Saratoga Notebook Presented By NYRA: Clement Looking For Big Finish To Saratoga Meet

Wandering Eyes · August 28

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY — It has been a bittersweet summer for trainer Miguel Clement.

He has seen his horses perform at a high level during the 40-day Saratoga meet. Going into the final four days of the summer season, the 34-year-old Clement is in fourth place in the training standings with 16 wins in 70 starts.

It has also been a summer of heartache Clement and his family. Christophe Clement, the patriarch and backbone of the stable, passed away in May at the age of 59.

“The expectations and standards have always been very high,” Miguel Clement said outside his barn at the Oklahoma Training Track Thursday morning.

With the season and the summer beginning to fade, Clement is looking to end on a high note. After running three horses on Friday, the barn will send out three in Saturday's $500,000 GII Flower Bowl Stakes for fillies and mares ages four and up.

“That would be very, very, very rewarding if that takes place,” Clement said about a win in the Flower Bowl. “But there is no certainty.”

Included in that group is the 2-1 morning line favorite, La Mehana (Fr) (Al Wukair {Ire}), owned by LSU Stables.

The 6-year-old mare romped in the GII Glens Falls Stakes on July 27, winning by 8 3/4 lengths. Before that, she took an allowance optional claiming race at Aqueduct on June 27.

“She is getting better with age, which is odd,” Clement said. “As a 6-year-old, I think she is hitting her best stride. I am hoping she will make a good account of herself.”

Kendrick Carmouche, who has ridden La Mehana in the past, will be on board for the Flower Bowl. Flavien Prat, her partner in the last two starts, is riding at Kentucky Downs Saturday.

Clement will also be represented by Moyglare Stud Farm Ltd's Bellezza (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}), who is 4-1 on the morning line and Hoolie Racing Stable LLC's In Time (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}).

Bellezza finished a distant second in the Glens Falls and was third in the GI New York Stakes during the Belmont Stakes Festival at the Spa in June. Both those races were run over yielding courses.

“I expect the turf on Saturday to be more to her liking,” Clement said. “She has a very good turn of foot on firm turf.”

Jaime Rodriguez, who rode Bellezza to victory in the GIII Sheepshead Bay Stakes at Aqueduct in May, will be reunited with the 4-year-old filly Saturday.

In Time, who will be ridden by Dylan Davis, has won two of three starts at Saratoga, but the 6-year-old mare will be making her first start in a U.S. stakes race.

“I expect Dylan would have her forwardly placed,” Clement said. “Any sort of a placing would be a high coup for her.”

Bauer Hopes For Better Luck in This Year's Prioress

A year ago, trainer Phil Bauer had an agonizing experience in the GIII Prioress when he watched 'TDN Rising Star' Two Sharp (Twirling Candy), the 4-5 favorite, lose by a neck to Brightwork (Outwork).

Fast forward to now and Bauer has another chance in the Prioress, which carries a purse of $175,000. And he has another favorite.

Rigney Racing LLC's 'TDN Rising Star' Delightful Claire (Thousand Words) is the 6-5 morning line choice in Saturday's race for 3-year-old fillies.

“That was a tough beat,” Bauer said at his Oklahoma Training Track barn Thursday morning, remembering last year's Prioress. “Nothing like going out on a high note and maybe a little redemption. (Delightful Claire) reminds us a lot of Two Sharp … maybe Delightful Claire has a little more length, but both fillies have a lot of ability and can get you excited.”

Delightful Claire got the nod of favoritism after she romped to break her maiden by 9 1/4 lengths in her second career start. That came at Saratoga on Aug. 2.

She will be cutting back a furlong on Saturday and will be ridden for the first time by Luan Machado.

“Maybe I should have run her in the Test,” Bauer said, referring to the Grade I earlier in the meet.

Yes, he was kidding.

“She was brilliant,” he said of the maiden-breaker. “She had the perfect trip, and everything went right. She broke sharp and was able to track the speed. She just had it her own way.”

Delightful-Claire-08-09-2025-SA6_0185-PR

Delightful Claire | Sarah Andrew

In her first start, June 8 at Churchill Downs, Delightful Claire finished third. Bauer had equipped her with blinkers in that start, and he did the same in the second try.

But there was a difference.

“I had her closed up with a full-cup blinker and I think it was too much for her,” he said of the first start. “So, we cut them back and put some holes in it and she was able to process everything a little better.”

The Wesley Ward-trained 'TDN Rising Star' Long Neck Paula (Uncle Mo), owned by Will Stroud, Mrs. John Magnier, Mrs. M.V. Magnier, Linda Shanahan and Debra O'Connor, is the 8-5 second choice and has won three of seven career starts and has been running in black-type and listed stakes races in six of her seven career starts.

“I think we are ready to roll,” Bauer said. “It's a big ask, it's an ambitious spot but she has a lot of ability and those are the kind of horses that usually take care of you.”