Christophe Clement | Horse Racing Free Tips

Talented 3-Year-Olds Chasing Breeders’ Cup Turf Berth In Belmont Derby Invitational

A thrilling finish to the Saratoga Derby Invitational in August saw the top-five finishers separated by less than a length. The trifecta from that contest – Domestic Spending, Gufo and No Word – will engage again on Saturday as part of a talented nine-horse field of 3-year-olds going 1 1/4 miles on the inner turf in the Grade 1, $250,000 Belmont Derby Invitational.

The 71st running of the Belmont Derby is a “Win and You're In” qualifier to the Grade 1, $4 million Breeders' Cup Turf on November 7 at Keeneland. It also is the headliner on a stacked card that features five graded stakes, including the Grade 1, $250,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic for 3-year-olds and up going 1 ½ miles on the Widener turf; the Grade 2, $150,000 Gallant Bloom for fillies and mares 3-year-olds and up sprinting 6 ½ furlongs on the main track; the Grade 2, $150,000 Kelso for 3-year-olds and up going one mile on Big Sandy and the Grade 2, $150,000 Pilgrim for juveniles contesting at 1 1/16 miles on the grass.

Otter Bend Stables' Gufo ran second by a head to Domestic Spending in the 1 3/16-mile Saratoga Derby and will look to turn the tables in a rematch for trainer Christophe Clement. The Declaration of War colt has won four of his six career starts, with his third-place debut effort in November at Aqueduct marking his only other non-winning effort.

Gufo registered a four-race winning streak heading into his first Saratoga start, including a 1 1/2-length win in the English Channel in May at Gulfstream Park and followed by a rallying half-length score in the Grade 3 Kent going 1 1/8 miles on July 4 at Delaware Park.

Gufo breezed four furlongs in 50.25 seconds on Belmont's inner turf Sunday with jockey Junior Alvarado aboard. Alvarado will have the call Saturday from post 2.

“Gufo went Sunday for his last work for the race and we're very happy with him,” Clement said. “He's been training very forwardly since the race at Saratoga. I had two choices; to run him here or go to Kentucky Downs. We trained for here because we think he's an ideal horse to run at Belmont with the wider turns and the mile and a quarter will be really good for him.”

Klaravich Stables' Domestic Spending was unraced as a juvenile but started his career with consecutive wins, breaking his maiden in February at Tampa Bay Downs at one mile before edging Don Juan Kitten by a neck in an allowance tilt in his first Belmont appearance on June 7.

The Chad Brown trainee stepped up to stakes company, running third behind the Clement-trained winner Decorated Invader in the Grade 2 Hall of Fame at 1 1/8 miles on July 18 at Saratoga. A month later, the English-bred son of Kingman earned his first stakes win and a career-best 93 Beyer Speed Figure for his win in the Saratoga Derby.

Hall of Famer Javier Castellano will be in the irons from post 4.

Wertheimer and Frere's No Word comprised the trifecta last out, just a half-length back to Gufo in the Saratoga Derby in his best stakes result. Trained by Todd Pletcher, No Word started his 3-year-old campaign with back-to-back third-place efforts before besting the field in an $80,000 optional claimer on July 9 at Belmont. Making his first stakes start as a sophomore, and first overall since running fifth in the Grade 3 Pilgrim in September 2019, No Word tallied a 92 Beyer for his stellar return to the Spa.

Jose Ortiz will ride from post 1.

Pletcher will also send out Repole Stable's Mo Ready, a last-out allowance winner on August 15 at Saratoga. Making his graded stakes bow, the son of Uncle Mo will be running at Belmont for the first time since his fourth-place debut effort in May 2019. Kenrick Carmouche will be aboard and break from post 3.

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott will saddle a pair of contenders who previously were on the Triple Crown trail in South Bend and Moon Over Miami.

Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable, Peter Deutsch and Pantofel Stable's South Bend will be switching back to turf after running off the board in two prestigious Grade 1 dirt tests, running fourth in the Runhappy Travers on August 8 at Saratoga before finishing 15th in the Kentucky Derby on September 5 following a wide trip and tiring late.

But South Bend showed talent earlier in the campaign, running second in the Grade 3 Ohio Derby in June at Thistledown under previous trainer Stanley Hough. Before that, the Algorithms colt ran five consecutive times on the grass earlier in 2020, posting a runner-up effort in the Cutler Bay in March at Gulfstream Park and third-place efforts in the Dania Beach and the Grade 3 Palm Beach going a mile and 1 1/16 miles, respectively, on the Gulfstream turf.

