Gufo on schedule for Sword Dancer

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Multiple stakes winner Gufo stepped up his preparations for a start in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer Stakes when he worked five furlongs in 1:02.19 Friday over the Oklahoma turf course.

With Joel Rosario up, Gufo started two lengths behind Sitting Pretty, tracked that one through an opening quarter in 26.94 seconds, tipped outside in upper stretch, and finished to the wire on even terms and went a furlong past the wire where the work was timed. It was his third work since July 31.

“I thought he looked great. In behind, finished well, galloped out strong, perfect,” trainer Christophe Clement said. “He’ll have one more work next week and go for the Sword Dancer.”

The Sword Dancer, run at 1 1/2 miles, is on Aug. 28.

Gufo, who won the Grade 1 Belmont Derby last fall, won the Grand Couturier Stakes on July 4 at Belmont, his most recent start. Clement chose that race over the Bowling Green here on July 31 to have more time to the Sword Dancer.

“It gave me a chance to give him a little bit of break the first part of July,” Clement said. “We’ll go with a fresh horse for the Sword Dancer and keep a fresh horse for the fall.”

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