Two years ago, Christophe Clement sat down on a shady bench – he called it “The Therapy Bench” – outside his barn to start a Fasig-Tipton Stable Tour and spoke about what it was like to have his son Miguel as an assistant.
“Obviously, to be involved with your son is a great luxury. We did everything we could for him to get away. He had a different internship as far as possible from horse racing, working in banks, working for different things. I was hoping for Duke to expose him to other things instead of horse racing.”
Miguel wasn’t having it and went from Duke University to the Godolphin Flying Start racing education program to posts with trainers in South Africa and England before returning to familial territory. Asked then about how long he wanted to work with horses, Miguel didn’t hesitate.
“My whole life,” he said. “We work very well together, but it can be tough too. You share your victories, your upside, your moments. It’s great when you share it together. Then, the bad day is amplified by two as well . . . It weighs that much more when you both lose.”
Only one wins and loses now.
Christophe died of cancer last spring at 59, accelerating a succession plan being mapped out by the family. Miguel took over, officially became a trainer with his first runner May 31, 2025 and put together a 62-win season highlighted by 13 graded stakes victories and $7.2 million in purse earnings. Combined, the stable won 96 races and earned $9.8 million – on par with the past four.
“We had a great season, really great,” Miguel said last week before – like his father always did – looking ahead.
“We were given a lot of credit for our turf success, which is flattering, but I didn’t think anyone gave enough recognition to our dirt success; we won at 20 or 21 percent on the dirt (actually 22 percent dirt and synthetic). That’s why I’m adamant that this meet, I might produce some dirt winners just to show to everyone else that we are capable of training dirt runners and winners. It’s just lack of opportunity more so than ability, or inability to do so. I’m convinced we’re going to have some dirt winners this year. I just need to start delivering and getting it done.”
Dirt, turf, synthetic, the Clement stable goes in all directions. Miguel, up to 104 total wins as a trainer through Thursday, took some time to look at a few members of the squad with The Special’s Joe Clancy.
“Let’s go to the bench. . .”
Deterministic: You going to argue with this record? Five-year-old turf star has won his last five starts, all graded stakes, for St. Elias Stable, Ken Langone, Steve Duncker and Vicarage Stable while pushing his career mark to 9-for-15 with $2.6 million in the bank. He won his debut on the dirt at Saratoga as a 2-year-old in 2023, and returned to win the Grade 3 Gotham and start in the Wood Memorial and Peter Pan as a 3-year-old. All but one (an off-the-turf allowance at Keeneland in 2025) of his 11 starts since have been on the turf and he’s been 1-2-3 in each. In 2024, he won the Virginia Derby and Hill Prince. Last year, he won the Fort Marcy, Manhattan and Fourstardave. This year, he repeated in the Fort Marcy and Manhattan and seeks to complete the triple double in the Fourstardave Aug. 8. The son of Liam’s Map breezed 5 furlongs on the Oklahoma turf in a minute flat an hour before the stable tour.
“Did you see the work today? Spectacular. One word, spectacular. The way he moved was freakishly talented and just full of zest; wanted to do more. He did it heavily restrained on the bridle. I’ve never had a horse work like that on the turf course. … I’m telling you, watch – if you get a chance on XBTV (it’s 1/ST TV now and you’ll need an account), watch the work. A minute, out in 1:12, did a double gallop out in :12 flat again so 1:24 and he wanted to go another lap. He’s lights out. He loves it here. Fourstardave, let’s have fun.”
Did you expect this kind of horse when he came into the barn as a 2-year-old in 2023?
“Dad loved him at Ocala Stud. He saw him galloping there as a 2-year-old and said he was a spectacular mover and loved him. I didn’t quite see it and was not quite as enamored with him until I saw his first piece of work. He separated himself with the way he moved. … He moves like a panther. He reaches low, puts his head down, he goes for it.”