“I don't know that he's any better on grass. The race he was in last time was just a really tough race,” Mott said. “He ran well in the Travers. He picked up a check and ran a pretty good race. I think he's fine on dirt, it's just the level of competition.”

Jockey Dylan Davis will pick up the mount for the first time, drawing post 5.

Summer Wind Equine's Moon Over Miami won his first stakes last out with a half-length score in the Dueling Grounds Derby on September 10. Stretched out to 1 5/16 miles, the son of Malibu Moon tracked in 10th-of-12 position before a late surge edged him clear of Big Dreaming, earning a personal-best 91 Beyer.
Moon Over Miami ran in a Kentucky Derby prep race in his final dirt start on February 15, finishing eighth in a division of the Grade 2 Risen Star at Fair Grounds. Mott moved him to turf next out, where he ran eighth in the Cutler Bay.

After earning his first win on grass in a 1 1/8-mile allowance tilt on June 20 at Churchill – the first of three straight races he's worn blinkers – Moon Over Miami ran fourth in the Grade 2 Hall of Fame in July at Saratoga before his stakes win earlier this month. He will now return to Belmont for the first time since his fourth-place debut effort on Big Sandy in October 2019.

“He'll be fit. The race comes back a little quick for him,” Mott said. “The timing isn't ideal coming back from three and a half weeks. Generally, off a race like that, you would want a little more time, but this is one of the last straight 3-year-old races so we're going to give it a shot.

“It seems like the blinkers have helped,” he added. “He just seemed to be getting a little distracted.”

Eric Cancel will ride from post 8.

Godolphin's ultra-consistent Pixelate has never finished off the board in 11 starts [3-5-3] and has handled a step up in company, finishing second behind Gufo in the Grade 3 Kent before notching his first graded stakes score by outlasting Margot's Boy by a head in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby going 1 1/8 miles on September 6.

Trained by Michael Stidham, Pixelate, a son of City Zip, ran second in his only previous Belmont start, finishing a neck behind Buy Land and See in the Awad last October.

“We've been really happy with his training,” Stidham said. “He's raced at many different tracks with different riders and seems to always go out there and try hard, so we're excited to run him in a Grade 1. He's just an honest horse who goes out there and gives a big effort every single time.”

Jose Lezcano, the Belmont fall meet's current leading rider, has the call from post 6.

Rounding out the field is Venezuelan Hug, who ran sixth in the Grade 2 Pennine Ridge in June at Belmont before coming back to best allowance company on August 9 at Saraoga, for trainer Danny Gargan [post 7, Manny Franco]; and Ajourneytofreedom, who will make his first start for trainer Mike Maker after running second in an $80,000 optional claiming turf contest on August 31 at Del Mar [post 9, Benjamin Hernandez].

The Belmont Derby is slated as Race 9 on Saturday's 10-race program, which offers a first post of 12:40 p.m. Eastern. America's Day at the Races will present daily television coverage of the fall meet on FOX Sports and MSG Networks. For the complete America's Day at the Races broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule.

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Clement’s ‘Declaration Of War’ On Belmont Derby Led By Decorated Invader, Gufo

Trainer Christophe Clement breezed a number of turf workers on Sunday morning at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., including the graded stakes-winning pair of Decorated Invader and Gufo, both of whom are targeting the Grade 1, $250,000 Belmont Derby Invitational at 10 furlongs for sophomores on October 3 over the inner turf.

The two 3-year-old sons of Declaration of War worked in company, covering a half-mile in an easy 51.01 seconds over the inner turf.

“They both had a very good work together,” Clement said. “They started slow but finished up great. They will be nominated to the Belmont Derby and we'll go from there. A back up race could be a race like the [Grade 2, $150,000] Hill Prince [on October 12], but at the moment both are being trained to the Belmont Derby.”

Owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, William T. Freeman, William Sandbrook and Cheryl Manning, Decorated Invader finished a close fifth in the Saratoga Derby Invitational on August 15 as the beaten favorite, where Otter Bend Stables' Gufo finished a closing second, a head back to Domestic Spending.

A three-time graded stakes winner, Decorated Invader won last year's Grade 1 Summer at Woodbine before recording a productive sophomore campaign, with victories in the Cutler Bay on March 28 at Gulfstream Park, the Grade 2 Pennine Ridge on June 20 at Belmont and the Grade 2 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame on July 18 at Saratoga.

Never off the board in six lifetime starts, Gufo captured his stakes debut from well off the pace in the English Channel on May 2 at Gulfstream Park before capturing the Grade 3 Kent on July 4 at Delaware Park over next-out stakes winners Pixelate and Vanzzy.

