Anyone of the opinion that Far Bridge “stole” a victory in the Aug. 24 Sword Dancer Stakes (G1T), shouldn’t mention it to trainer Christophe Clement.
He will point out the error in your belief.
“After (the Sword Dancer) people said he stole it, which slightly surprised me,” Clement said. “Everybody had the chance to beat him from the quarter pole to the wire and nobody outfinished him. He actually outfinished them. He proved today he didn’t steal anything because he came from off the pace and won the race.”
The compelling argument in Clement ‘s claim that LSU Stables’ Far Bridge should be found not guilty of larceny came Sept. 28 when the 4-year-old son of English Channel rallied from fourth in a field of five to win the $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1T) at Aqueduct Racetrack by a half-length over War Like Goddess , the 7-year-old mare bidding for a third straight Joe Hirsch victory.
The victory was a sharp prep for the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1T) and the third grade 1 win for Far Bridge, who also captured the Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes (G1T) last year while he was trained by Todd Pletcher and has now won six of 13 starts with earnings of $1,752,700.
“He’s a top-class horse, and he’s always been a top-class horse for us. I’m lucky to have him,” Clement said. “It’s not easy to win the Sword Dancer and the (Joe Hirsch) and he was third in the Manhattan (G1T). So, it’s not like he’s run bad races.”
Up next is the Nov. 2 Turf at Del Mar, with Clement having to decide where he will keep the son of the winning Kitten’s Joy mare Fitpitcher before shipping him west.
“The Breeders’ Cup is the goal, and we will start planning tomorrow,” Clement said. “We have to decide whether to keep him at Belmont Park and work on the (dirt) training track or send him to Saratoga so he can work on turf. My son Miguel is in Saratoga so I am sure he’ll want him there.”
Far Bridge, bred by Calumet Farm, has a free spot in the Turf thanks to earning a “Win and You’re In” berth in the aforementioned 1 1/2-mile Sword Dancer, when he displayed unusual early speed and led throughout. He led by a length after six furlongs in 1:17.21 but had the margin sliced to a head at the quarter pole and he lengthened that advantage in the final furlong.
In Saturday’s 12-furlong Joe Hirsch, Get Smokin darted to the lead while Joel Rosario kept Far Bridge fourth along the inside through a mile in 1:40.79 on wet but good turf.
Rosario was forced to check at the three-eighths pole as Get Smokin backed up, but he kept the 4-year-old on the rail, and that would soon pay a dividend.
As Get Smokin faltered, Godolphin’s Silver Knott , the 8-to-5 co-favorite, cruised to the front and led by 2 1/2 lengths with a quarter-mile left. But as he tired in the stretch, he was gobbled up by War Like Goddess, the other 8-5 choice, from the outside, and Far Bridge who squeezed through inside of him.
Far Bridge ($7.90) surged to the front in the final furlong and held off War Like Goddess by a half-length in 2:32.22.
“Joel made a great decision to keep him inside,” Clement said.
While George Krikorian’s War Like Goddess was denied a third straight Joe Hirsch win, jockey Junior Alvarado said the Bill Mott-trained mare turned in a good effort.
“She ran very well. Unfortunately, the other horse got through on the rail,” he said about the daughter of English Channel. “I don’t want to say she’s like last year or the year before. She’s tailing off a bit, but it’s not like she’s running bad. She barely got beat by a half-length and that was because the other horse cut the corner.”
Silver Knott, a Lope de Vega gelding trained by Charlie Appleby, was 4 1/4 lengths back in third.
Far Bridge is the third and most recent foal from Fitpitcher and her lone stakes winner.
