We have a great team in place and the results are showing," said Clement, who was extremely close and devoted to his father. "But it's been very tough on me and the entire family. He was a great father, a great boss, and a great husband that you can't replace." Appleby's duo consists of one horse new to the United States and a frequent visitor who is a grade 1 winner on these shores. "I'm looking forward to running both of these in the Sword Dancer," Appleby said. "Two very interesting horses and two I feel are going to be very competitive around there." Nations Pride (IRE) won last year's Arlington Million, but the Teofilo (IRE) 6-year-old opened the year with a rough trip when ninth as the favorite in the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes (G1T). The winner of the 2022 Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes (G1T) at the Spa has not raced since finishing 10th in the April 5 Dubai Turf (G1T). "I think the step up to a mile and a half at this stage of Nations Pride's career is needed to hopefully get him back on track at the top level," Appleby said about the $3.6 million earner. "I'm looking forward to stepping him up, and if he brings his 'A' game, he will be a big player around there, especially with his experience." El Cordobes (IRE), a Frankel (GB) gelding, arrives in America after winning the July 10 Princess of Wales's Stakes (G2) at Newmarket Racecourse. "He's more of an unexposed horse, but he travels well, loves quick ground, and sees the trip out really well," Appleby said. "We are just sort of having a feel of it over there with him, but we feel he brings a good solid European level to the table and he stays well on quick ground, so he's going to be an interesting horse. We'll see how he runs and that will decide his second half of the season." The entrants also include Jeffrey Amling and Merriebelle Stable's Utah Beach, who was checked when seventh in the Chorleywood Stakes but captured the Louisville Stakes (G3T) and Elkhorn Stakes (G2T) before that for trainer Ignacio Correas IV.