Down the Shedrow with Christophe Clement

Christophe Clement used to be known primarily as a trainer of top turf horses, but the Frenchman has proven that his talents extend far beyond that with the recently retired Tonalist (Tapit) as the greatest example. The “TDN Rising Star” was Clement's first Grade I winner on dirt after capturing the GI Belmont S. and he added three more Grade I wins on the dirt to his resume prior to his retirement last week. In the wake of Tonalist's career change, Clement has MGISP Red Vine (Candy Ride {Arg}) poised to climb the ladder. The Clement stable also continued to excel on the turf last year with 12 graded stakes victories led by dual Grade I winner Hard Not to Like (Hard Spun), who was also recently retired to the breeding shed.

It's been a difficult month for Clement with the retirement of seven of his top runners from last year. Besides Tonalist and Hard Not to Like, the barn has also said good bye to GISW Discreet Marq (Discreet Cat), GSWs Stellar Path (Fr) (Astronomer Royal), Marbre Rose (Ire) (Smart Strike) and Beauty Parlor (Elusive Quality), and SW Courtesan (Street Sense).

“It's been a tough month,” the conditioner commented. “A lot of my better horses have been retired. You can call this the Clement barn divided by two, but don't worry we will make our comeback.”

Clement still has plenty of nice horses in the barn to make that comeback with in addition to several up-and-comers, and he provided the TDN with the scoop on those runners.

TONALIST (c, 4, Tapit)

Tonalist has been Clement's shining star over the past two years, as well as one of the most consistent racehorses of this generation. Winner of the GII Peter Pan S. in just his fourth start and coming off a layoff, the Robert S. Evans colorbearer brought California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit)'s Triple Crown bid to a screeching halt with a 9-1 upset in last year's Belmont S. The handsome bay captured consecutive renewals of the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup and closed the curtain on his career with a thrilling late run to take the GI Cigar Mile Nov. 28 (video). He will now take up stud duties alongside rivals and fellow “Rising Stars” Honor Code (A.P. Indy) and Liam's Map (Unbridled's Song) at Lane's End Farm.

“Obviously it's bittersweet. I am very proud of his career the last few years. I am also very proud that the horse retires perfectly sound after running the past two years against the best in New York. We never missed a beat with him. He raced against the best all of the time, but I am very proud of the fact after these two full years he can retire sound at the top level. Of course he will be tough to replace, but I am looking forward to his new career as a stallion.”

RED VINE (c, 4, Candy Ride {Arg})

Don and Joan Cimple and Sarah and Jon Kelly's Red Vine has continued to improve with each step up the class ladder this season. Following an allowance victory at Aqueduct Apr. 1 with a win in Monmouth's Majestic Light S. May 23, the bay finished second in the GIII Salvator Mile S. in Oceanport July 5 and was third behind a sensational performance from dual champion Beholder (Henny Hughes) in the GI Pacific Classic Aug. 22. Second in Belmont's GII Kelso H. Oct. 3, he was a respectable third to Liam's Map in the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile Oct. 30 and finished a gutsy second after a tough trip in the Cigar Mile.

“Obviously he had no racing luck [in the Cigar Mile], but he ran a very good race. I also thought the Breeders' Cup Mile was a good race. He's a nice horse. He never stops improving. We are giving him a break at the moment and we will bring him back at some point this winter. We have to make the decision whether we bring him back for Dubai or bring him back for New York. I'm not sure yet. For now, we are just giving him a bit of time. Hopefully, he will be back next year better than ever.”

HARD NOT TO LIKE (m, 6, Hard Spun)

Campaigned earlier in her career by Hillsbrook Farms and trainer Michael Matz, Hard Not to Like (Hard Spun–Like a Gem, by Tactical Cat) was purchased by Speedway Stables for $1.5 million at the 2014 Keeneland November sale after a victory in that term's GI Jenny Wiley S. and was transferred to Clement. Those connections campaigned the gray to victories in the Santa Anita's GI Gamely S. May 25 and Saratoga's GI Diana S. July 25 (video). The Ontario-bred proved popular in the sales ring once again at this year's Keeneland November sale when selling to Tom Ryan's DATTT Stable for a session-topping $2.2 million. Hard Not to Like made just one start for her new owners in the GI Matriarch S. at Del Mar Nov. 29, where she finished off the board after falling to her knees at the break. The gray has now been retired to the breeding shed as originally planned after her sale with a record of 22-8-3-2 and earnings of $1,262,171.

“It was too bad [that she fell at the start of the Matriarch] because she trained very well and was doing great. She has been retired too. As with Tonalist, I wish them the best of luck. Mr. Ryan, a top stable, bought her and she has been retired as broodmare. I wish her the best of luck in her new career.”

DISCREET MARQ (m, 5, Discreet Cat)

Discreet Marq carried the colors of breeder Patricia Generazio to wins in the 2013 GI Del Mar Oaks and GII Sands Point S. and hit the board in four additional Grade Is before being hammered down to Moyglare Stud for $2.4 million at the 2014 Fasig-Tipton November sale. Kept in training with Clement following that sale, the gray finished third in last year's GI Matriarch S. and kicked off this season with a victory in Belmont's GIII Beaugay S. May 9. Third to GI Breeders' Cup Mile victress Tepin (Bernstein) in that venue's GI Longines Just a Game S. June 6, the 5-year-old made just two more starts in New York this term before retiring with a record of 24-8-5-5 and earnings of $1,268,972.

“That is another one that has been retired. As you can see, I am very worried about next year, but that is the way it is.”

