By Alan Carasso
The decision to base an American satellite at Saratoga has proved largely full of fruit for Godolphin, with victories here, there and everywhere.
The punting public thought the outfit's success on these shores would continue in Saturday's GI Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer Stakes, as Measured Time (GB) (Frankel {GB}), winner of the GI Resorts World Casino Manhattan Stakes during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, was favored at 85 cents on the dollar, while Silver Knott (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) was the 13-10 second choice off back-to-back graded wins on this circuit. But LSU Stables' 'TDN Rising Star' Far Bridge (English Channel) had other designs, as he bossed the scratched-down field of five from the front and outgunned Measured Time for his second victory at the elite level.
The 8-1 distant third choice in the wagering was sent straight into the lead by Joel Rosario, who backed the pace right down through early fractions of :23.86 and :50.92, as Silver Knott, who led every step of the way to take the 11-furlong GII Bowling Green Stakes last time, elected to sit off the pace, such as it was.
The real damage was done over the course of the next two furlongs, where Far Bridge was allowed to amble through that stretch in a pedestrian :26.29 and continued to lead around the final turn. Measured Time, who was a bit keen in this first attempt at the 12-furlong distance on the turf, pushed away from the inside and was produced three wide at the head of the lane, appearing to have the pacesetter right where he wanted him. But Measured Time drifted out a bit, similar to what he did in the Manhattan, and with a final sprint home in :23.21, Far Bridge repelled the challenged and proved a comfortable winner in the finish.
A member of the Clement barn and owned by his breeder when he was named a 'Rising Star' at second asking at Gulfstream Park in March 2023, Far Bridge made five starts while under the care of Todd Pletcher following a private purchase by LSU Stables, including a one-length victory in last year's GI Belmont Derby. Returned to this shedrow for his 4-year-old campaign, Far Bridge was victorious in Gulfstream allowance company Mar. 31, but he was only fifth in the GI Turf Classic at Churchill May 4 and a dead-heat third in the Manhattan. Tried over 11 furlongs for the first time in the GI United Nations S. July 20, he never really got into it from post 11 and finished ninth as the 2-1 favorite.
It was the third Sword Dancer in four years for Clement, who saddled Gufo (Declaration of War) to win it in 2021 and 2022.
“On paper, we didn't think there was much pace,” explained the conditioner, who scratched Soldier Rising (GB) (Frankel {GB}) due to a soundness issue. “The idea was to break in front or right behind Godolphin. He took the lead and nobody bothered him. He [Rosario] rode a great race. I am thrilled and it is a great story.
“That horse, I trained him early on, he left us and he came back and I am thrilled that he is back in the barn. I love that race. I have been lucky in that race with Gufo. It is great. Let's enjoy it and go from there.”
Pedigree Notes:
Far Bridge is one of 14 top-level scorers for English Channel , who called Calumet Farm home from 2014 until his death in late 2021 at the age of 19. English Channel, winner of the GI Breeders' Cup Turf and America's champion turf horse of 2007, made a single appearance in the Sword Dancer, finishing second as the odds-on favorite two starts prior to the boggy Breeders' Cup at Monmouth Park.
Far Bridge, whose third dam won this track's GIII Ballston Spa Breeders' Cup Stakes in 1999 for Mark Stanley and Elliott Walden, was the final live produce for his dam, who also passed away in 2021.
Saturday, Saratoga
RESORTS WORLD CASINO SWORD DANCER S.-GI, $727,500, Saratoga, 8-24, 3yo/up, 1 1/2mT, 2:29.51, fm.
1–FAR BRIDGE, 120, c, 4, by English Channel
1st Dam: Fitpitcher, by Kitten's Joy
2nd Dam: Teenage Temper, by A.P. Indy
3rd Dam: Pleasant Temper, by Storm Cat
O-LSU Stables; B-Calumet Farm (KY); T-Christophe Clement; J-Joel Rosario. $412,500. 'TDN Rising Star'. Lifetime Record: 12-5-3-2, $1,477,700. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Measured Time (GB), 126, c, 4, Frankel (GB)–Minidress (GB), by Street Cry (Ire). O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charles Appleby. $150,000.
3–Silver Knott (GB), 124, g, 4, Lope de Vega (Ire)–God Given (GB), by Nathaniel (Ire). (725,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Godolphin, LLC; B-St Albans Bloodstock LLP (GB); T-Charles Appleby. $90,000.
Margins: 1, 3 1/4, NK. Odds: 8.20, 0.85, 1.30.
Also Ran: Pioneering Spirit, Grand Sonata. Scratched: Soldier Rising (GB).
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
All heart from FAR BRIDGE with an upset in the Grade 1 @ResortsWorldNYC Sword Dancer Stakes! Hall of Famer @JRosarioJockey was aboard for trainer @clementstable. pic.twitter.com/GIKmSXe8BS
— NYRA (🎪) (@TheNYRA) August 24, 2024
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