Tawny Port: Peachtree Stable’s 7-year-old stopped a 17-race losing streak by winning Saratoga’s 2-mile Belmont Gold Cup June 4 to pad his career bankroll to $2.3 million. The extended distance helped, as did back class that included seven graded-stakes placings and a nose defeat to European shipper Silawi in the Grade 1 Canadian International last year. The Belmont Gold Cup victory earned a free entry to Australia’s Melbourne Cup in November, a trip Clement would consider.
“If he was doing great and he was in tremendous form, then why not? I’m sure he stays and he’s got a little bit of tactical speed, which you need over there because the tempo of the race is they come out of the gates quick, they all get a position, then they slow it down, and then it’s a short sprint for home. That actually very much suits him.”
For now, the son of Pioneerof The Nile will aim for more local targets including the former Sword Dancer, a Grade 1 newly named for Clement’s father, at Saratoga Aug. 15.
“We’re going for the Christophe Clement for many obvious reasons. The plan was to have a fresh horse for the fall. He did spectacularly well last year in the fall and we’ll try to do a similar sort of feat. That’s why we skipped the Bowling Green, keep him fresh for the second half of the year. His targets are the Christophe Clement, Kentucky Downs, and then the Grade 1 in Canada. If you’re nice toward them, you look after them and you treat them right, especially giving them the winters off, they can do that. We’re always monitoring the soundness. They reward you. He loves the job. If you believe in speed figures, he’s actually improving, at the age of 7. Many people were upset last year because he kind of lost his way in terms of the winner’s circle, but he kept running gallant races and had a bit of troubled trips. Then last year in the fall, he took it to another dimension, and that’s what we’re seeing in his training.”
Far Bridge: Sticking with the turf veteran contingent, LSU Stable’s 6-year-old is on the comeback trail after opening 2026 with a win in the Grade 3 Pan American at Gulfstream Park in March. The son of English Channel boasts 10 wins, three of them Grade 1, and $2.5 million earned.
“He’s back. He had a bit of a setback when he won the Pan American and we decided to be very cautious with him, give him some time, and now he’s back with us and we’re very excited. I believe he’s probably going to be fall so races like the Joe Hirsch, Breeders’ Cup, the Man o’ War, and the Pegasus should be heavily considered. Those types of horses are the ones I’m very proud of. Some of these horses are running the best figures of their lives at the ages of 5, 6, and 7. Soundness is the name of the game. I think we put too much of an emphasis on winning early as 2-year-olds, and we forget the big picture, which is to have a long, durable campaign.”
Illmatic: Owned by Adelphi Racing Club and LJSS Thoroughbreds, the 3-year-old New York-bred came out firing in 2026 after just one start in 2025. The Honest Mischief colt won an Aqueduct maiden in February and placed in two stakes, including a nose loss in the Spectacular Bid division of the New York Stallion Stakes going 6 furlongs on the turf at Aqueduct June 20. He’s headed to a New York-bred allowance Aug. 1.
“It’s frustrating in the sense that he keeps finding a way to somehow not cross the line first, but he’s run some gallant races. He’s a touch quirky in that he’s got a tremendous amount of speed and he’s just starting to put it all together. I wouldn’t be surprised if his best race is the one coming up. He’s doing great with his weight and he’s just starting to mature a little bit at the right time.”
Teddy’s Rocket: A Saratoga maiden winner last summer for Duncker, St. Elias, Vicarage and Susan Karches, the 3-year-old finished fourth in the Grade 1 Summer Stakes at Woodbine in what was to be a springboard to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. The Liam’s Map colt suffered an eye injury in the race and didn’t run again until April’s Woodhaven Stakes at Aqueduct. Fourth there, he was ninth in the Saranac after checking twice in the stretch July 3.
“His form has been a little bit dirtied by a lack of racing trips as well as surface. I do think the talent and ability are there. I ran on soft turf in the first race off the layoff – mistake. He struggled. He came back and got a troubled trip in the Saranac, but, it’s life. There’s not much excitement to talk about until he delivers. He sustained an eye infection from that race at Woodbine. He got hit with a big clod of dirt and it took us a long time to get over it. That cost us a chance of running in the Breeders’ Cup.”
