OZONE PARK, N.Y. – What began as a slow summer turned quickly for trainer Christophe Clement, who, from Aug. 24 to Sept. 7 won five races with three seconds and three thirds from 13 starters at four different venues.
The run began with Far Bridge winning the Grade 1 Sword Dancer at Saratoga on Aug. 24 and ended Saturday with Deterministic winning the Grade 3 Virginia Derby and Style Points dead-heating for first in the Virginia Oaks at Colonial Downs. In between, Big Invasion won the Harvey Pack Stakes at Saratoga and Patrick’s Promise won a maiden race at Colonial.
Clement also had a trio of stakes runner-up finishes, including Carson’s Run in the $3.1 million Nashville Derby and Dontlookbackatall in the Ladies Turf Sprint, both at Kentucky Downs. Gal in a Rush finished second in the Seaway Stakes at Woodbine on Aug. 24.
Clement said Far Bridge would be trained toward a possible start in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Aqueduct on Sept. 28, but added the horse could also be trained up to the Breeders’ Cup Turf on Nov. 2 at Del Mar.
Clement said both Carson’s Run and/or Deterministic will be trained toward the Grade 3, $500,000 Jockey Club Derby at Aqueduct on Oct. 5, but that one could await the Grade 2, $200,000 Twilight Derby at Santa Anita on Oct. 26 as a stepping-stone to the Grade 1, $300,000 Hollywood Derby at Del Mar on Nov. 30.
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Though Deterministic won the Grade 3 Gotham on dirt in March, Clement was a big believer the horse would be successful on turf. After a second and a third in his first two stakes tries on turf, Deterministic broke through with his neck victory over Grand Mo the First in the Virginia Derby.
“My thought was he showed his best turn of foot yet, which was rather nice,” Clement said.
Clement said he was also pleased that Style Points finally broke through with her first stakes victory after three stakes placings earlier in the year. She dead-heated with Deep Satin in the Virginia Oaks.
“We’ve been waiting to win a stakes with her all year long. She never ran a bad race,” Clement said. “We had to share it but that’s okay. Let’s keep her happy and I’m sure we’ll find a stakes for her in New York or Keeneland.”
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