Far Bridge stays out of trouble, takes Belmont Derby

ELMONT, N.Y. — After a couple of troubled-trip seconds in his most recent graded stakes tries - some of it due to his own actions - Far Bridge had smooth sailing early and gave his usual strong kick late to win Saturday’s Grade 1, $750,000 Belmont Derby Invitational at Belmont Park.

Far Bridge finished one length in front of favored The Foxes, who came from next-to-last with a furious late rally to get second by a nose over the pace-setting Mondego.

Webslinger finished fourth and was followed in the order of finish by Silver Knott, Mendelssohns March, Redistricting, Kalik, Wizard of Westwood, Cyber Ninja, and Boppy O.

Far Bridge was ridden to victory by Jose Ortiz, who won four races on Saturday’s card and will bring a four-race advantage, 59-55, over his brother Irad Ortiz Jr. for leading rider at the Belmont Park meet, which ends Sunday.

:: Get Belmont Park Clocker Reports from Mike Welsch and the Clocker Team. Available every race day.

A key equipment change may have made the difference for Far Bridge, who had attempted to lug in during crucial moments of his previous two races - the Grade 2 American Turf and the Grade 2 Pennine Ridge.

Trainer Todd Pletcher put on a Hougton bit, which is more severe than a regular bit and gives the rider more control.

“It seemed like his last couple of works, his head carriage was a little better,” Pletcher said.

Far Bridge broke from post 5, but Ortiz got him to the inside on relatively fresh ground. He was seventh, five lengths off the pace of Mondego, who set fractions of 23.71 seconds for the quarter, 50.06 for the half and 1:14.89 for six furlongs, stalked by Silver Knott.

Mondego Bay turned back a challenge from Silver Knott, but Ortiz got Far Bridge out into the clear and he came with a straight and strong run.

“We’ve been working on him to try and get him straight,” Ortiz said. “Todd has been working with his bit, I think we finally nailed it, he went straight today. The trip helped him, he was on the rail, he can’t lug in no more. I cut the corner at the quarter pole, beautiful trip. When I tipped him out, he exploded.”

Far Bridge, a son of English Channel owned by LSU Stables, covered the 1 1/4 miles in 2:01.75 (95 Beyer Speed Figure) and returned $8.70 as the second choice.

The Foxes, sent off the 2-1 favorite, broke slow from post 11 and was in the back of the pace for the first half-mile. Jockey Oisin Murphy weaved his way through horses in the stretch but couldn’t catch Far Bridge.

“Was a little slow away, I followed the winner, but I wanted to sit closer in the run,” Murphy said. “The winner got first run on me as we turned into the straight. The Foxes picked up brilliantly but I would have loved to have been more forward in the run.”

Far Bridge will likely point to the Grade 1, $600,000 Saratoga Derby on Aug. 5.

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