SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – When the question came out on the rail at the Oklahoma Training Track Thursday morning, trainer Miguel Clement smiled. But he was not about to give an answer to who is his favorite horse in his barn.
That will stay with him.
When the name of 'TDN Rising Star' Far Bridge (English Channel) was suggested, Clement smiled some more.
“He is definitely up there,” Clement said.
As well he should. Far Bridge, owned by LSU Stables, shows up whenever Clement puts the saddle on the 5-year-old.
That will happen on Saturday when Far Bridge defends his title in the GI, $750,000 Sword Dancer Stakes at Saratoga. A year ago, Far Bridge won the 1 1/2-mile race in front-running fashion at odds of 8-1.
You won't get that price this year. Far Bridge, who will be ridden by his constant companion, Hall of Fame jockey Joel Rosario, was made the 9-5 morning-line favorite in the Sword Dancer field of nine by New York Racing Association oddsmaker David Aragona.
Far Bridge has won three of four starts this year and is a photo finish away from being perfect. He finished third in the June 8 GI Manhattan Stakes behind stablemate 'TDN Rising Star' Deterministic (Liam's Map) and Integration (Quality Road), who is the 8-5 morning-line favorite in Saturday's GI Arlington Million at Colonial Downs.
Far Bridge was the last horse saddled by Miguel's dad, Christophe, who passed away on May 25. On May 10, the elder Clement won the GII Man o' War Stakes at Aqueduct.
“He loved that horse,” Miguel Clement said of his father's relationship with Far Bridge. “He didn't have favorites, but there were two or three that he really loved. It's a travesty that the Man o' War is no longer a Grade I.”
Miguel Clement has been running the barn since his dad's death. Deterministic was his first Grade I win.
In his 18 career starts, Far Bridge has nine wins, three seconds and three thirds. At Saratoga, he has two wins and three thirds in five starts.
Far Bridge isn't just a lover of Saratoga, He is unbeaten in four tries at Gulfstream Park; he has won two graded stakes at Aqueduct.
“He has won all of the biggest turf staying races of the year,” Miguel Clement said. “He is very enthusiastic in his training, and he is maturing well, especially mentally. Physically he has always been very advanced. Mentally, he has gotten to another level where he really understands his job. He knows exactly what is expected of him.”
Scottish Lassie Not Definite for Alabama
The 15 1/2-length win by Scottish Lassie (McKinzie) in last month's GI Coaching Club American Oaks Stakes still resonates with trainer Jorge Abreu. It was his first Grade I win at Saratoga, and second in his career.
Scottish Lassie also gave him his first, in the GI Frizette last October at Aqueduct.
Scottish Lassie | Sarah Andrew
Whether or not Abreu has a chance to get another big score in next weekend's GI Alabama Stakes remains to be seen. Abreu has not yet confirmed that Scottish Lassie will start in the Alabama.
He said that will be determined after the filly works Sunday morning. She has not worked since her win in the CCA Oaks.
The other option for Scottish Lassie is the GI, $1-million Cotillion Stakes at Parx Racing on Sept. 20. The way he talked Thursday morning, it sounded like Abreu might be leaning towards Pennsylvania.
“She is doing very, very well,” Abreu said at the Oklahoma Training Track. “She doesn't have the same attitude I saw going into the Coaching Club. I don't want to ruin her just to prove a point. If she breezes good and she comes out of it in good shape, we will sit down and make a decision.”
Scottish Lassie, who is owned by Sportsmen Stable, Parkland Thoroughbreds, Photos Finish LLC, Corms Racing Stable and Abreu, has a win and two thirds in three starts this year.
Joseph Happy With White Abarrio's Whitney, May Run in Jockey Club Gold Cup
The more trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. watches last Saturday's GI Whitney Stakes, the more pleased he is with the performance of White Abarrio (Race Day).
White Abarrio (middle) off and running in the Whitney | Sarah Andrew
The 6-year-old gray finished fourth in the talent-soaked Whitney, beaten four lengths by 'TDN Rising Star' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner). White Abarrio raced extremely wide into the stretch.
“The way he ran, if he could have sat a little more forward and not that wide, he is not that far off from winning,” Joseph said outside his barn on the Saratoga backstretch. “He ran a huge number on the Rags (Ragozin sheets). According to the Rags, it was the third best race of his life.”
Joseph said the trip he wanted for White Abarrio was to be outside, but when he came into the stretch, he was six or seven paths wide.
Owned by C Two Racing Stable, Gary Barber and La Milagrosa Stable LLC, White Abarrio and stablemate Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator), who was seventh in the Whitney, have returned to the track.
Joseph said there is a chance that White Abarrio will reappear in the GI, $1-million Jockey Club Gold Cup on Aug. 30, the last weekend of the meet.
“It's not set that we will, but if we run in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, it means we have a good chance of winning,” Joseph said. “If we are doing good, we are going in there. If we need a little more time, we'll wait.”
White Abarrio has won two of four starts this year, both at Gulfstream Park. He won the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational and the GIII Ghostzapper Stakes. He was fourth in his other two tries, the Whitney and GI Met Mile, which was also run at Saratoga.
Skippylongstocking, owned by Daniel Alonso, will remain on schedule for the GII, $1-million Charles Town Classic on Aug. 22 in West Virginia. He is looking to become the first horse to win it in three consecutive years.
Two other horses–Researcher (Two Smart) in 2009-10 and Art Collector (Bernardini) in 2021-22–have won the race twice in a row.
The Whitney was Skippylongstocking's first race since May 26 when he won the GII Hollywood Gold Cup Stakes at Santa Anita.
“We needed that (Whitney),” Joseph said. “I did not want to go to Charles Town without a run. I thought he made a big mid-race move in the Whitney and he got tired. Winning three in a row is not easy. You have to stay healthy, sound and in good form. It is not an easy race and he will have to run his best again.”
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