Far Bridge Chases Back-to-Back G1 Wins in Joe Hirsch

Being 9-1 on the toteboard was not the only surprising element of Far Bridge 's victory in the Sword Dancer Stakes (G1T).

Considering he was no better than fifth at the first two calls of his last seven starts, seeing him dart to the early lead in the 1 1/2-mile turf stakes was also startling.

Except for his connections.

"He's always subject to the pace with his running style but he worked well for the Sword Dancer and before the race we thought he could be close to the pace or on the lead," trainer Christophe Clement said. "That's how it worked out which was nice."

Fresh off that front-running win, LSU Stables' 4-year-old son of English Channel will try to nail down a third grade 1 win Sept. 28 when he runs in the $500,00 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1T) at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Only this time do not look for him on the lead in the field of seven that will travel 1 1/2 miles.

"Get Smokin  (who will break from the rail Saturday) is always on the lead, so we will not go for the early lead," Clement said. "But as long as (jockey Joel Rosario) gives him a good trip, we can go from there. It's always very tactical in a turf race."

While the fractions were slow (1:17.21) for six furlongs on firm turf, the son of the Kitten's Joy  mare Fitpitcher did not steal the race. He led by only a length for much of the race and was in front by a head at the quarter pole before he edged clear in the final furlong to win by a length.

"I do not think he stole the race because horses were right behind him at the quarter pole. They just couldn't get by him," Clement said about the colt bred by Calumet Farm.

The Sword Dancer broke a string of three straight losses for Far Bridge and gave him his first graded stakes victory since July 2023 when he captured the Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes (G1T) for trainer Todd Pletcher. Those three recent losses came in grade 1 or grade 2 turf stakes, including a dead heat for third in the Manhattan Stakes (G1T).

Clement is hopeful that Far Bridge can turn in another strong effort Saturday.

"He's doing great and has been training forwardly. He came out of the Sword Dancer in very good shape and I like the way he looks," Clement said.

Clement said the decision to run in the Joe Hirsch was based on the 10-week gap between the Aug. 24 Sword Dancer and the Nov. 2 Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) at Del Mar. Far Bridge earned a free, Breeders' Cup Challenge: Win and You're In spot in the Turf by virtue of his win in the Sword Dancer.

"The plan was to train to the Breeders' Cup but I didn't like the (10 weeks) until then. That's why we are running Saturday. If it was six weeks, we'd just go to the Breeders' Cup. But in this case, I think it makes sense to run him this weekend."

Aside from the speedy, Mark Casse-trained Get Smokin, the seven entrants also include the distance-loving 7-year-old mare War Like Goddess  (English Channel), who is seeking her third straight Joe Hirsch win for owner George Krikorian and trainer Bill Mott, and Godolphin's Silver Knott , a son of Lope de Vega  who was third in the Sword Dancer.