Pair of German-breds give Clement strong chance for eighth Orchid win

Trainer Christophe Clement used to own the Orchid Stakes. In 12 runnings from 1994 through 2005, Clement won the turf race for females six times and has won it seven times overall. The majority of those wins were with foreign-breds and in the case of the Irish-bred Lisieux Rose, the 2000 winner, she was making her North American debut.

Saturday, Clement will send out a pair of German-breds, Amazing Grace and Atomic Blonde, for their North American debuts in the Grade 3, $150,000 Orchid, scheduled for 1 1/2 miles.

Amazing Grace won a Group 2 in Germany last September before finishing third, three lengths behind Rebel’s Romance, in the Group 1 Preis von Europa. Rebel’s Romance came out of that race to win the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland.

Atomic Blonde finished second to Amazing Grace in the aforementioned Group 2 before winning a Group 3 in Italy.

Both horses were purchased at the Arqana Deauville sale last December, where Clement also purchased the multiple group stakes winner Malavath.

Clement acknowledged that Amazing Grace’s form “is a bit better than the other filly, but they’ve trained very well. They both deserve a shot.” He added that he is hoping to get one or both to the Grade 2, $200,000 Sheepshead Bay on May 5 at Belmont Park.

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Clement said he is concerned about the firmness of the Gulfstream Park turf for both runners.

“The turf course is very much on the firm side. They’ve never run on turf that firm,” Clement said. “They’ve been training at Payson, where the turf is not soft. When we train, we train on a beautiful turf course at Payson and they’ve handled it very well.”

Joel Rosario rides Amazing Grace. Jose Ortiz is on Atomic Blonde.

Personal Best and Transient finished a neck apart when running first and second in the Grade 3 La Prevoyante here in January. Transient had some trouble in that race. Saffie Joseph Jr. felt that might have cost his mare the win.

“Checked at a crucial point,” Joseph said. “The time before that, Tyler [Gaffalione] dropped his stick at the eighth pole. So, she’s run consistently well. It’s another tough race for her, but she’s been in good form. She’s close to breaking through at this level. Hopefully, it’s this time.”

Viburnum, Miss Yearwood, Tamarindo, and Lady Arsinoe complete the field.

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