Far Bridge Works Toward Sword Dancer Defense
LSU Stables' multiple Grade 1-winner Far Bridge breezed five furlongs in 1:02 1/5 seconds on Friday over the Oklahoma turf training track, according to NYRA Clockers, towards a title defense in next Saturday's G1, $750,000 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer, a 1 1/2-mile inner turf test for older horses, at Saratoga Race Course.The Sword Dancer awards a 'Win and You're In' berth to the G1 Breeders' Cup Turf in November at Del Mar – a race Far Bridge was ninth in last year at odds of 7-1.
Trained by Miguel Clement, the much-the-best last-out winner of the local 11-furlong G2 Bowling Green on July 12 worked in company with dual graded stakes-winner Tawny Port, who is also nominated to the Sword Dancer.'That was a good work,' said Clement. 'That was a good solid work. We are looking forward to his race. He is training great. He loves it here. I know it will be a good field, there's two Godolphins [Nations Pride, El Cordobes] that came over, but nevertheless, we are still bullish on him.'We do believe he's the best turf horse in America in that division,' Clement continued.
The 5-year-old English Channel bay has the wins to defend that statement, flexing his class at longer distances, including G1 scores traveling 12 furlongs last year in the Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer in August on firm Spa turf and the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic one month later on good Belmont at the Big A green.In G1s, he is 8-3-0-3 with an additional score in the G1 Belmont Derby Invitational as a sophomore at Belmont Park. He has banked in excess of $2.3 million via an 18-9-3-3 overall record.
'He's so talented,' said Clement. 'He seems to excel in turf marathon events. He is versatile. He's won Grade 1s on the lead and can handle any ground. He won the Joe Hirsch in a bog from last. He can have tactical speed if need be. He is quick out of the gate if you want him to be. He has a great turn-of-foot. He is amazingly versatile.'Far Bridge's Sword Dancer triumph last year came for the late Christophe Clement, who won the event a record five times [Honor Glide, 1999; Winchester, 2011; Gufo, 2021-22; and Far Bridge, 2024].
This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Aug 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
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Randy Miller may be reached at rmiller@
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