Tawny Port a Sentimental Favorite in Christophe Clement

Picking the betting favorite in the Aug. 15 Christophe Clement Turf Stakes (G1T) is no easy task. It could be Bowling Green Stakes (G2T) winner Ole Crazy Bone or Fort George (GB), who was a nose behind him, or Minaret Station who was a half-length behind them. Maybe United Nations Stakes (G2T) winner Program Trading (GB) or European shipper Ancient Egypt (IRE), who was second last time out in a group 1 stakes at ParisLongchamp. But there's no doubt who will be the sentimental favorite in the Clement. That will be Peachtree Stable's Tawny Port, who is trained by Miguel Clement, the son of the late Christophe Clement. One week after Clement and his family enjoyed a week filled with joy, pride, and tears, the initial running of a stakes that has been renamed to honor the memory of the Clement stable founder and patriarch will once again generate a tidal wave of emotions at Saratoga Race Course. "It's going to be exciting and emotional to have a race of this stature named after your father," Clement said. "It will be very meaningful for the entire team." In a couple of days that showed how horse racing can unfold like a Hallmark movie, Clement and his family were overwhelmed with emotion Aug. 7 when Christophe Clement was posthumously inducted into Racing's Hall of Fame. Later that day, across the street from the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame at Saratoga Race Course, there was a joyous celebration when Miguel saddled the winner of the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes (G2T), Bottas. The next day, Clement won two races, a debut victory for 2-year-old turfer Oscar and an encore win in the Fourstardave Stakes (G1T) by Horse of the Year candidate Deterministic, which sent emotions into overdrive. "It was a very good weekend, and we have to keep looking forward. Never live in the past," he said. "Our profession is too tough. You always have to think about the future while keeping your feet planted in the present. How I look at last weekend is that I am already thinking about Deterministic and what can I do to make sure he has the best chance to win the Woodbine Mile. There are a lot of variables to think about. That's one example. Bottas was very impressive and we're thinking about the Old Dominion Stakes at Colonial Downs or a stakes at Kentucky Downs. We're thinking about the Summer Stakes for Oscar, which we've won twice before. "That's why I try not to think too much about the past because while yesterday helps with tomorrow, you have to move forward in this game." Tawny Port is definitely part of the immediate future as he was entered among a highly contentious field of seven in a race renamed the Christophe Clement Turf after last year's edition, which came a few months after the highly respected and successful trainer's death. The $750,000 turf stakes was the Sword Dancer Stakes last year, which Christophe Clement captured five times in his brilliant career. Though the Clement will be contested at 1 1/2 miles, Tawny Port will be cutting back in distance for the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In stakes for the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T). The 7-year-old son of Pioneerof the Nile is exiting a 2 1/2-length triumph in the June 4, 2-mile Belmont Gold Cup Stakes (G2T) at the Spa, which earned him a "Golden Ticket" to run in the Melbourne Cup (G1). It was the sixth win in 32 career starts for the $2.3 million earner and another example of how he thrives at marathon distances. A year ago, the horse bred by WinStar Farm was second in a trio of stakes at 1 1/2 miles or longer, topped by a nose defeat in the Canadian International Stakes (G1T). "He ran great at a mile and a half last year. I am not overly concerned with the distance. He can handle anything," Clement said. "He's in good form and I anticipate he'll take a step forward in the Christophe Clement." Flying P Stable's Ole Crazy Bone, a 6-year-old Ghostzapper gelding trained by Mike Maker, and Mrs. Fitriani Hay's Fort George staged a thrilling battle July 11 in the Bowling Green, running 1-2 throughout, with Ole Crazy Bone prevailing by inches at the wire. It was the United States debut for Fort George, a 4-year-old Territories (IRE) gelding trained by Ed Walker. Amo Racing USA's Ancient Egypt is the new face on the scene from Europe. A 3-year-old Frankel (GB) colt, he will be facing older horses for the first time after finishing second by a head in the July 14 Grand Prix de Paris (G1). Klaravich Stables' Program Trading, by Lope de Vega (IRE), is coming off a pair of stakes wins at Monmouth Park for trainer Chad Brown, highlighted by a 2 3/4-length score in the United Nations Stakes. A week after the filly Nitrogen finished second in the Whitney Stakes (G1), Michael Tabor's 5-year-old mare Survie (IRE) will tackle the guys 13 days after winning the 1 1/2-mile Glens Falls Stakes (G2T) against fillies and mares at the Spa. The daughter of Churchill (IRE) is trained by George Boughey.