Clement said City Man, who worked a half-mile in 50.66 seconds over the inner turf Sunday, could also target the Belmont Derby. Owned by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, and Peter and Patty Searles, the son of Mucho Macho Man was a recent second in the Albany at Saratoga.

Bred in New York by Moonstar Farm, City Man is 2-2-1 in nine career starts.

Michael Dubb, Madaket Stable and Bethlehem Stable's Plum Ali logged her first work since winning the Mint Juvenile Fillies on September 7 at Kentucky Downs with a half-mile effort in 50.66 over the inner turf and will target the Grade 2, $150,000 Miss Grillo on October 4.

“It was her first work since winning at Kentucky Downs. That was a half-million dollar race so it was a good race to win,” Clement said. “The plan is to run her in the Miss Grillo. I wanted to run in Saratoga, but the P.G. Johnson came off the turf.”

A 2-year-old daughter of First Samurai, Plum Ali won her career debut going 1 1/16 miles over the Mellon turf at Saratoga on July 23.

Clement also spoke of Space Launch, a first-out winner on Friday afternoon's program who broke his maiden by 1 1/2 lengths going one mile over the Widener turf and registered a 71 Beyer Speed Figure for the debut win.

“Space Launch is a nice horse,” Clement said. “He's trained well and we have always liked him. He always trained better on the turf than on dirt. He's a well-bred horse. So far, he came back in good shape.”

Owned by Athlone Racing, Daniel Burke and Jane Burke, the son of Bernardini is out of multiple black type-producing Awesome Again mare Spacy Tracy, who also produced main track graded stakes winners Benner Island and Victim of Love.

“That [the main track graded-stakes winning progeny] was the reason I kept asking myself if I was doing the right thing by running him on turf,” Clement said. “But his turf works were just so much better than his dirt works.”

Clement said that Space Launch could return to action in the $80,000 Awad on October 31 at Belmont Park.

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Flavius Among Winners Of Lucrative Stakes On Opening Day At Kentucky Downs

Juddmonte Farms' homebred Flavius surged to the lead at midstretch and held off a late charge from defending champion Snapper Sinclair by three-quarters of a length to win the 23rd running of the $645,700 Tourist Mile to cap the WinStar Farm opening-day program of the six-day RUNHAPPY Meet at Kentucky Downs in Franklin, Ky.

Earlier on the 11-race program, 2-year-olds Barrister Tom and Plum Ali won the Look For The Star Juvenile and Mint Juvenile Fillies, respectively and Dalika (GER) captured the One Dreamer.

In the Tourist Mile, Flavius gave trainer Chad Brown his first Kentucky Downs stakes victory. Javier Castellano was aboard the 5-year-old son of War Front out of the Dynaformer mare Starformer.

Ivar (BRZ), Blitzkrieg and Neptune's Storm made up the pace as Flavius raced in mid pack with Snapper Sinclair at the rear of the nine-horse field.

Castellano sent Flavius after the leaders in upper stretch, opened a daylight margin and had enough to hold off Snapper Sinclair while timed in 1:32.21. Kentucky Downs is not calling them course records as the track is testing Equibase's Gmax tracking and timing system that utilizes GPS technology. That system is establishing a more consistent starting point.

The Tourist Mile victory was worth $446,400 and increased his earnings to $518,651 with a record of 7-3-1-1. It is the first stakes victory in the United States for Flavius, who began his career in Ireland.

Flavius returned $10, $5.60 and $4. Snapper Sinclair, ridden by Julien Leparoux, returned $8.20 and $6.20 and finished a length in front of Ivar who paid $7.20 to show under Joe Talamo. Snapper Sinclair was trying to become the first three-time Kentucky Downs stakes-winner, having also won the track's 2-year-old stakes in 2017.

It was another length back to Neptune's Storm who was followed in order by Next Shares, Blitzkrieg, Parlor, Emmaus (IRE) and Ritzy A.P.

Chad Brown, who until this meet had only one prior starter at Kentucky Downs, also won the third race with the 2-year-old filly Fluffy Socks.

Javier Castellano, winning jockey Flavius: “He broke so well out of the gate today. I think that was the key to winning the race. Usually he breaks slow. For whatever reason, he got better and better. He put me in a good spot early in the race. All the time before he was too far back, and he always came late. Today he put me in good position. When I asked him, he responded so well. I'm glad the way he did it today. I wasn't disappointed in him before; he always tried hard. Maybe he liked the track today, European style, up and down, curves. I think he really liked it and enjoyed the trip.”

