Next Start Undecided After Excellent Truth's Diana Win

Resolute Racing's Excellent Truth  outdueled post-time favorite She Feels Pretty  late to land her first top-level victory while securing trainer Chad Brown a record-extending 10th score in the $485,000 Diana Stakes (G1T), a 1 1/8-mile Mellon turf test for older fillies and mares, at Saratoga Race Course July 12.

READ: Excellent Truth Outduels She Feels Pretty to Win Diana

The five-time Eclipse Award-winning Brown was thrilled to see Excellent Truth break through in her third start for him. She was previously a close second at the top level in the Jenny Wiley Stakes (G1T) in April at Keeneland and the Just a Game Stakes (G1T) last out on June 6 at Saratoga to stablemate Dynamic Pricing , who finished third in the Diana.

"That was a very courageous performance," said Brown, who won his ninth Diana in the past 10 years. "I'm so proud of her, with the way she battled back and showed a lot of heart. She got a really good trip—she got bumped a little bit in the lane—but outside of that, she got a good trip and she's been a very consistent horse. You could argue with a little better racing luck, she could've won all three of her starts here.

"If she had, I think everyone would be viewing her as a clear leader of the division. I still think she is a slight leader of the division, with a heads-up win there just now, but I view her as a horse that easily could've been undefeated so far, at three different distances. She is a remarkable talent, and I'm not surprised, she has always trained super."

Brown confirmed the 5-year-old Cotai Glory  dark bay mare exited the win in good order, but a next race is undecided, adding that she is doubtful to contest the upcoming local option in the 1 1/16-mile Ballston Spa Stakes (G2T) Aug. 8. A later Spa option is the 1 3/8-mile Flower Bowl Stakes (G2T) Aug. 30, which awards a "Win and You're In" berth to the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T) at Del Mar Nov. 1.

"I think it (the Ballston Spa) is too tight. I can't see any scenario where I wheel her back in that race," said Brown.

Brown added that Klaravich Stables' Dynamic Pricing, a closing 4 1/2-length third, may be due for a cutback in distance.

"The turf was to her liking, but I think with the pace, those two horses sprinted home. Additionally, my reservation with her stretching out was the pace gets a little softer and it might dilute her kick just a touch. I was happy she got up for third," Brown said.

Among near-future stakes action for Brown is Klaravich Stables' Strategic Focus , who is pointed to the 1 1/8-mile Curlin Stakes July 24, restricted to sophomore non-winners of a graded stakes at one mile or over in 2025.

"I'm very impressed with that horse's development. He is heading to the Curlin," said Brown, who confirmed that race will separate the lightly-raced Gun Runner   chestnut from Hill Road 's possible start in the $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) July 26.

Far Bridge Targets Sword Dancer

LSU Stables' multiple grade 1-winner Far Bridge  was a facile winner of Saturday's $186,000 Bowling Green Stakes (G2T) at Saratoga, taking the 1 3/8-mile inner turf route by three lengths under regular Hall of Fame rider Joel Rosario.

Trainer Miguel Clement said he was pleased with how Far Bridge exited the race as he now sets his sights on a title defense in the $750,000 Sword Dancer Stakes (G1T) Aug. 9. The Sword Dancer offers a "Win and You're In" berth to the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) at Del Mar Nov. 1.

READ: Far Bridge Notches Bowling Green Win for Miguel Clement

"He's sound and in good order, and I'm delighted with him," Clement said. "He handles all adversity, obstacles, and challenges. He was enjoying himself, which I love to see, and his ears were pricked up. He's enjoying life, and it's great. He and Joel have a great relationship, and we're off to the Sword Dancer."

The 5-year-old English Channel bay has now won nearly every major long-distance turf race in New York, adding to past success in the Belmont Derby Invitational (G1T) as a sophomore, a pair of grade 1s in last year's Sword Dancer and Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1T) at Aqueduct Racetrack, and the Man o' War Stakes (G2T) at Aqueduct in May. He finished third in both the Saratoga Derby Invitational (G1T) as a sophomore and the Manhattan Stakes (G1T) in his start prior to the Bowling Green.

In all, Far Bridge boasts over $2.3 million in total purse earnings from a 9-3-3 record through 18 starts. He was bred in Kentucky by Calumet Farm.

Minaret Station targets Saratoga Derby

OXO Equine's talented sophomore Minaret Station  is being pointed toward the $750,000 Saratoga Derby Invitational (G1T), a 1 3/16-mile turf test for sophomores at Saratoga Aug. 2.

Trained by Will Walden, the son of Instilled Regard   won the Bourbon Stakes (G2T) in October at Keeneland and was entered in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) in November at Del Mar, but was scratched and had the winter off in preparation for his sophomore campaign. He returned with aplomb at Churchill Downs June 28, stalking and pouncing to a half-length win in the American Derby traveling 1 1/16 miles.

"He's doing great. I'm really excited about him," Walden said. "It was a long layoff having the winter off. We targeted that spot (American Derby) from the moment he stepped foot in Keeneland in April. We were lucky that we didn't have any hiccups along the way."

Minaret Station posted a half-mile work July 11 over the Saratoga main track, covering the distance in :49.65 in his first career breeze at the Spa.

"He's still a big baby, figuring all this out," Walden said. "He's getting better, and his confidence level is really high. He's a happy horse, and he's doing well. We're aiming for the Saratoga Derby, and we're excited about it."

A Kentucky homebred for OXO Equine, Minaret Station is out of the multiple graded stakes-winning Sir Prancealot   mare Beau Recall . The consistent colt is 3-for-4 lifetime with $377,968 in total purse earnings.