Love Cervere: The 4-year-old filly won three stakes including a Grade 3 last year and won the 6-furlong License Fee on the turf at Aqueduct in May. A month later, she finished fourth after rallying from last in the Grade 2 Intercontinental. Co-owned by breeder Ed Seltzer, Beverly Anderson and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, the daughter of Into Mischief will most likely wait for a race at Kentucky Downs.
“I’ve tried several times running her 5 1/2 furlongs at Saratoga. She comes flying, but doesn’t quite get there. Six is better, 6 1/2 is optimal, seven-eighths is probably a fantasy. In the summer, it’s very tough for these turf sprinters if you’re not quite fast enough for 5 1/2 furlongs. We are forced to wait, because the turf-course configurations in the summertime are not conducive to these closers. I can’t wait for Belmont to be open. One-turn 7 furlongs and one-turn mile, that sounds spectacular. There are some distances we have not run in years that I’m convinced some of our horses will have a strong affinity toward. It’s a different sort of race at 5 1/2 furlongs to 6. It’s half a furlong, but it is a massive difference.”
Bottas: Dahman’s 3-year-old colt shares a name with a Finnish Formula 1 driver and sped to two wins last year – a Saratoga maiden in late August and the Grade 2 Pilgrim Stakes at Aqueduct in October. Ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf to close 2025, the son of Vekoma has run twice at Saratoga this year – a third in the Pennine Ridge in June and a fifth in the Belmont Derby July 4.
“He was a bit unlucky the other day, such a crowded trip in traffic. He’s a very good horse. We’ll get it right hopefully next time. I’m leaning toward the Saratoga Derby (Aug. 8). I think he’s going to take a step forward again. The other day he was just never in the clear in the sense that he was always crowded and slightly intimidated. He was only beaten a length and a quarter for all of it. He’s going to have a fun campaign. It’s just a question of getting lucky in one of these big events.”
The Big Con: Another 3-year-old turf male, the gray British-bred won both starts last year – a Presque Isle Downs maiden in September and the Grey Stakes at Woodbine in November on synthetic racetracks. The son of Dark Angel has been working steadily at Saratoga since mid-June after missing some time in the spring.
“He’s coming back and it’s just a question of picking out our first spot. I’m convinced he stays and he has some races coming up in the fall. We’re going to have a big fall with him.”
Bellezza: Moyglare Stud’s homebred mare, back in her stall with the pad over the doorway because a helmet would be impractical, won twice in 2025 – the Grade 3 Sheepshead Bay for Christophe in May and the Grade 2 Flower Bowl for Miguel in August. Sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, she opened 2026 with a sixth in the Grade 3 Orchid at Gulfstream Park and was placed third after getting stopped by Storm Miami in the stretch of the Robert Dick Memorial at Delaware Park in June. The Siyouni mare will try the 1 1/2-mile Glens Falls, where she was second to stablemate La Mehana last year, July 30. Breeders’ Cup winner Gezora could show up in the Grade 2 for trainer Bill Mott.
“It won’t be an easy race. I’m aware of several Europeans coming, as well as my neighbor next door, Mr. Mott. I don’t believe we should duck anybody. She’s very talented, so you go for it. That’s what it’s all about. She was unlucky, got boxed in, the last time. She almost went crashing into the rails.”
Drake’s Passage: Robert Evans’ homebred won New York-bred stakes in 2023 and 2024, but lost all four starts last year. The 6-year-old son of Tonalist, who won the 2014 Belmont Stakes for the stable, halted an eight-race losing streak with an easy optional claiming win at Finger Lakes June 29.
“He lost his way a bit, and I’m delighted that he finally went to get a confidence builder, which was the intended plan. We’ll bring him back for the John Morrissey, the 7-furlong dirt stakes for New York-breds (Aug. 6). His works have always been very impressive in the mornings and I think he would actually appreciate the cutback in distance.”
Broadcast: A Fasig-Tipton October graduate as a yearling, the 2-year-old Into Mischief colt is out of Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf winner Shared Account (the dam of Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Sharing). Bred by Gainesway Farm, the bay looks for a turf maiden to get started for Dahman.
