Clement has pair for River Memories Stakes

ELMONT, N.Y. – While some trainers may be waiting for Saratoga to run their horses, trainer Christophe Clement is making the most of the last few weeks of the Belmont Park spring/summer meet.

From June 23 through Thursday, Clement had won seven of the last 15 races in which he’s participated. He has moved into a three-way tie for fourth in the trainer standings with 15 wins.

Clement is hoping to continue that roll Sunday when he sends out the uncoupled entry of Flower Fashion and Silver Step in the $100,000 River Memories Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/2 miles over the Widener turf course.

Flower Fashion is coming off a second-level allowance win here May 20 at 1 1/4 miles, while Silver Step has finished fifth in both of her North American starts, albeit at shorter distances.

“Flower Fashion, this might be a bit too far,” Clement said. “She came from my brother [Nicolas]. We didn’t think she’d stay [the distance], but we’ll try. Silver Step has been very disappointing. She’s been working well, so I got to try something different.”

Silver Step raced at a mile and 1 1/16 miles here for Clement. She did win a minor stakes going 1 1/4 miles in France for Pia Brandt.

Only one of the eight fillies and mares entered here has won at 1 1/2 miles, that being Estrechada, who captured last year’s Grade 3 Waya at Saratoga for trainer Mike Puype. She makes her first start for Robertino Diodoro after finishing fifth, beaten 1 3/4 lengths by Holy Helena, in the Grade 2 Sheepshead Bay here in May.

Violet Blue, a daughter of 2010 Melbourne Cup winner Americain, made a successful 4-year-old debut, winning a first-level allowance race by 4 1/4 lengths here June 14. Her other victory came last summer at Belmont in a dead heat in a 1 3/8-mile race.

“She came back really good this year. She looks great; she ran super,” trainer Jimmy Toner said. “It’s a jump, but I know she’s bred to go the distance. It’s a step up in class for her, but do you wait for a nonwinners of two up in Saratoga, or do you try to get some black type?”

Savannah Belle and Homeland Security finished third and fourth behind Flower Fashion on May 20 and are both trying 1 1/2 miles for the first time.

Summersault and Not Taken complete the field.