Flintshire defends title in Sword Dancer

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The Travers, with its 14-horse field that includes two classic winners, is obviously the focal point of Saturday’s 13-race program at Saratoga. But there is a terrific undercard in support, featuring top horses such as Flintshire, Lady Eli, and a sensational quintet in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign.

Flintshire came to Saratoga last year when in the barn of Andre Fabre and turned in an electric turn of foot to win the Sword Dancer by 2 1/2 lengths. Owned by Juddmonte Farms, Flintshire will try to defend his title Saturday in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer, a 1 1/2-mile turf race for 3-year-olds and up.

Flintshire has been a U.S. resident in the barn of Chad Brown since March. In two starts for Brown, Flintshire, a 6-year-old son of Dansili, has won the Grade 1 Manhattan and Grade 2 Bowling Green.

“The fact he’s at this level at this age is purely a testament to Andre Fabre and Juddmonte’s team, how well they’ve managed the horse throughout his career,” Brown said. “Training these kinds of horses, there’s no way a horse can be still at the very highest level of competition at age 6 unless they’ve been taken care of along the way.”

Flintshire drew post 6 in a seven-horse field, with three of the runners from Brown’s barn. Inordinate, also owned by Juddmonte, was entered as a pacemaker for Flintshire. Money Multiplier is coming off a second-level allowance win.

Also in the field are Twilight Eclipse, third to Flintshire in last year’s Sword Dancer, and Grand Tito, who came within three-quarters of a length of Flintshire in the Bowling Green. Roman Approval and Applicator complete the field.