Godolphin threatens Far Bridge repeat in Sword Dancer

In its roughly half a century of existence, the $750,000 Sword Dancer (G1) has tended to yield multiple winners. Far Bridge can be the eighth such horse to accomplish the feat in Saturday's 1 1/2-mile turf fixture at Saratoga, which will offer an expenses-paid berth into the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) at Del Mar on Nov. 1.

By virtue of earlier wins this season in the Pan American (G3), Man o' War (G2), and Bowling Green (G2), Far Bridge is surely America's top older turf male over a distance of ground. However, his Sword Dancer title defense will not be easy, as Godolphin and trainer Charlie Appleby have entered a formidable-looking pair of Nations Pride and El Cordobes.

Nations Pride is no stranger to racing and winning on the American stage. Victorious in the 1 1/4-mile Arlington Million (G1) a year ago this weekend, Nations Pride also sports earlier wins in the Saratoga Derby (G1) and Jockey Club Derby (G3) back in 2022.

Nations Pride's form has been uneven this year, though, with a score in the Singspiel (G2) at Meydan book-ended by modest efforts in the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) and Dubai Turf (G1).

"I think the step up to a mile and a half at this stage of Nations Pride's career is needed to hopefully get him back on track at the top level," Appleby said. "Last year, he won over the mile and a quarter in the Arlington Million, as we know, but he's won over the mile and a half in the Jockey Club Derby at Aqueduct and ran a very creditable race in the Breeders' Cup Turf."

El Cordobes, meanwhile, had a breakout win in last month's Princess of Wales's (G2) at Newmarket, albeit against only three rivals.

"He's more an unexposed horse, but he travels well, loves quick ground and sees the trip out really well," Appleby said.

The remainder of the Sword Dancer field have shown occasional flashes of decent form at or around this level, but not enough to love their chances. The best of these, Grand Sonata, is cross-entered in the Arlington Million on Saturday, while dual graded stakes winner Utah Beach and Bowling Green runner-up El Rezeen would need career-best efforts.

Laurelin puts her undefeated record on the line in the $500,000 Saratoga Oaks (G2), a 1 3/16-mile grass test which has attracted a field of six three-year-old fillies.

Trained by Graham Motion, the Irish-bred Laurelin has yet to run in a graded stakes, but has beaten a number of graded-quality opponents. She closed out her two-year-old campaign winning the Tepin S. at Aqueduct over Five G, subsequent winner of the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2), and kicked off her 2025 campaign with a neck win in the Memories of Silver S. over the re-opposing Opulent Restraint, who was a close third to Fionn and Nitrogen in last month's Belmont Oaks (G1).

Laurelin enters the Saratoga Oaks off a victory in the Penn Oaks over Candy Quest, who flattered the form when taking the Ontario Colleen (G3) in her most recent start.

Go Go Boots invades from England, where she finished third to the multiple Group 1 winner Whirl in the Musidora (G3) in May. Up the track in the Epsom Oaks (G1) while facing Minnie Hauk and Whirl, Go Go Boots was subsequently fourth in a modest renewal of the Ribblesdale (G2) at Royal Ascot last out.

"She's definitely better on firm than soft turf, looking at her European form," said new trainer Miguel Clement.

Totally Justified returns to the site of her win in last summer's P.G. Johnson S., but has had a tough go of late, finishing out of the money in three of her past four starts. Sigh No More exits a win in the Boiling Springs S. at Monmouth Park in her second U.S. appearance, while Evershed, a Churchill half-sister to Secretariat (G1) winner Bayrir, steps up in class off two overnight wins for trainer Arnaud Delacour.

"It wasn't by design to go from a one-other-than at Colonial to a Grade 2 at Saratoga, but we have had it in mind and we quite liked the filly last year," Delacour said.