Christophe Clement Turf Stakes

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The Christophe Clement Turf Stakes (formerly the Sword Dancer Stakes)[2] is an American race for thoroughbred horses, aged three and up, run annually in mid August at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. A prep for the Breeders' Cup Turf, it is set at a distance of one and one-half miles (12 furlongs) on the turf. A Grade I event, the race currently offers a purse of $750,000.

ClassGrade 1
LocationSaratoga Race Course
Saratoga Springs, New York, United States
Inaugurated1975 (as the Sword Dancer Stakes)
Race typeThoroughbred – Flat racing
Quick facts Class, Location ...
Christophe Clement Turf Stakes
Flintshire prior to winning the 2015 Sword Dancer
ClassGrade 1
LocationSaratoga Race Course
Saratoga Springs, New York, United States
Inaugurated1975 (as the Sword Dancer Stakes)
Race typeThoroughbred – Flat racing
Websitewww.nyra.com
Race information
Distance1+1⁄2 miles (12 furlongs)
SurfaceTurf
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationThree-year-olds & up
WeightAssigned
PurseUS$750,000[1]
Close

Inaugurated in 1975 as a six furlong sprint on dirt for three-year-old horses, the race was originally named for 1959 Horse of the Year Sword Dancer, who was elected to the United States Racing Hall of Fame in 1977.

Beginning in 1977 the race was held at Belmont Park, then in 1992 it was moved to the Saratoga Race Course. Since its inception, the race has been contested at various distances:

  • 6 furlongs : 1975–1976 (on dirt)
  • 8.5 furlongs (1+1⁄16 miles) : 1977–1979
  • 12 furlongs (1+1⁄2 miles) : 1980–present (on turf)

The race was run as an Invitational Handicap from 1994 to 2014.

In August 2025, it was announced on the day of the Sword Dancer Stakes that the race would be renamed in 2026 for the late thoroughbred trainer Christophe Clement, who died earlier that year. Clement won the Sword Dancer five times, more than any other trainer.[2]

Records

Speed record: (at current distance of 1+1⁄2 miles)

  • 2:23.20 – Awad (1997)

Most wins:

  • 2 – Majesty's Prince (1983, 1984)
  • 2 – El Senor (1989, 1990)
  • 2 – With Anticipation (2001, 2002)
  • 2 – Grand Couturier (2007, 2008)
  • 2 – Telling (2009, 2010)
  • 2 – Flintshire (2015, 2016)
  • 2 – Gufo (2021, 2022)

Most wins by an owner:

  • 2 – John DeWitt Marsh (1983, 1984)
  • 2 – Augustin Stable (2001, 2002)
  • 2 – Marc Keller (2007, 2008)
  • 2 – Alex & JoAnn Lieblong (2009, 2010)
  • 2 – Juddmonte Farms (2015, 2016)
  • 2 – Otter Bend Stables (2021, 2022)

Most wins by a jockey:

  • 4 – Pat Day (1987, 1997, 2001, 2002)

Most wins by a trainer:

