Federation, Naples Bay Target Noble Damsel

Trainer Christophe Clement is likely to have two runners in Saturday’s Grade 3 Noble Damsel, with British-bred Federation and Naples Bay both looking for their first stakes victories.

Owned by Guy Roxburghe, Federation dead-heated for victory with Prize Catch in a 1 1/16-mile turf optional claimer on August 27 at Saratoga, her first win since posting back-to-back scores at Tampa Bay Downs after arriving in the U.S. late last year. Edward Cox Jr.’s Naples Bay also exits a 1 1/16-mile turf optional claimer, having drawn clear to win by 4 ¼ lengths on August 17 at Monmouth Park.

“Both are doing well. It’s a little bit quick for Federation, but she’s doing well and we don’t have another race until mid-October,” Clement said. “Naples Bay had a very nice allowance win at Monmouth and deserves a shot in a stakes. [Joel] Rosario will be riding Federation and [Jose] Lezcano will be riding Naples Bay.”