Since taking up the helm of the Clement training operation after his father's death this past spring, Miguel Clement has now saddled nine graded stakes winners. The young trainer added to his blossoming C.V. at Aqueduct Racetrack Oct. 3 with wins in the Pilgrim (G2T) and Futurity (G3T) stakes with Bottas and Intricate Spirit, respectively. Both runners ensured Clement's presence at the Breeders' Cup World Championships with their victories in the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series races.
Favored at 6-5 in the Pilgrim off a sparkling debut win last month at Saratoga Race Course, Dahman's Bottas sealed his ticket to the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) with a dramatic score Friday afternoon.
Piloted by Manny Franco, Bottas enjoyed a beautiful rail trip down the backstretch, biding his time behind longshot pacesetter Truman's Commander. Following fractions of :23.38, :48.58, and 1:13.10, the field began to close in on the 52-1 shot exiting the far turn. Franco, forced to take back on Bottas and wait for a seam into the lane, found daylight midway down the straight and gunned his mount forward. Bottas unleashed a swift turn of foot in between horses, and closing in unison with Heeere's Johnny, prevailed by a head at the wire.
"He had to wait a bit for the stretch—I know he was hindered once or twice in the stretch—but still, he was in the right position and Manny (Franco) was able to get the job done," Clement said. "He's a very good horse.
"Hopefully this will give him more experience because it's only going to be his third start when he runs in the Breeders' Cup. He's a top-class horse and he overcomes adversity."
Bottas ($4.48) completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.63 over a firm turf course.
The maiden Let's Be Frank roared from well off the pace to complete the trifecta, 1 length behind Heere's Johnny.
Bottas became the seventh graded stakes winner this year for second-crop sire sensation and Spendthrift Farm stallion Vekoma . The colt, a $300,000 purchase at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, is out of the Lemon Drop Kid mare Iadorakid, the dam of 2024 Affirmed Stakes winner Parenting (Justify ).
Video: Pilgrim S. (G2T)
Intricate Spirit seals Breeders' Cup berth With Game Futurity Score
Intricate Spirit put on quite a show in the $175,000 Futurity Stakes (G3T), coming out on top in a race-long speed duel with Longshoreman for his first stakes victory.
The 2-year-old Complexity colt brought encouraging credentials into the 6-furlong Futurity. After earning his diploma first time out at Saratoga, the Clement pupil next finished a game second to Street Beast in a Kentucky Downs allowance contest. Street Beast came back a week later to score by 7 lengths in Kentucky Downs' rich Juvenile Mile Stakes.
Breaking fastest of all under Joel Rosario, Intricate Spirit was soon hooked by the Wesley Ward-trained Longshoreman. The pair were relentless on the front end, throwing down torrid splits of :21.31 and :43.91. Although Longshoreman held a narrow advantage into the turn for home, Intricate Spirit stuck his head in front at the eighth pole and surged clear of his stubborn rival.
Intricate Spirit ($7.82) stopped the clock in 1:07.98 on a firm turf course.
"The instructions were to break well and go forward and he (Joel Rosario) decided to call an audible and he was probably right. They were going very fast early on—:43 and change, which you don't see that often on this turf course," Clement said.
"We were very disappointed he got beat at Kentucky Downs—especially an allowance—but in hindsight I suppose his form was flattered ... I think 5 (furlongs) or 6 is more his game than 6 1/2 (furlongs) at Kentucky Downs, so I was expecting a better effort today."
Longshoreman was 1 3/4 lengths back in second with Attfield rallying to get third.
Morning-line favorite Outfielder scratched in favor of an Oct. 4 allowance contest at Keeneland.
Campaigned by West Point Thoroughbreds, Madaket Stables, and Kenneth and Gail Beitz, Intricate Spirit was purchased by Clement's father, the late Christophe Clement, for $185,000 at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
With his win in the Futurity, a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In race, Intricate Spirit earned an automatic starting slot into the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1T) Oct. 31 at Del Mar.
