Breeders’ Cup: Meet family behind U.S. effort to steal Turf

On strictly a risk versus reward basis, it would seem hard to justify LSU Stables’ purchase of Far Bridge from breeder Calumet Farm for $2.5 million following two lifetime starts made early last season. But some decisions become matters of the heart, and this was one.

Leslie and Larry Sarf already have been rewarded for their daring. The now 4-year-old colt enters the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Turf with consecutive Grade 1 victories for trainer Christophe Clément and with many believing he can break the foreign stranglehold on the race.

HorseCenter: Top grass contenders for Breeders’ Cup.

It is hard to imagine that even the Sarfs would have predicted such a grand  scenario when they invested so much in such an unproven commodity. They were drawn, in part, by an indefinable quality and a fortuitous connection to his name.

“There was something about him that we liked,” Leslie said vaguely. “He was very lightly raced, and we just had a good feeling about it.”

Far Bridge surely possessed the pedigree for grass success. He is by English Channel out of Kitten’s Joy mare Fitpitcher. He came to the Sarfs’ attention when he made a winning debut Jan. 21, 2023, edging Carl Spackler by a head at 1 1/16 miles on the Gulfstream Park turf. No one could have anticipated Carl Spackler would go on to be a Grade 1 winner.

The Sarfs’ enthusiasm for Far Bridge only increased when he rallied for a 3 1/2-length score in a March 11 optional-claiming race at the same distance at Gulfstream. Then there was the name.

“I’m a competitive tournament bridge player, and I liked the name. We had a good feeling about it,” said Leslie, a diamond life-master bridge player.

The deal was done with Calumet able to collect bonuses above the $2.5 million for certain accomplishments.

“Some people say, ‘You overpaid.’ There is no real definition of overpaying if you believe and you want something,” Leslie said. “That’s how our family believes.”

Far Bridge was moved to Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher. He quickly showed that the family’s keen interest and that of advisor Mike Young was not unfounded.

In his third start for his new connections, he made his first Grade 1 attempt a winning one by capturing the July 8 Belmont Derby Invitational. He placed in four other graded stakes while with Pletcher.

The Sarfs were convinced there was more there, and they returned Far Bridge to Clément for the start of this season. Far Bridge has swept half of his six races and also had a third-place effort in banking $855,800. He shows every sign of peaking at the best possible moment in his bid to emerge as only the second U.S. runner to win the Turf in the last 10 editions.

In the Aug. 24 Sword Dancer (G1), he surged to the front for regular rider Joel Rosario and stayed there, repelling Measured Time by one length. His performance in the Sept. 28 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1) was significantly more impressive and had to be.

He was shuffled back and later had to work his way around a tiring pacesetter before finishing powerfully under Rosario’s strong hand ride. He denied runner-up War Like Goddess and her try for a third consecutive victory against males in the Joe Hirsch by a half-length.

There is more to be told about LSU Stables, beginning with a name that has nothing to do with Louisiana State University. The L stands for Leslie and Larry, who are Brooklyn natives and at her suggestion had their first date at Belmont Park in 1967. The S represents their surname. The U denotes that their family, which includes son Randy and four grandchildren, stands united.

If the Sarfs jump out in their willingness to be bold, they are equally impressive in their generosity. They received the 2023 Humanitarian Award from the Belmont Child Care Association.