“Carrying Out What Christophe Started,” Clement-Bred Colt Sells in Saratoga

[Wandering Eyes]

Valerie Clement has arguably seen more horses in her lifetime than many of the younger bloodstock agents working this year's Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Sale. For the past 40 years, she has stood alongside her husband Christophe as he has inspected horses at countless sales, farms and racetracks around the world.

Following her husband's passing in May, it would have been understandable if Clement had chosen to step away from the game, but to her that was never an option.

In addition to running a thriving stable, Christophe was also involved in several broodmare partnerships in both New York and France—a part of the business Clement is now determined to continue.

“I am committed to carrying  out what Christophe started,” she explained. “At times it is a lot, but I don't quit. I'm learning and I'm enjoying it. I want a fair chance to learn and I'm very blessed because I'm surrounded by people I trust and that I've known for a long time.”

On Sunday, a colt that Clement co-owns with Richard Leahy's Oak Bluff Stables will sell as Hip 357 at the Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Sale. The son of Not This Time is out of a mare that Christophe once trained.

Savvy Sassy (Street Sense), a half-sister to MGSW Southdale (Street Cry {Ire}), was campaigned by Waterville Lake Stables. She won her first two starts under Clement's tutelage in 2014. The Ontario-bred was later trained by Arnold DeLacour and in 2016, went through the ring at the Keeneland November Sale and sold to the Oak Bluff-Clement partnership for $80,000.

The mare has been a shining success story for her ownership group as her first four foals have all brought six figures at the Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Sale.

Bourbon Bay (Bayern) sold for $205,000 and went on to collect multiple stakes placings, including a runner-up effort in the 2020 Jerome Stakes. Brattle House (Malibu Moon) set a New York-Bred Sale record when she brought $775,000 in 2019 and the filly also earned blacktype credit on the racetrack. The mare's three-year-old of this year, Real Savvy (Authentic), was a $360,000 purchase for MyRacehorse and RT Racing. The colt broke his maiden for Christophe last November and is now training at Belmont.

“Savvy Sassy is such a great story and it's a great partnership,” said Clement. “When it's a good partnership, you're friends as well. Dick and Christophe started the breeding partnership together. Dick is very analytic, so no decisions were taken without endless conversation. Christophe had the other side of the talent–his gut feeling as a horseman. So the partnership has been very successful and it's the story you hope for when you get Savvy Sassy. Being with people you trust is the key.”

Clement credits their small breeding program's success to the relationships behind it. She has two mares in France at Ecurie des Monceaux with Henri Bozo, a former intern for Christophe. For the New York division, Leahy was a longtime owner for Christophe as a partner in Waterville Lake Stables.

Savvy Sassy's yearling will sell at Fasig-Tipton with Denali Stud. Consignor Conrad Bandoroff said the colt has made steady progress since arriving at their farm in May.

“He's one of those horses you get more and more excited about,” said Bandoroff. “We had one very respected agent who came out to the farm and asked why this horse wasn't in the main sale. There's a reason why Christophe is pictured on the inside cover of the New York-bred catalogue this year. Christophe was such a supporter of the New York-bred program and of this sale. If he was still around, this is where he would have put this horse. He was a believer in putting the best horses in this sale and letting them stand out and we believe that's what this horse is going to do.”

Clement said that she has always enjoyed the breeding and sales side of the industry and is interested in staying involved going forward.

“With the breeding, I enjoy how you see the full circle of the industry,” she explained. “You go to those farms to see the babies and you dream big. You think, 'Oh, I've spotted a champion.' When you approach it with the full story, you're not just looking at the finish line.”

She knows she has a lot to learn, but in the months since her husband's passing, a voice in the back of her mind has been guiding her forward.

“Back then, I had the answer,” she said. “I'm used to him constantly commenting about horses, whether we're at the races or at the sales. Now I have to say, 'What would he think of this horse? What would he see?' I'm trying to remember what he was teaching me.”

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