Whit Beckman, assistant to winning trainer Chad Brown (Flavius): “He came to Churchill Downs last Monday. I am not sure what the decision was to come down here, but he had come from Europe and maybe he would like this kind of course. It was a good decision. He broke better today than he has in his past two starts. Javier (Castellano) rode him beautifully and he kicked on. He showed a real turn of foot.”

Steve Asmussen (trainer, runner-up Snapper Sinclair): “He almost did it again. He ran hard. We have no control how other horses run with him. The winner ran a beautiful race and finished up to the wire. Julien said he handles (the course) well. I think that puts him at $780,000 in his three Kentucky Downs starts. We're going to talk to Ron (track co-owner Ron Winchell) and see if we can get him to use his six days a year every six weeks. We're proud of him. We're always proud of him.”

Julien Leparoux (rider, runner-up Snapper Sinclair): “He made a nice run at the end. That was a good race.”

Clement wins The Mint Juvenile Fillies for third time
In the ninth running of the $462,400 The Mint Juvenile Fillies, Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables and Bethlehem Stables' Plum Ali took command at midstretch and drew off for a 2 3/4-length victory over Flown to give trainer Christophe Clement his third victory in the race.

A Kentucky-bred daughter of First Samurai out of the Stroll mare Skipping, Plum Ali covered the mile in 1:35.74 under Tyler Gaffalione, who posted his third victory of the afternoon.

The victory was worth $291,400 and increased Plum Ali's earnings to $331,000 with a perfect two-for-two mark.

Plum Ali rewarded her backers with mutuels of $4.40, $3 and $2.80. Flown, ridden by John Velazquez, returned $7 and $5.80 and finished a neck in front of Oliviaofthedesert who paid $6.20 to show under Brian Hernandez Jr.

It was another neck back to Cecile's Chapter in fourth with Beautiful Star, Dream Quist, Yogurt, Sunshine City, Stephanies Jewel, Long Monday and Maci's Jamming following in order.

Roger Horgan assistant to Christophe Clement (winning trainer Plum Ali): “She has been special since Day One. We never cranked on her before her first start because she was going to run long. This was actually an audible. She was going to run in the With Anticipation at Saratoga but it got rained off the turf. So we came here for five times the money.”

Tyler Gaffalione (winning jockey, Plum Ali): “Christophe gave me a call this morning and said he put me on one of his best ones. She was supposed to run at Saratoga, but with all the rain, he figured this was an easier spot for her. Great job by them. She came over ready to run today. Boy, what an incredible filly.”

John Velazquez (runner-up jockey on Flown): “She ran really well, put in a really good run. Obviously the best horse beat her today.”

Barrister Tom pays $90 to win in Look For The Star Juvenile
Bantry Farms' Barrister Tom scored a 44-1 upset in the $498,000 Look For The Star Juvenile for 2-year-olds by posting a half-length victory over Pivotal Mission to give jockey Tyler Baze his first victory at Kentucky Downs.

Getting a ground-saving trip from Baze, Barrister Tom sat just off a speed duel by Gypsy King and Dreamer's Disease. In the stretch, Barrister Tom stayed on the inside and held off Pivotal Mission, completing the mile in 1:35.71.

Barrister Tom is a Kentucky-bred son of Artie Schiller out of the Parading mare Taylor Lane and is now a perfect two-for-two on the turf. The victory was worth $300,700 and increased his earnings to $316,900.

Barrister Tom returned $90, $28.20 and $11. Pivotal Mission, ridden by John Velazquez, returned $5 and $3.60 and finished a neck in front of Indy Tourist who paid $3.80 to show under Florent Geroux.

It was another neck back to Shawdyshawdyshawdy who was followed in order by Gypsy King, Really Slow, Citadel and Dreamer's Disease. Snake Doctor suffered catastrophic injuries to his right front leg on the turn and had to be euthanized. Jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. was cleared by medical personnel to ride the next race.

Michael Ann Ewing (winning owner-trainer Barrister Tom) — “Tyler (Baze) rode him perfectly. Saved ground laying third. I am thrilled. If you adjust his last race for pace his figure came back with a good number. He has trained awesomely since that race (Aug. 7) and I was hopeful. Maybe (he will go to the Bourbon (G2) on Oct. 4 at Keeneland) but hopefully we can go to the Breeders' Cup (Juvenile Turf).”

Tyler Baze (winning jockey Barrister Tom): “I had a beautiful trip. Michael pretty much just left it up to me. She said, 'You do what you think is right.' I had a perfect trip, got to the rail. What a nice little horse. He's got a lot of heart. It was nice for them to let me ride the horse. I don't know what he paid. I know he was about 50-1. I'm just excited. It's my first win at Kentucky Downs, and I look forward to some more next week.”

