Far Bridge

Far Bridge won his maiden at first asking in a 3-year-old maiden race at Gulfstream Park Jan. 21, 2023, winning by a head going 1 1/16 miles on the turf. He quickly added a second career win in his second start in a Gulfstream Park allowance race back at 1 1/16 miles on the grass on March 11.

It wouldn't be long until Far Bridge tackled stakes competition, and although winless in his first two attempts, Fair Bridge did make a strong positive impression in a pair of runner-up finishes, first in the Grade 2 American Turf Stakes at Churchill Downs on May 6 and then in the Grade 2 Pennine Ridge Stakes at Belmont Park on June 3.

The stakes breakthrough for Far Bridge would come in a big way in his next outing which came in the Grade 1 $750,000 Belmont Derby Invitational on July 8.  Sent off as the 3.35-1 second choice in a loaded 11-horse field in the Belmont Derby, Far Bridge raced in the rear half of the field throughout and then passed much of the field with a brilliant rail move into the stretch by jockey Jose Ortiz. Far Bridge continued his rally through the stretch run to catch the leaders and score a one-length victory in a winning 1 1/4-mile time of 2:01.75.

Far Bridge is trained by Todd Pletcher. He was bred in Kentucky by the sire English Channel out of the mare Fitpitcher by Kitten's Joy.