Happy Christophe Clement Turf Stakes Day!

Very competitive Christophe Clement Turf with a field that includes the top three finishers from the Bowling Green, the winner of the United Nations along with several quality Euros including a mare who just won the Glens Falls two weeks ago. None of the seven entrants were off the board in their most recent start – all of which were against graded stakes company.

Trivia Question: The Sword Dancer, now the Christophe Clement, has been contested since 1975. Which trainer has the most wins in this Grade I?

Race 9  The Christophe Clement Turf  Stakes – Grade I

One Mile and a Half on the Inner Turf for Three Year Olds and Upward

1. Ancient Egypt: Three year old Frankel colt runs here off strong performance in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp where he lost by a head to Maltese Cross after pressing the pace, getting the lead and getting nailed on the wire. Similar trip and narrow loss in a Group 2 at Royal Ascot. Both races were at a mile and half. Takes on elders. David Egan comes over to ride. Look for a tracking trip again and he may appreciate the flat and firm going. The Pick.
2. Tawny Port: In the two mile Belmont Gold Cup Prat sat chilly on the rail and he was best late (101 Beyer). No wins from ten starts at today’s distance and that Gold Cup was his first win since 2023. Kendrick picks up the mount as Prat stays with Program Trading. Not likely.
3. Ole Crazy Bone: In the Bowling Green and took the field the entire way as he held of Fort George in the lane (97 Beyer). Can set or attend the pace. Hasn’t missed the exacta in five starts since moving to the Mike Maker barn. Irad is off mounts with an injury. Hits the board.
4. Program Trading: Won both the Monmouth Stakes (94 Beyer) and the United Nations (96 Beyer) this Summer at Monmouth Park. In the U.N. he was off the pace and commenced a sustained long run as he swept by the field to win as the odd on favorite. Will need to be faster overall to win here. Still needs a move forward to win today.
5. Fort George: In the Bowling Green he tracked Ole Crazy Bone but couldn’t get by (97 Beyer). British bred gelding raced in Dubai this winter where he won the Group 3 Dubai Millenium and then was a strong second to Rebel’s Romance in the Group 2 City of Gold Stakes. He’s stayed in Saratoga since that Bowling Green. Regular pilot Kieran Shoemark comes over to ride. Win candidate.
6. Minaret Station: In the Bowling Green he was off the pace and showed a good turn of foot late, but ran out of ground. (96 Beyer). In his other two races of the year he also came from off the pace but wasn’t quick enough to get the win while posting 95 and 96 Beyers. Exotics only.
7. Survie: Five year old mare comes back in two weeks after winning the Glens Falls (95 Beyer). Now she takes on the colts which she has done before and won on the all-weather vs. the colts in January in England. Franco takes over as Prat sticks with Program Trading. Has shown that she can handle a quick return to the track. Underneath.

Picks 1-5-3-7

Race 10  The Galway Stakes – Listed

Five and One Half Furlongs On The Mellon Turf for Fillies three Years Old

1. Gerrards Cross: Speedster should be sent from this post to establish position. Has won two of his three turf sprints including the Monmouth County Stakes last month where she wired the field (82 Beyer). Two back in the Stormy Blues Stakes at Laurel she led and battled from the rail, losing by a neck (74 Beyer). If she get a clear lead, she’s dangerous. Gets a piece.
2. Epic Lady Luck: Last race was in January vs. optional claimers where she made up ground to finish third (79 Beyer). Now moves to George Weaver’s barn, moves to stakes company and has not yet won a race on the turf. Weaver makes me pause but … passing, nonetheless.
3. Oscar’s Encore: Defeated elders in a N1X race last month off a nine month layoff over this track where she dueled on the lead and re-rallied after being headed (83 Beyer). Joe Sharp has strong numbers in second races off 180 day + layoffs. Both career wins are at five and half furlongs over this track. Should sit in behind the early speed. The Pick.
4. Queen Juno: Broke her maiden turf sprinting at Woodbine in June and then moved to Joe Sharp’s barn where she was second in a N1X race (79 Beyer). Faces tougher today. Passing.
5. Cadenza: Stalked the leader in the Coronation Cup over a yielding surface but wasn’t able to keep up with the top two in the lane (75 Beyer). Won the “Take the A Train” in May at the Big A with a three wide move for her first stakes win (79 Beyer). Hits the board.
6. Mauna Loa: Buried a field of older optional claimers at Woodbine last out in a race moved to the all-weather from the turf (88 Beyer) where she broke alertly and no one got close. Beyer top on the turf in 65. Bullet work on 8/7 over the Oklahoma turf. Looks to be the speed of the speed here. Irad won’t ride as he is off mounts until August 22nd with an injury. Contendner.
7. Triskelion: Rusty Arnold trainee comes in from Ellis Park where she won the Pea Patch Stakes as she out finished two rivals to win by a head (77 Beyer). Should be able to press the pace from the outside. Needs another move forward. Exotics.
8. Mythical: Jorge Delgado trainee makes her first start on the turf. She has put up some nice numbers dirt sprinting including back to back 94 Beyers this Spring and she has won seven times including the Adirondack last Summer. Only has one work since the Victory Ride where she led early but faded late. Offspring of St. Patrick’s Day (who turf sprinted in Ireland but never won a race on turf) are 0/30 in turf sprints and 3/61 turf routing. The dam, Lailoni, has never had a starter on the turf. She’s the Pick on dirt, but a big question mark on turf.
9. L’Eclair: (MTO) First time for Rick Dutrow off the claim. Has won twice on the dirt with a 77 Beyer top. Using if this race gets moved to the dirt.

Picks 3-6-5-1

Trivia Answer: Appropriately, the late great Christophe Clement trained the most Sword Dancer winners – five (1999, 2011, 2021, 2022, 2024)