SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Lone speed is a dangerous commodity in racing, especially in marathon turf races. When it came to Saturday’s Grade 1, $727,500 Sword Dancer Stakes, it was hard to envision that Far Bridge would be the lone speed in a compact field. But Joel Rosario put Far Bridge on the lead, was able to set dawdling fractions of 50.92 seconds for the opening half-mile, 1:17.21 for six furlongs and had plenty left with which to finish as he fended off favored Measured Time to win the Sword Dancer by one length at Saratoga. It was 3 1/4 lengths back to Silver Knott in third. Pioneering Spirit and Grand Sonata completed the order of finish. Soldier Rising scratched. Christophe Clement, the trainer of Far Bridge, wanted to be forward, but more than that he wanted Rosario to secure Far Bridge’s position along the rail. Clement figured that one of Godolphin Racing’s two horses, Silver Knott or Measured Time, could be on the lead. “He always worked well; when he’s on the rail he never does anything wrong, every time he comes off the rail he’s all over the place,” Clement said. “On paper, we didn’t think there was much pace, the idea was to break and be in front or right behind Godolphin. He took the lead, nobody bothered him, he ran a great race.” :: Get Saratoga Clocker Reports straight from the morning workouts at the track. Available every race day. Rosario said the new front-running tactics came easy to Far Bridge. “I let him be happy, not taking back, not sending, it looked like it was his own race,” Rosario said. “He was good today.” Far Bridge, a son of English Channel owned by the LSU Stables of Larry, Leslie and Randy Sarf, covered the 1 1/2 miles in 2:29.51 - good for a 99 Beyer Speed Figure - and returned $18.40. The victory earned Far Bridge a fees-paid berth into the Breeders’ Cup Turf on Nov. 2 at Del Mar. Clement, who won his fifth Sword Dancer - Gufo (2021-22), Winchester (2011) and Honor Glide (1999) also won it - scratched his other entrant, Soldier Rising, Saturday morning. “He had an issue, we had a question mark with his soundness, I didn’t want to take a risk,” Clement said. “He’s a lovely horse and we’ll bring him back.” Measured Time was sent off the 4-5 favorite in the Sword Dancer based on a dominant victory in the Grade 1 Manhattan two months ago. That race was at 1 1/4 miles. He had every chance to go by Far Bridge in the stretch, but couldn’t do it. “Will just mentioned about measured time, he doesn’t know if he gets that mile-and-a-half, to be honest with you,” Appleby said. “He had every opportunity, he came off the turn, he’s going there to try and put the race to bed, but he’s not gone through the line strong. The winner kept going, fair play to him.” Appleby’s other horse, Silver Knott, had won his three previous starts in North America including the Grade 2 Bowling Green here on July 28. “Silver Knott ran a little flat,” Appleby said. “Maybe the season’s getting to him now.” :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.