May 8, 2025
TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon
Toll Collector
Far Bridge has been a money-making machine across 15 career starts, reeling in nearly $1.93 million.
Four graded stakes triumphs, including three at the Grade 1 level, account for over half of that impressive seven-figure total.
The high-performing 5-year-old can add to both his graded stakes and lifetime revenue totals with a win in this Saturday’s $400,000 Man o’ War (G2T) at Belmont at the Big A.
Pegged for post three off a hard-fought neck tally in the Pan American (G3) last time out on Mar. 29, Far Bridge enters the 1 3/8-mile five-horse contest well-rested.
Trained by turf specialist Christophe Clement, Far Bridge opens as the early 3-5 choice.
Double Trouble
Aqueduct’s dynamic Saturday card continues with another tantalizing tilt, the $200,000 Ruffian (G2), headlined by the Grade 2 winning duo of My Mane Squeeze and Gun Song.
The former, and slight 7-2 opening line favorite, earned the early nod after compiling a 6-2-4 line from 14 starts to date. In that time, the Michael Maker charge has shone at the graded tier, compiling a 2-2-2 record (8 starts), led by victories in the Eight Belles (G2) and Dogwood (G3).
The latter, on the other hand, has also commanded a consistent presence on the podium, hitting the board at an 83 percent clip (12: 4-4-2). Gun Song, positioned as the 8-1 fifth choice, collected her first graded title in a 3 ¼-length Black-Eyed Susan (G2) score last May.
My Mane Squeeze and Gun Song will meet for the first time in the Ruffian.
Sizzling Sprint
Saturday’s $225,000 Mamzelle (G3T) at Churchill Downs is all about speed, speed, and more speed.
The 5 ½-furlong sprint features a deep cast of 14 entrants, each of whom will have to contend with Limestone Stakes champion, Shisospicy.
Fresh off her first stakes title, the fleet-footed filly has been a pillar of reliability through five professional starts, never having finished lower than third (3-1-1).
Shisospicy’s most recent, and memorable, outing saw her maintain the lead throughout en route to a half-length decision.
The sophomore sprinter will team up with rider Jose Ortiz, not Irad Ortiz Jr., for the Mamzelle, where she opens as the 5-2 clubhouse leader.
Never Again
Captain Cook’s introduction to the graded ranks didn’t pan out as hoped, running to a fourth in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial on Apr. 5 at Aqueduct.
That, however, was just the beginning of Captain Cook’s high-stakes adventure. The 3-year-old colt returns to Aqueduct this Saturday looking to right the ship in the $200,000 Peter Pan (G3).
Character references aside, Captain Cook has largely performed well on the New York circuit, securing victory in two of three starts.
The Manuel Franco mount’s most notable accomplishment came in a 2 ¼-length Withers Stakes win on Feb. 1.
Captain Cook’s odds of a breakthrough romp appear promising as the narrow 2-1 favorite.
Change that Tune
A pair of down showings in the Mucho Macho Man Stakes (fifth) and Grade 1 Florida Derby (eighth) have calmed the buzz around Cool Intentions, but the 3-year-old colt hopes to heat back up with a strong result in Saturday’s $100,000 Long Branch at Monmouth Park.
New Jersey racing fans are eager for a blazing start to Monmouth’s 80th racing season, and Cool Intentions is in a prime position to provide that spark.
Buoyed by a motivation to get back on track, the Jorge Delgado trainee completed his first workout at Monmouth on May 4, breezing four furlongs in :48.
Cool Intentions lines up in post one at 7-2.