“We brought him on the grass over here and I thought he moved remarkably well. I’m looking forward to debuting him at Saratoga.”
Mescal: The Oscar Performance 2-year-old is out of Mystical Star, who won five races (topped by the Grade 2 New York) for the barn and Cheyenne Stable.
“He’s the biggest 2-year-old we have in the stables, and yet you would never know it by the way that he moves. He will run long on the grass here. We think very highly of him.”
Not Ever: Irish-bred 2-year-old colt by No Nay Never has breezed six times at Saratoga. His dam Hand On Heart won twice and placed in a Group 3 in Ireland for Flaxman Stable and Coolmore.
“He’s been training very well, been delighting us in his pieces of work. He has never missed a beat and keeps searching for more.”
Oscar: Green, grouchy, lives in a trash can . . . No, that’s the other Oscar. This one, a 2-year-old son of Oscar Performance, is a half-brother to Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies Stakes winner and $691,050 earner Meringue who finished second in last year’s Adirondack here.
“He shows us plenty of ability in the morning. The 2-year-olds are live this year. They might be a little bit later developing. None of them are that precocious, but they’re all going to be running by the end of Saratoga.”
Calling Mr. Mo: New York-bred 2-year-old colt is a son of freshman stallion Mo Donegal, who won the 2022 Belmont Stakes.
“He is a very good mover, and I think he wants to go long on dirt. Nevertheless, we’re going to settle to run him 6 furlongs July 31 as our starting point. He wants farther than that. The best part of his works on dirt is the gallop out.”
Rockabye: One of the stable’s few 2-year-olds to make a start, Bach Stable’s homebred daughter of Flightline finished second by a neck going 5 1/2 furlongs here July 3.
“She was a touch green, and I think the greenness cost her the victory because the ability was there. I would love to have won with a filly by Flightline. That’s my own personal ego, but the filly ran great so I can’t be upset.”
Cyber Baby: A Fasig-Tipton graduate as a weanling in 2024 and a yearling in 2025, the 2-year-old daughter of Cyberknife nears her debut, potentially Aug. 1, off a string of Saratoga breezes since mid-May.
“She’s also by a first-year sire which defies the family rules, but she’s been training forwardly. I also think she wants to go long on the dirt.”
Lightning Strike: A $220,000 Fasig-Tipton New York-bred yearling purchase in 2023 by Steve Rocco, the daughter of Bolt d’Oro won her debut as a 3-year-old last year but missed almost 15 months. She returned with a fifth here June 3 and was second a month later while racing for LJSS Thoroughbreds, which uses the initials of members of the Rocco family.
“She will be very tough to beat when she runs again. She wasn’t quite fit when we ran her the first two starts. She’s a tighter, fitter filly now. I’ll be very surprised if she doesn’t get it done.”
Dividend Recap: No, Klaravich Stable has not sent horses to Clement. Bred by Christophe Clement and Waterville Lake Stable, the 5-year-old Summer Front mare won a $50,000 New York-bred maiden claimer here last summer. Then owned by Miguel’s mother Valerie, the dark bay sold for $80,000 in a Fasig-Tipton digital sale in August and won her 2026 debut for Prepstothepros Racing and July Cavalry Racing in May. She was second in a 1 1/16-mile starter here July 3.
“The next race is a mile and an eighth, and I expect her to take a step forward. She’s been knocking on the door a few times. I think she’ll appreciate the added distance, and I think she’s spot on right now.”
Promise Me Amelody: A $230,000 Fasig-Tipton New York purchase in 2024, the 3-year-old Maclean’s Music filly bred in New York by Mallory and Karen Mort looks to debut at Saratoga after being entered for the main track last week.
“She’s a first-time starter, a 3-year-old of all things, and she might be a price because she’s going to debut in a dirt race. I gave her all the time in the world, and she’s just coming into form now.”
Big Everest: The English-bred won 10 races, earned $742,000 and started in four editions of the Artie Schiller Stakes (two wins, a second and a fifth).
“He’s with my mother-in-law (Sherrie Courtney), retired in Connecticut, sound and very happy. He’s enjoying his new life.”
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