Far Bridge targets Sword Dancer as next start

Visually, it looked like Far Bridge’s three-length victory in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Bowling Green Stakes was done with ease. But it’s a trainer’s job to worry and on Sunday Miguel Clement was wondering just how easily the victory was attained.

Clement said he was surprised how early Joel Rosario advanced Far Bridge to the lead with three furlongs to go and then seemingly coasted the final 100 yards.

“Was it a bit too hard, did he move a bit premature, it’s the questions you have to ask,” Clement said Sunday morning. “Did he make it a tougher race than he had to? I don’t know. He came out of it in very good order, that’s half the battle, too. You know the next one is not going to be easy.”

The next one will be the Grade 1 Sword Dancer here on Aug. 9, a race that has been moved on the calendar from its usual Travers Day placement.

Far Bridge won the Sword Dancer last year and will be attempting a repeat victory achieved by Gufo, trained by Miguel’s father, Christophe, in 2022-23.

Far Bridge earned a 101 Beyer Speed Figure, equaling the career best he earned in the 2024 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic.

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