PURE SENSATION (g, 4, Zensational)

Pure Sensation followed an optional claimer victory at Saratoga July 31 with a victory in Parx's GIII Turf Monster H. Sept. 7. The Generazio homebred was last seen finishing eighth in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Keeneland Oct. 31.

“He is here at Payson Park and doing great. We plan on running him back on Sunshine Millions day in the turf sprint at Gulfstream.”

IROMEA (IRE) (f, 3, Dansili {GB})

Haras de Saint Pair's Iromea captured one of five starts in her native France before shipped to the U.S., where she finished seventh behind the promising Sentiero Italia (Medaglia d'Oro) in her Stateside debut for the Clement barn in Belmont's GII Sands Point S. Sept. 12. Breaking last after scraping the side of the gate in an Aqueduct allowance last time Nov. 9, the gray produced a five-wide rally in the stretch to score an impressive victory (video). She makes her next start Saturday in Gulfstream's Tropical Park Oaks.

“She's a nice filly. I may be running her back a little bit quick, but she's trained well. I plan to run her once more and give her a break. I think the race is ridiculously tough, especially for a $75,000 race and not being a graded stake. The problem we all have this year is we are all rich with turf horses. Gulfstream at the moment, we need a nice horse and a lot of racing luck because the fields are so full.”

TOO DISCREET (c, 2, Discreet Cat)

Though the loss of Discreet Marq is a tough one for Clement, he now has her undefeated full-brother Too Discreet to comfort him. The fellow Generazio homebred won his debut for the 50-year-old conditioner in a 5 1/2-furlong turf test for New York-breds at Saratoga Aug. 2 and followed suit with a victory in the course-and-distance Schnectady S. just 19 days later (video).

“He's a nice horse. We put him aside for the winter. He will be back in the spring. He's a very nice horse, two starts and two wins and he seems to be doing well for next year.”

WELCOMING (f, 2, Tapit)

Purchased by Evans for $520,000 at last term's Keeneland September sale, Welcoming finished fifth behind subsequent GSW Just Wicked (Tapit) after being bumped at the start of her career bow over the Saratoga main track July 24. Second next out there Aug. 30, the gray donned cap and gown by 5 1/4 lengths when extended to a mile at Belmont Oct. 4 and tired to fifth last time as the favorite in Aqueduct's GIII Tempted S. last time Nov. 4.

“She's getting a break and she will be back next year.”

WALK CLOSE (f, 4, Tapit) / MIDDLEBURG (h, 5, Lemon Drop Kid)

Highland Yard's Walk Close captured Arlington's GIII Modesty H. July 11 and finished sixth last time in Aqueduct's GIII Long Island H. Nov. 7. Mr. and Mrs. Bertram Firestone's Middleburg also won his first graded event earlier this year when taking Monmouth's GIII Cliff Hanger S. Aug. 23. The chestnut was sixth last time in Belmont's GIII Knickerbocker S. Oct. 10.

“From the graded stakes winners from last year, Walk Close and Middleburg should both be back at some point this winter. They both won Grade IIIs last year.”

LUBASH (h, 8, Freud)

The hard-knocking New York-bred Lubash has been his usual ultra-consistent self this season, winning four of seven starts with three of those wins being black-type. Victorious in Belmont's Mohawk S. Oct. 24, the Aliyu Ben J Stables homebred finished a disappointing sixth last time in the Artie Schiller S. Nov. 21.

“He came out of his last race okay and he is getting a break. He will be back in New York in the spring.”

UMGIYO (AUS) (g, 5, Danehill Dancer {Ire})

Formerly trained by Mike de Kock, Warne Rippon's Umgiyo came to the U.S. with G2 UAE Derby winner Mubtaahij (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who took a shot at American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) in the GI Kentucky Derby and Belmont. Umgiyo was given a Grade I test of his own, finishing off the board in the GI Woodford Reserve Turf Classic at Churchill on Derby day May 2, before being left in the U.S. with Clement who gave the gelding some class relief. Off the board in a pair of Belmont optional claimers this fall, Umgiyo was third last time in an Aqueduct optional claimer Nov. 13.

“I might run him at the end of the month at Gulfstream in that race called the [GIII W.L.] McKnight H. [Dec. 26]”

AKATEA (IRE) (f, 3, Shamardal)

Previously campaigned by Wildenstein Stables Limited and trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre, Akatea is a new addition to the Clement barn. A second-out graduate at Chantilly Mar. 17, the chestnut won a stake at Longchamp next out Apr. 6 before finishing fourth in the G3 Prix Vanteaux May 3. Off the board in Deaville's G3 Prix de Lieurey Aug. 15, she finished second in the G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp Sept. 13 and was third last time in the GII Prix Daniel Wildenstein S. Oct. 3.

“From the new horses, we got a nice French filly named Akatea, which will be an exciting prospect. She is three turning four and was one of the leading 3-year-old fillies in France. She will be a great asset for next year. She was purchased privately by Joe Allen.”

GRAND FOLLY (f, 2, Street Cry {Ire})

Evans homebred Grand Folly is a 2-year-old daughter of GSW Dance Away Capote (Capote) and hails from the family of Horse of the Year Skip Away (Skip Trial). The gray came flying late to finish second when unveiled on the turf at Gulfstream Park West Nov. 28.

“I do like a filly that was second the other day for Mr. Evans named Grand Folly. She is a nice prospect for next year. I have quite a few other 2 year olds that have yet to run and we will go through them as usual and we will do the best we can there.”