Clement hopes juvenile success carries into Belmont meet

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Christophe Clement hopes to carry the momentum of an extremely successful Saratoga meet into the fall.

Clement won 13 races at Saratoga, five with his 2-year-olds. Clement’s only better Saratoga meet came in 2015 when he won 15 races.

“Obviously, we have a nice group of 2-year-olds, which is fun,” Clement said Wednesday morning at Belmont Park. “I’m working with my son [Miguel], my team – it’s very rewarding.”

Decorated Invader, a 2-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Declaration of War, won a maiden race by 3 1/4 lengths on Aug. 10 at Saratoga and is pointing to the Grade 1 Summer Stakes on Sept. 15 at Woodbine. The Summer is a Win and You’re In for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.

Clement has a nice roster of New York-bred 2-year-olds. City Man won an off-the-turf maiden race and the Funny Cide Stakes during the Saratoga meet. He is pointing to the $150,000 Bertram F. Bongard Stakes on Sept. 20 at Belmont Park.

Listentoyourheart, beaten a nose in the Rick Violette and a late-running third in the Funny Cide after a slow start, is running in Monday’s $100,000 Aspirant Stakes at Finger Lakes.

Irish Danzing, a New York-bred filly who won her maiden by 6 1/2 lengths on Aug. 29, could make her next start in the Joseph A. Gimma on Sept. 18 or perhaps wait for the Maid of the Mist on Oct. 19, Clement said.

Fly Fly Away, a half-brother to Disco Partner, won a New York-bred maiden race at the Spa before finishing fifth in the With Anticipation against open company.