Saratoga Maidens, Presented By Keeneland: Red-Hot Clement Stable Strikes Again

[Wandering Eyes]

It's been a little bit more than seven weeks since Christophe Clement passed away after battling a rare form of cancer. But that hasn't slowed the stable down one bit as his son, Miguel, has taken over and has been a frequent visitor to the winner's circle. On Friday, he won his eighth race of the Saratoga meet when sending out Intricate Spirit (Complexity) to a 'TDN Rising Star'-worthy win in the day's sixth race, a 2-year-old maiden special weight on the grass.

Intricate Spirit is a half-brother to Spirit Prince (Cairo Prince) who won the 2023 Central Park Stakes on the grass for the Clement team.

“In the morning, he was showing plenty of speed and he finishes his works as well as he should,” Clement said. “His half-brother won a stakes for us on the grass. It made a lot of sense that this horse would like the grass.”

Clement also sent out the third-place finisher Brooklyn Styles (Munnings).

It was an oddly bet race as Freestate, trained by Kevin Rice, who lost his debut by 24 1/2 lengths in an off-the-turf maiden, was made the 5-2 favorite. He flashed early speed for the opening three furlongs. But as he started to tire, Intricate Spirt took control of the race and drew away to win by 3 1/2 lengths over second-choice Turf Star (Caravaggio).

#6 INTRICATE SPIRIT ($10.00) skips across the Saratoga turf to win on debut with @JRosarioJockey up for trainer @miguelmclement. This 2yo son of @AirdrieStud's Complexity is owned by @westpointtbred, @MadaketStables, Kenneth Beitz and Gail Beitz.

Bet Saratoga with @FanDuel. pic.twitter.com/Rz2KOAoAzf

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) August 1, 2025

Intricate Spirit paid $10 and covered the 5 1/2 furlongs over a firm turf course in 1:03.36.

Intricate Spirt was bred by Ben and Rebekah Henley and Jim Gray. Ben Henley is the general manager of Airdrie, where Complexity stands at stud.

“We were trying to get Complexity off the ground,” Ben Henley said. “We've been sending some nice mares to him. We thought it was possible that he would like the turf. He comes from a very international family, including Australia and Europe, and his half-brother is a stakes winner on turf.”

Ben & Rebekah Henley (pictured) and Jim Gray bred new 'Rising Star' Intricate Spirit | Airdrie photo

Henley said he still owns the mare and that she is in foal to Upstart.

It figures to be a big month for Dottie's Spirit and the family.

Intricate Spirit's 4-year-old half-brother, Spirit Prince (Cairo Prince), won an allowance at Monmouth on the Haskell undercard. His 3-year-old full-sister, Layered, runs Wednesday at Saratoga for Klaravich Stables and Chad Brown. And his yearling half-brother, a colt by Girvin, will be offered in Book Two at Keeneland September. “He's one of the best horses on the farm,” said Henley.

Intricate Spirit is owned by the partnership of West Point Thoroughbreds, Madaket Stable and Kenneth and Gail Betz.

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