Blackadder goes to trainer Christophe Clement after sale

El Camino Real Derby winner Blackadder is headed to the barn of Christophe Clement after selling for $250,000 during Friday night’s Keeneland April horses of racing age sale.

Blackadder, by Quality Road, most recently raced for the partnership of SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Siena Farm, and Golconda Stable. He won the El Camino in February on Golden Gate’s synthetic surface for trainer Bob Baffert. He was then transferred to trainer Rodolphe Brisset in an attempt to earn Kentucky Derby points, as horses trained by the currently suspended Baffert were not eligible to do so.

The colt finished ninth in the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes on April 9 at Keeneland.

Clement, who said by phone that Blackadder was purchased on behalf of Manzanita Stable, has had his eye on Blackadder since the colt was purchased for $620,000 by the former owners at the 2020 Keeneland September yearling sale.

“I remembered him, because I liked him as a yearling,” the trainer said.

Blackadder holds an automatic berth into the Preakness Stakes by virtue of his victory at Golden Gate. Clement said he will wait to see the colt train before making any firm plans.

“Everything's on the table,” Clement said. “Let's get the horse in the barn, let’s train him – ‘why dont we let him do the talking’ kind of thing.”