El Cordobes lifts late to capture G1 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer

Trainer Charlie Appleby’s list of American accolades grew even longer on Saturday as Godolphin’s El Cordobes provided him with his first victory in the Grade 1, $750,000 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer, a 12-furlong inner turf route for older horses, at Saratoga Race Course.

“It’s fabulous,” said Appleby’s traveling assistant Chris Connett. “It’s one of the races Charlie hasn’t won and spending so much time out here, it’s nice to get a big win.”

In victory, El Cordobes received a “Win and You’re In” berth into the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf on November 1 at Del Mar, which Appleby won in 2021 with Yibir, and in 2022 and 2024 with Rebel's Romance.

The 4-year-old Frankel gelding was making his top-level debut, but proved he belonged and then some with an eye-catching stalk-and-pounce victory engineered by Flavien Prat. He doubled up on group/graded victories after a last-out score in the 12-furlong Group 2 Princess of Wales’s on July 10 at Newmarket.

“He’s the kind of horse we knew he’d hit the line hard, and it was just a matter of him getting out in the clear and Flavien was able to do that,” Connett said.

El Cordobes was away cleanly from the inside post in the field of eight, and maintained his rail position in third as the Kendrick Carmouche-piloted Vote No skipped to the front to mark the opening quarter-mile in 23.59 seconds over the firm footing with the Appleby-trained multiple group/graded stakes-winner Nations Pride just off his flank.

Hall of Fame rider Joel Rosario made an early move approaching the wire for the first time and asked reigning Sword Dancer-victor Far Bridge to sweep up wide and onto even terms with Vote No to remain clear through the half-mile in 47.40. Vote No kicked on again in the second turn, and marched into the backstretch with Far Bridge easing back into the inside path just ahead of El Cordobes.

“I wanted to break well because I didn’t want to get shuffled back and I found myself in a good spot in the first turn,” Prat said. “The pace was pretty solid. Then they started to slow down, and Far Bridge made his move so it kind of spread the race again. I didn’t want to get him going again so I lost one spot, but I thought by that time it was the right thing to do. They slowed down again on the backside, so I wasn’t very happy about it but then I turned for home and split horses and he really gave me a good run.”

Nations Pride, who was patiently handled early by William Buick as he watched the scuffle for position, was coaxed along to match strides with Far Bridge through three-quarters in 1:12.90 before ranging up to make his bid for the lead after the mile elapsed in 1:37.89.

The oncoming Rebel Red split rivals in the turn to position himself for a clear run at the topflight, and Prat held El Cordobes in wait while the others were already in full pursuit. Nations Pride was the clear leader at the head of the lane with Far Bridge all-out in the two-path through 10 furlongs in 2:01.59, but Nations Pride soon came under threat from the onrushing Rebel Red down the center of the course.

Rebel Red and Irad Ortiz, Jr. were primed to spring the upset at 14-1 odds, but Prat had angled his charge off the rail heading into the stretch and around the tiring Vote No and Far Bridge to unleash an impressive turn of foot inside the final eighth. El Cordobes lifted late through a seam between foes and claimed the half-length victory over the one-eyed Rebel Red in a final time of 2:25.04.

Nations Pride, who was making his first start beyond 1 3/8 miles since late 2022, was three-quarter lengths behind Rebel Red in third with Utah Beach rallying for fourth. El Rezeen, Far Bridge, Vote No and Padiddle completed the order of finish. Grand Sonata, who finished second in Saturday’s Grade 1 Arlington Million at Colonial Downs, was scratched.

Prat, aboard for the first time in the afternoon, said El Cordobes responded late despite the early shuffle for position.

“We wanted a target, but it was the one hole, so I wanted to break with some intention and not be shuffled back so far,” Prat said. “So, I made sure I was able to move, then it got a little messy in front of the grandstand for the first time so I lost a spot but I just didn’t want to get him back on the bridle again. After that, I was behind Far Bridge where I thought he was going to take me somewhere regardless and then after that I was able to split horses and he did the rest.”

Nations Pride, a winner of over $3.6 million, made his first outing since a dull finish in the Group 1 Dubai Turf in April at Meydan Racecourse. Connett said Saturday’s effort is a good starting point for the rest of the year.

“He’s ran a big race,” Connett said. “Will [Buick] said he just got a little bit tired towards the end. It’s been a while since his last race, so hopefully he’ll come on from that but he’s ran a big race in defeat.”

Connett added the two Godolphin color-bearers are expected to return home to the U.K. sometime next week with future plans to be determined.

The Cherie DeVaux-trained Rebel Red, who lost his left eye after a stall accident last year, completed a Frankel-sired exacta as he made his Grade 1 bow under Ortiz, Jr.

“I had a good trip,” Ortiz, Jr. said. “Just got beat. Second best. When I turned for home, he responded very well. I hit a few times, he keeps responding. That one, the winner, just kept coming." 

Rosario said the Miguel Clement-trained Far Bridge advanced willingly in the early stages, but fizzled out late.

“I decided to just get my spot because we were going back and he decided he wanted to go a little forward and I just followed that horse on the lead,” Rosario said. “He was really comfortable – he can do that. But after that, following the horse on the lead was fine for a bit and at some point [ran out of horse]…we will re-group.”

El Cordobes, bred in Ireland by Bjorn Nielsen, is out of the winning Sea The Stars mare Bold Lass, a half-sister to Group 1-winner Tante Rose, as well as Rosie’s Posy, dam of dual Grade/Group 1-winners Dubawi Heights and Make Believe. He banked $412,500 in victory while returning $10 on a $2 win wager.

Earlier on Saturday, the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) announced the renaming of the Sword Dancer to honor the life and legacy of Christophe Clement, the late trainer who won the prestigious turf route a record five times in his distinguished career. Beginning in 2026, the race will be known as the Christophe Clement Turf.

Live racing resumes Sunday at Saratoga with a 10-race card, highlighted by the Grade 3, $175,000 Mahony in Race 9. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.  

Saratoga Live will present live coverage and analysis of the summer meet at Saratoga Race Course on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule/.

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