Graham Motion (runner-up trainer Pivotal Mission) — “He ran very well. It's just a little frustrating but it was a good effort.”

Dalika puts it all together in One Dreamer Stakes
In the sixth running of the $182,610 One Dreamer for fillies and mares, Bal Mar Equine's Dalika (GER) rated just off the pace before surging to the front in midstretch and held off a bid from Madita (GER) to post a one-length victory.

Trained by Al Stall Jr. and ridden by Miguel Mena, Dalika covered the mile and 70 yards in 1:37.45

Dalika is a 4-year-old daughter of Pastorius (GER) out of the Hurricane Run (IRE) mare Drawn To Run (IRE). She picked up $86,490 for the victory to boost her earnings to $272,495 with a record of 14-4-4-0.

Dalika returned $14.40, $6.40 and $5.20. Madita, ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr., returned $19.20 and $12 and finished a neck in front of Our Bay B Ruth, who paid $6.20 to show under Tyler Gaffalione.

It was another three-quarters of a length back to Xanthique, who was followed in order by Varenka, Passing Out, Curlin's Journey, Speedy Solution, Queen Medb (IRE), Harmless, Strike My Fancy and Rushingirl.

Winning trainer Al Stall Jr. (Dalika) — “This race had conditions and the competition helped. She always has been talented; she's Grade 2 placed, but she has been aggressive (in the past) and we like to get her to settle like she did today. (Owner) Paul (Varga) and I will look at the First Lady (G1 at Keeneland on Oct. 3).”

Winning jockey Miguel Mena (Dalika) – “Nice filly for Al. He was hitting the board with her in Saratoga with Joel Rosario. She's always been right there. She was set up for this win. She's been training very well coming into the race. She was on it today. She broke very good, she was loving her position, loving the course, too. She was the best horse today.”

Brian Hernandez Jr. (second on Madita) — “She ran good. She settled in great. Turning for home I thought I was on the winner. But the winner just dug in and kicked on.”

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Mischievous Dream Overcomes Trouble To Win Sorority

With a dozen 2-year-old fillies going a mile on the turf in Monday's 65th Sorority Stakes at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J., jockey Joe Bravo expected it to be a bit of an adventure. Trainer Christophe Clement anticipated the same thing – and issued a reminder to Bravo before the race indicating as much.

“Christophe had said to me 'it's going to be a mess out there. There's a lot of horses for a flat-mile turf race. Try to ride a smart race and keep your eyes open,' ” said Bravo.

Bravo wasn't quite able to avoid the expected trouble but he was able to win nonetheless, delivering himself an early birthday present when Mischievous Dream split horses in deep stretch for a half-length victory in a wild finish in the $100,000 stakes race. That marked the third victory on the card for Monmouth Park's 13-time riding champion, who celebrates his 49th birthday on Thursday.

“I thought she was very impressive,” said Clement. “She scared me at the eighth pole (when Bravo had to check severely). I didn't know she was good enough to overcome that and make it to the wire first. But I guess she is.”

Back in the pack in ninth place along the rail early through fractions of :23.20 for the opening quarter and :48.37 to the half, Mischievous Dream was still in ninth entering the final turn. Bravo was able to find room along the rail in the stretch, but had to check in traffic behind Miss Wild and Social Exclusion before swinging his filly outside of both to an open seam.

From there the New York-bred daughter of Into Mischief, bred and owned by Patricia A. Generazio, shot past half the field. Invincible Gal closed for second, a half-length ahead of longshot Tic Tic Boom.

The winning time for the mile on a turf course listed as firm was 1:38.98. Mischievous Dream returned $9.80 to win.

“I had a lot of horse the entire time,” said Bravo. “At first she was hyper but she settled and relaxed. She was in the pocket. I just had to steer her out. I thought I had room in the middle of the lane to go between horses but I had to check big time.

“For a 2-year-old filly to pick herself up after trouble like that is impressive. It happened so fast. A couple of horses ducked in and out and I was able to split them. When a horse is able to pass horses in two or three jumps it's fun.”

After winning her debut on the grass at 5 1/2 furlongs at Saratoga on July 19, Mischievous Dream faltered a bit in her second start, finishing fourth in the Bolton Landing Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 19, also in a 5 1/2-furlong sprint.

Clement felt she deserved another shot a stakes race.

“We always thought she was a nice filly,” he said. “She broke her maiden impressively and we saw that she was better than she had done in her last start. She was training very well at Saratoga. That's why we were trying to be a bit more ambitious with her and it worked out today.”

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