Janet Napolitiano Photo

Far Bridge scores gate-to-wire in G1 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer

by Keith McCalmont

LSU Stables’ Far Bridge, under a masterful ride from Hall of Famer Joel Rosario, made every pole a winning one to capture Saturday’s Grade 1, $750,000 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer, to kick off the DraftKings Travers Day stakes action, at Saratoga Race Course.

The 12-furlong inner turf test for older horses provided the Christophe Clement-trained English Channel colt a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf in November at Del Mar.

The 4-year-old Far Bridge utilized a front-running approach for the first time in his 12th career start as Rosario returned to the irons aboard the talented bay for the first time since a runner-up effort last June in the Grade 2 Pennine Ridge at Belmont Park.

Rosario said he felt comfortable on the lead in front of the well-backed Godolphin duo of Measured Time and Silver Knott.

“It looked like one of the two Godolphin horses would go to the lead. I broke good and just took advantage of that, let him be happy there and he did all the work. It worked out,” Rosario said. “He was going very nice, very relaxed. He set his own pace and when I called on him to go, he was there for me. He ran a big race. It’s a very nice win. It was very nice to win for Christophe and everybody else on the team. We’re very happy.”

Far Bridge broke alertly from post 2-of-5 and showed the way through splits of 24.86 seconds, 50.92 and 1:17.21 over the firm footing in front of the Charlie Appleby-trained pair of Silver Knott in second and the ground-saving Measured Time in third.

Flavien Prat asked Silver Knott to take on the leader into the final turn as William Buick angled Measured Time off the rail to launch his bid to get within a head through 10-furlongs in 2:06.39, but Rosario still had plenty of horse and continued to find more down the lane.

Measured Time, last-out winner of the Grade 1 Resorts World Casino Manhattan here, spun wide into the stretch run but was quickly straightened and took dead aim at Far Bridge as Silver Knott, who entered with three straight Grade 2-wins, stayed on.

But neither could threaten the game and determined Far Bridge, who crossed the wire a one-length winner over Measured Time in a final time of 2:29.51. It was 3 1/4-lengths back to Silver Knott in third with Pioneering Spirit and Grand Sonata rounding out the order of finish. The Clement-trained Solider Rising was scratched.

The victory provided Clement a record-extending fifth Sword Dancer score following past success with Gufo [2021-22] with Rosario aboard, Winchester [2011] and Honor Glide [1999].

Clement said Far Bridge can be a tricky horse to ride but appeared to thrive while dictating terms on the hedge.

“At the end of the day, he has always worked well when he is on the rail; he never does anything wrong,” Clement said. “Every time he comes off the rail, he is a little bit all over the place. On paper, we didn't think there was much pace. The idea was to break in front or right behind Godolphin. He took the lead, and nobody bothered him. He rode a great race.”

Buick said Measured Time was hampered by the moderate tempo set by Far Bridge.

"The winner got the run of the race up front,” Buick said. “My horse was probably doing a little bit too much. He might just be a mile and a quarter horse, my horse.”

Far Bridge, bred and initially campaigned by Calumet Farm, launched his career with Clement with a pair of wins at Gulfstream Park early last year before being privately purchased and transferred to the care of Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher. He made five starts for Pletcher, including a victory in the Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational last July before re-joining the Clement stable for his current campaign.

“I am thrilled, and it is a great story,” Clement said. “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.”

Far Bridge won his seasonal debut in March at Gulfstream Park but was winless in three starts since, including a third to Measured Time in the Resorts World Casino Manhattan.

The Kentucky-bred Far Bridge banked $412,500 while improving his record to 12-5-3-2. He returned $18.40 for a $2 win bet. In victory, he maintained a perfect in-the-money record of 3-1-0-2 over the Spa turf, all in Grade 1 events.

Live racing resumes Sunday at Saratoga with the annual New York Showcase Day card, featuring six stakes worth a combined $1.25 million. First post on the 11-race all New York-bred program is 1:10. p.m. Eastern.

Saratoga Live will present live coverage and analysis of the Saratoga Race Course summer meet 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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