Newly inducted Hall of Fame jockey Joel Rosario gave Far Bridge a masterful ride in the $750,000 Sword Dancer (G1) at Saratoga on Saturday, leading the LSU Stables colt to a surprise start-to-finish victory in the 1.5-mile turf race.

With this victory, the second Grade 1 race of his career, Far Bridge secured an automatic berth in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) at Del Mar on November 2.

Wide bridge. NYRA photo

The Breeders’ Cup is likely Far Bridge’s future

Starting 8-1 ahead of the Godolphin duo Measured Time and Silver Knott, Far Bridge quickly moved ahead of them, galloping through moderate splits of 24.86, 50:92 and 1:17.21 over the firm inner turf course. Coming into action at the three-eighths pole, Far Bridge quickly found his best stride and shook off favourite Silver Knott. He then easily fended off the challenge of favourite Measured Time to win by a length.

His time for the 12 furlongs was 2:29.51.

“It looked like one of the two Godolphin horses (Measured Time, Silver Knott) was going to take the lead. I got off to a good start and just took advantage of that, let him be happy there and he did all the work. It worked,” Rosario said. “He ran very well, very relaxed. He set his own pace and when I asked him to go he was there for me. He ran a great race. It’s a very nice win. It was very nice for (trainer) Christophe (Clement) and everyone else on the team to win. We’re very happy.”

Far Bridge ($18.40) improved his overall record to 5-3-2 from 12 starts and increased his earnings to $1,477,700. He began his career with Clement, then was purchased and traded to Todd Pletcher, with whom he won the 2023 Belmont Derby (G1) and then returned to Clement.

“I’m thrilled, it’s a great story,” Clement said. “This is a horse I trained early on, he left us and came back, and I’m thrilled he’s back in the stable.”

Silver Knott finished third, a further 3 ¼ lengths back, and was next pursued by Pioneering Spirit and Grand Sonata.

US Racing’s writing staff is comprised of full- and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the sport of kings.