Seven horses have won the Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer Stakes twice before and Far Bridge looks to add his name to that shortlist in the $750,000 Grade I turf race over 2,400m at Saratoga on Saturday, August 9.
Miguel Clement saw late father Christophe land this valuable contest for older stayers on the grass a record five times, including in all but one of the last four seasons. Far Bridge is something of a flagbearer for the barn the son has inherited with the five-year-old son of English Channel as good as ever with a three from four record this season.
Clement saddled this horse to a close third in the Manhattan Stakes during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival over too short a distance with the loss of his father still raw. Beaten half-a-length by subsequent Fourstardave winner Deterministic, Far Bridge has also scored at the Spa in Upstate New York since.
He ran out a ready three-length victor over re-opposing second El Rezeen in the Grade II Bowling Green Stakes when eased down approaching the wire by regular rider Joel Rosario. In the form of his life, there’s every chance that Far Bridge wins the Sword Dancer Stakes again in 2025.
Connections have little to fear from horses in this nine-runner field taking him on again. That’s because Far Bridge has already given weight and a beating to Padiddle twice in the spring and El Rezeen last time. Grand Sonata, meanwhile, also has an entry in the $1,000,000 Grade I Arlington Million at Colonial Downs on the same day.
Todd Pletcher has campaigned him in longer distance races of late, landing the Kentucky Turf Cup with him last September. Grand Sonata hasn’t won since, however, and trailed the field in this race to Far Bridge in 2024.
Godolphin Pair Dangers
International owner-breeders Godolphin bring two across the Atlantic from England and the Charlie Appleby stable for a shot at this. Nations Pride is no stranger to Saratoga or racing on the East Coast in general. Now a six-year-old, the 2022 Saratoga Derby and Jockey Club Derby winner returns from a break after wintering in the Middle East.
Nations Pride also landed the Arlington Million last season and the Group 2 Singspiel Stakes over 1,800 at Meydan earlier in 2025. He’s a versatile horse as regards trip with the Sword Dancer Stakes distance holding no fears for him. Appleby’s jockey William Buick rides Nations Pride despite his last run being back in April.
A veteran of trips abroad, his North America resume also includes the Grade I Canadian International in the fall of 2023, run at Woodbine near Toronto. Nations Pride was also fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf the previous season to another Godolphin favorite Rebel’s Romance.
El Cordobes travels overseas for the first time, meanwhile. Although he lacks his barn buddy’s globetrotting experience and hasn’t won on turf away from homefield track Newmarket, the four-year-old does bring decent UK form to the table. He beat a subsequent Royal Ascot handicap winner on reappearance, then finished ahead of Glorious Stakes scorer Al Aasy and landed a Group 2 during the July Festival.
As El Cordobes was too good for Gordon Stakes nose second Wimbledon Hawkeye in the Princess Of Wales, there’s some substance to his form. Flavien Prat takes over in the saddle and it’s interesting that Appleby ships him over to the Spa as well as Nations Pride.
Utah Beach Looking to Get Back on Track in Sword Dancer Stakes
Igancio Correas IV saddles another son of English Channel in the race in five-year-old gelding Utah Beach. He found a rich vein of form in the spring, getting up in the Grade II Elkhorn Stakes around Keeneland by a head with Cherie DeVaux’s Rebel Red and Grand Sonata down the field.
Utah Beach then followed-up when defying a penalty in the Grade III Louisville Stakes at Churchill Downs, also over this distance. He confirmed previous form with Verstappen and Missed The Cut then, but flopped in a 2,200m Listed race last time. Old rival Rebel Red, who fell in the Louisville, turned about the Elkhorn result completely.
Although disappointing and beaten four lengths in seventh spot, Utah Beach conceded 5lb to the re-opposing winner. Under race terms of the Sword Dancer Stakes in 2025, he only gives 2lb to Rebel Red, meaning he’s 3lb better off. Back at a mile-and-a-half, Utah Beach could easily bounce back with that favorable swing in the weights.
Grand Sonata placed in the Grade II United Nations Stakes at Monmouth Park before his choice of top-tier assignments. Pletcher saw his son of Medaglia d’Oro finish ahead of Vote No in fourth and Rebel Red down in seventh spot then, but he received 4lb from them both and they all now meet on level terms.
The former, a four-year-old Divisidero gelding, has less than a length to find with Grand Sonata as all three step up in grade and 200m in distance. Vote No looks the more likely to spring a shock for Kelsey Danner with oddsmakers behind Morning Line prices and Belmont Stakes racebooks suggesting Kenrick Carmouche’s mount is unexposed stamina-wise.
Sword Dancer Stakes 2025 Post Positions Draw & Morning Line Odds
- El Cordobes (124lbs) – 4-1
- Rebel Red (122lbs) – 8-1
- Vote No (122lbs) – 15-1
- Padiddle (122lbs) – 30-1
- Nations Pride (126lbs) – 3-1
- Far Bridge (126lbs) – 9-5 fav
- El Rezeen (122lbs) – 15-1
- Grand Sonata (122lbs) – 10-1
- Utah Beach (124lbs) – 8-1
Our Handicapper’s Verdict
There’s no question that Far Bridge is the horse to beat, having landing three of his four starts this year and this very race last season. Of the others on the home team, Utah Beach and the unexposed Vote No could have more improvement in them, rather than Grand Sonata.
Godolphin’s two transatlantic raiders, Nations Pride and El Cordobes have different questions hanging over them. A long break poses a problem for the former, while the latter travels overseas for his international debut here. It wouldn’t be a surprise if one or other made the show, if reproducing the pick of their form.
WATCH: Far Bridge Win the Sword Dancer Stakes in 2024
