Far Bridge a Towering Presence in Saratoga Derby

Already with one prestigious Derby victory in a New York turf race, LSU Stable's Far Bridge  goes looking for more against eight 3-year-old rivals in the $600,000 Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes (G1T) Aug. 5.

Saturday's race on Whitney Day at Saratoga Race Course follows the English Channel  colt's earlier victory in the Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes (G1) July 8 at Belmont Park. The Saratoga Derby is 1 3/16 miles, a sixteenth of a mile shorter than the Belmont Derby.

The somewhat shorter trip would appear unlikely to negatively impact Far Bridge, who surged to take command with about a sixteenth of a mile remaining in the Belmont Derby and outlasted hard-charing European invader The Foxes  by a length. The latter, favored in the Belmont Derby, does not return in Saturday's race, though other horses from across the pond are in competition.

Lindy Farms, Ice Wine Stable and John Fielding's The Franchise  races for trainer Joseph O'Brien and Qatar Racing's Lion of War  is in action for trainer Charlie Johnston. Neither has raced against the top 3-year-olds in Europe.

Discussing The Franchise, O'Brien said: "He's a talented colt and he comes off the back of a good run at The Curragh. I think he'll like the firm track and he really likes a good pace to run at. If he gets the right setup, we are hoping he can get a share of the money." 

Another entrant, the filly Aspen Grove , who initially raced in Ireland for trainer James Stack, makes her second domestic start after winning the Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes (G1T) last month at Belmont. The latter gets a weight break in the Saratoga Derby, carrying 119 pounds, three fewer pounds than her male rivals. John Velazquez rides from post 3.

Earlier in the week, she was entered and drew post 10 in the Aug. 4 Saratoga Oaks Invitational (G3T). She races for owners Glen Hill Farm and Mrs. John Magnier.

"She seems to be doing really well and is already a grade 1 winner, so we thought we would go for another grade 1 that was worth more money," said Craig Bernick, principal of Glen Hill Farm. "She was drawn wide in a bigger field in the Oaks and also gets some weight against the boys, so we thought it was worth a chance. The speed figures are going to say that the Belmont Derby was a faster race than the Belmont Oaks, but I thought she ran really well considering how slow the pace was and how she closed. We'll line up and see." 

There are among the other leading contenders in the Saratoga Derby, along with Mondego  and Webslinger , who of the returning runners that were defeated in the Belmont Derby, finished closest to Far Bridge by checking in third and fourth, respectively.

This marks the fifth edition of the Saratoga Derby, with American-trained runners and Europeans entering this year's race with a 2-2 tie in victories. Past winners include A Thread of Blue , Domestic Spending , State of Rest  and Nation's Pride.

The Saratoga Derby provides an automatic berth into one of Australia's top races, the $AUD 5 million Cox Plate (G1) Oct. 28. The second leg of a three-race turf invitational series for 3-year-olds on the NYRA circuit, the Saratoga Derby precedes the 1 3/8-mile, $500,000 Jockey Club Derby Invitational (G3T) Oct. 7 during the Belmont at the Big A meet at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The ninth race Saturday, the Saratoga Derby will air during FOX's three-hour broadcast from 3-6 p.m. ET