Far Bridge tries for fifth graded victory in G2 Man o' War

LSU Stables’ three-time Grade 1-winner Far Bridge will look to notch his fifth career graded stakes win in Saturday’s Grade 2, $400,000 Man o’ War, a 1 3/8-mile inner turf route for older horses, at Belmont at the Big A.

Trained by Christophe Clement, the 5-year-old son of English Channel was last seen posting a determined neck score in the 1 1/2-mile Grade 3 Pan American on March 29 at Gulfstream Park in his seasonal bow.

There, Far Bridge stalked 2 1/2 lengths off the pace in fifth early after being steadied in the first turn, but swiftly improved to third by the mile call under Hall of Famer Joel Rosario. Far Bridge stuck his head in front of pacesetter Corruption at the top of the lane and dueled with his stubborn foe to the wire, narrowly besting him in a final time of 2:23.19. 

Miguel Clement, son of and assistant to Christophe Clement, said Far Bridge gained plenty of fitness out of the game effort.

“He had three weeks off after the Pan American with no breezes because it was such a strong effort off the layoff,” said Clement. “He’s coming into this race quite well.”

The win marked Far Bridge’s fourth graded stakes triumph in a turf route, adding to Grade 1 wins in the Sword Dancer at Saratoga Race Course and Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic last year here, and the Belmont Derby Invitational as a sophomore at Belmont Park when trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, who also trained the bay to placings in four additional graded events that year.

Though Far Bridge’s only start at Saturday’s distance yielded a ninth-place finish in the Grade 2 United Nations last summer at Monmouth Park, Clement said he isn’t concerned about the distance, and noted Far Bridge has been effective both as the pacesetter and with stalking trips.

“I don’t think the distance makes that much of a difference to be completely honest,” Clement said. “He’s a very good horse with tactical speed if you want him to. He’s won Grade 1s from the lead, from last, and he’s got a good turn-of-foot. His versatility makes it fun for Joel.”

Bred in Kentucky by Calumet Farm, the classy Far Bridge boasts a 15-7-3-2 lifetime record with $1,922,980 in total purse earnings. Out of the winning Kitten’s Joy mare Fitpitcher, Far Bridge’s second dam is the winning A.P. Indy mare Teenage Temper, whose half-sister Pleasant Song produced Grade 2-winning millionaire Long Range Toddy.

“He’s a very good horse and he’s top class,” Clement said. “He’s improving as he gets older and it’s very rewarding for the stable. It’s a great story to be a part of.”

Rosario, aboard for the last four starts, will guide Far Bridge from post 3.

Joseph Allen, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg and Jonathan Poulin’s graded stakes-winner Capture the Flag [post 4, John Velazquez] will try to turn the tables on Far Bridge after finishing eighth in the Pan American.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, the Quality Road 5-year-old stalked the pace in third under Irad Ortiz, Jr. before weakening into the lane and finishing 12 lengths behind his returning rival. One race prior, he made the early lead and made every pole a winning one under returning Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez in the Grade 2 Mac Diarmida going this distance over the Gulfstream turf on March 1.

A Kentucky homebred for Allen out of the Grade 1-winning War Front mare War Flag, Capture the Flag is a half-brother to Grade 3-winner Personal Best and is from the family of breed-shaping sire Dynaformer, dual graded stakes-winner Civil Union, and Group 3-winner War Dispatch, among others.

LFG Racing’s Anglophile [post 1, Javier Castellano] will attempt to build upon a deep-closing third last out in the Grade 2 Elkhorn traveling 1 1/2 miles on April 19 at Keeneland.

Trained by Brian Lynch, the hard-knocking English Channel 5-year-old earned a career-best 97 Beyer for the 1 1/4-length third behind Utah Beach, rallying from ninth-of-12 and 8 1/2 lengths off the pace early to display a strong turn of foot in the lane and land show honors. The effort marked his best finish since a third in the Listed Kentucky Downs Preview Turf Cup in August at its namesake course.

A win in this event would push Anglophile over the million-dollar mark in earnings, a bankroll that came thanks in large part to a win in the 2023 Grade 3 Dueling Grounds Derby at Kentucky Downs and placings in three other graded events as part of a 20-3-1-5 record.

Completing the field are Three Diamonds Farm’s Decanted [post 5, Irad Ortiz, Jr., blinkers OFF], who returns to the flat after a steeplechase start on April 5 at Old Dominion Hounds for trainer Keri Brion; and Imaginary Stables’ Padiddle [post 2, Flavien Prat], who finished third last out in the Pan American for trainer Fernando Abreu.

The Man o’ War [Race 2] is one of five stakes slated for Saturday’s loaded 11-race card, which co-features the Grade 2, $200,000 Ruffian in Race 10, the Grade 3, $200,000 Peter Pan in Race 11, the Grade 3, $175,000 John A. Nerud in Race 7 and the $150,000 Take the A Train in Race 9. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.  

America’s Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of the Belmont at the Big A spring/summer meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule/.
 
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