Winners since 1975

More information Year, Winner ...
Year
 Winner
 Age
 Jockey
 Trainer
 Owner
 Distance
(Miles)
Time
Grade
2025 El Cordobes (IRE) 4 Flavien Prat Charles Appleby Godolphin Racing 1-1/2 2:25.04 I
2024 Far Bridge 4 Joel Rosario Christophe Clement LSU Stables 1-1/2 2:29.51 I
2023 Bolshoi Ballet (IRE) 5 John R. Velazquez Aidan O'Brien Westerberg, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor & Derrick Smith 1-1/2 2:29.29 I
2022 Gufo 5 Joel Rosario Christophe Clement Otter Bend Stables 1-1/2 2:28.92 I
2021 Gufo 4 Joel Rosario Christophe Clement Otter Bend Stables 1-1/2 2.28.30 I
2020 Channel Maker 6 Manuel Franco William Mott Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber Et Al 1-1/2 2:34.86 I
2019 Annals of Time 6 Javier Castellano Chad C. Brown Klaravich Stables, Inc. & William H. Lawrence 1-1/2 2:27.50 I
2018 Glorious Empire 7 Julien Leparoux James L. Lawrence, II Matthew Schera 1-1/2 2:24.41 I
2017 Sadler's Joy 4 Julien Leparoux Thomas Albertrani Woodslane Farm 1-1/2 2:24.58 I
2016 Flintshire (GB) 6 Javier Castellano Chad C. Brown Juddmonte Farms 1-1/2 2:23.45 I
2015 Flintshire (GB) 5 Vincent Cheminaud André Fabre Juddmonte Farms 1-1/2 2:23.77 I
2014 Main Sequence 5 Rajiv Maragh H. Graham Motion Flaxman Holdings 1-1/2 2:24.72 I
2013 Big Blue Kitten 5 Joe Bravo Chad C. Brown Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey 1-1/2 2:26.46 I
2012 Point of Entry 4 John Velazquez Claude R. McGaughey III Phipps Stable 1-1/2 2:26.40 I
2011 Winchester 6 Cornelio Velásquez Christophe Clement Mr. & Mrs. Bertram Firestone 1-1/2 2:26.74 I
2010 Telling 6 Garrett Gomez Steve Hobby Alex & JoAnn Lieblong 1-1/2 2:25.29 I
2009 Telling 5 Javier Castellano Steve Hobby Alex & JoAnn Lieblong 1-1/2 2:25.43 I
2008 Grand Couturier 5 Alan Garcia Robert Ribaudo Marc Keller 1-1/2 2:32.21 I
2007 Grand Couturier 4 Calvin Borel Robert Ribaudo Marc Keller 1-1/2 2:26.59 I
2006 Go Deputy 6 Eibar Coa Todd Pletcher Wertheimer et Frère 1-1/2 2:26.78 I
2005 King's Drama 5 Jorge Chavez Robert J. Frankel Gary A. Tanaka 1-1/2 2:27.38 I
2004 Better Talk Now 5 Ramon Domínguez H. Graham Motion Bushwood Stables 1-1/2 2:28.49 I
2003 Whitmore's Conn 5 Jean-Luc Samyn Randy Schulhofer Michael & Lynn Shanley 1-1/2 2:28.14 I
2002 With Anticipation 7 Pat Day Jonathan Sheppard Augustin Stable 1-1/2 2:24.06 I
2001 With Anticipation 6 Pat Day Jonathan Sheppard Augustin Stable 1-1/2 2:26.41 I
2000 John's Call 9 Jean-Luc Samyn Thomas H. Voss Trillium Stable 1-1/2 2:32.17 I
1999 Honor Glide 5 José A. Santos Christophe Clement Robert G. Schaedle 1-1/2 2:28.23 I
1998 Cetewayo 4 John Velazquez Michael Dickinson John A. Chandler 1-1/2 2:29.56 I
1997 Awad 7 Pat Day David G. Donk Ryehill Farm 1-1/2 2:23.20 I
1996 Broadway Flyer 5 Mike E. Smith William I. Mott Sultan & Bienstock 1-1/2 2:32.08 I
1995 Kiri's Clown 6 Mike Luzzi Philip G. Johnson Cobble View Stable 1-1/2 2:25.08 I
1994 Alex The Great 5 Pat Valenzuela Rodney Rash Vistas Stables 1-1/2 2:28.66 I
1993 Spectacular Tide 4 Julie Krone Stanley M. Hough Royal Lines Stable 1-1/2 2:30.39 I
1992 Fraise 4 Jerry Bailey William I. Mott Madeleine Paulson 1-1/2 2:25.88 I
1991 Dr. Root 4 Jean-Luc Samyn Vincent L. Blengs Barry K. Schwartz 1-1/2 2:25.43 I
1990 El Senor 6 Ángel Cordero Jr. William W. Wright William W. Wright 1-1/2 2:28.00 I
1989 El Senor 5 Herb McCauley William W. Wright Frances W. Luro 1-1/2 2:27.00 I
1988 Anka Germania 6 Craig Perret Tom Skiffington Fernwood Stable 1-1/2 2:32.20 I
1987 Theatrical 5 Pat Day William I. Mott Bertram R. Firestone 1-1/2 2:26.00 I
1986 Southern Sultan 5 Robbie Davis Ross Pearce Buckland Farm 1-1/2 2:39.60 I
1985 Tri For Size 4 Robert Thibeau Jr. Michael Sedlacek Rory Green Stable 1-1/2 2:33.20 I
1984 Majesty's Prince 5 Eddie Maple Joseph B. Cantey John DeWitt Marsh 1-1/2 2:31.00 I
1983 Majesty's Prince 4 Eddie Maple Joseph B. Cantey John DeWitt Marsh 1-1/2 2:34.40 II
1982 Lemhi Gold 4 Chris McCarron Lazaro S. Barrera Aaron U. Jones 1-1/2 2:26.00 II
1981 John Henry 6 Bill Shoemaker Lefty Nickerson Dotsam Stable 1-1/2 2:26.80 III
1980 Tiller 6 Ruben Hernandez David A. Whiteley William Haggin Perry 1-1/2 2:25.20
1979 Darby Creek Road 4 Ángel Cordero Jr. Howard M. Tesher H. Joseph Allen 1-1/16 1:41.60
1978 True Colors 4 Michael Venezia Willard C. Freeman Robert Billips 1-1/16 1:41.00
1977 Effervescing 4 Ángel Cordero Jr. John W. Russell Ogden Phipps 1-1/16 1:39.60
1976 Arabian Law 3 Jacinto Vásquez David A. Whiteley Lazy F Ranch 6 fur. 1:10.60
1975 Gallant Bob 3 Gerard Gallitano Joseph Marquette Robert Horton 6 fur. 1:09.60
Close
  • In 1987, Theatrical was awarded first place following the disqualification of Dance of Life.

References

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