Far Bridge to end layoff in Saturday's Joe Hirsch Turf Classic

ELMONT, N.Y. - When Far Bridge came off a six-month layoff to win the Grade 3 Pan American Stakes at Gulfstream Park on March 28, trainer Miguel Clement thought it signaled the beginning of a big campaign for the 6-year-old son of English Channel.

The day after the Pan American, however, Clement noticed that Far Bridge was not right physically and there was reason to wonder if he would ever saddle the horse again. Not that the problem - an issue with a suspensory branch - was career-ending, but Far Bridge was a seven-time stakes winner, three-time Grade 1 winner and had earned $2.5 million and could have easily been perceived to have done enough.

But owner Randy Sarf wanted to keep going and after some time off and seven workouts, Far Bridge is ready to get going again. He will return from another six-month layoff in Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont Park. Far Bridge won the Joe Hirsch in 2024 and was fourth in the race last year.

“He’s a pure athlete, he loves his job and I really thought he was primed for a massive season this year,” Clement said.

:: DRF has you covered for the Belmont meet! Shop for PPs, Clocker Reports, Picks and more.

While there may not be time to have a massive season in 2026, Sarf said he intends to bring Far Bridge back in 2027.

“He’s got good years left, you’re talking about a [son of] English Channel, it doesn’t make a difference standing him at [age] 6, 7 or 8,” Sarf said.

Clement has been happy with the way Far Bridge has trained, but he wonders if he has done enough to have him ready for a 1 1/2-mile Grade 1 event against a high-quality field.

“I don’t know if he’s quite ready to run his ‘A’ race off the layoff, nevertheless sometimes you got to get the ball rolling,” Clement said. “ There’s no ideal spot in the coming four or five weeks afterwards, so it’s either run him now or wait until late October.”

The Hirsch field includes three European invaders led by El Cordobes, the Charlie Appleby-trained runner who won the Grade 1 Sword Dancer in Saratoga in 2025 and finished third in both the Joe Hirsch and Breeders’ Cup Turf last year. He has not run since finishing fifth in a Group 2 stakes at Doha in February.

Fort George, trained by Ed Walker, has already made two starts in North America this year, finishing second, beaten a nose, in the Bowling Green at Saratoga and third in the Kentucky Cup Turf on Sept. 5.

Pride of Arras, trained by Ralph Beckett, is coming off a win in the Group 2 September Stakes over the synthetic track at Kempton.

Minaret Station, third in the Bowling Green and second in the Christophe Clement (formerly the Sword Dancer), is looking to avenge those two narrow defeats for trainer Will Walden. Trainer Chad Brown entered Program Trading, winner of the Grade 2 United Nations and third in the Clement, and Asbury Park, last year’s Jockey Club Derby winner.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.