Remembering Christophe Clement: His 41 Grade 1 victories
The racing world mourns the loss of Christophe Clement, a trainer whose legacy undoubtedly will be remembered for outstanding turf winners. Over his distinguished career, Clement trained 41 Grade 1 winners, primarily with distance and turf horses.
Career highlights: 41 Grade 1 victories across 24 different stakes races, featuring 24 different horses and 18 different jockeys. His horses made their mark on the grass with 34 Grade 1 wins and excelled at longer distances, with particular success in New York racing.
The stars of Clement's stable
Among Clement's Grade 1 winners, Gio Ponti stands at the top with seven Grade 1 victories, establishing himself as one of the premier turf horses of his generation. Tonalist followed with four wins, including a memorable Belmont Stakes triumph that denied California Chrome the Triple Crown in 2014.
| Horse name | Grade 1 wins | Notable wins |
|---|---|---|
| Gio Ponti | 7 | Man o' War (2009, 2010), Shadwell Turf Mile (2010, 2011) |
| Tonalist | 4 | Belmont Stakes (2014), Jockey Club Gold Cup (2014, 2015) |
| Gufo | 3 | Sword Dancer (2021, 2022) |
| Winchester | 3 | Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (2010) |
| Far Bridge | 2 | Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (2024) |
| Carson's Run | 2 | Saratoga Derby (2024) |
Jockeys: The riders who shared success
Corey Nakatani led the way with seven Grade 1 victories aboard Clement trainees, followed closely by Joel Rosario and Ramon Dominguez, each with six wins. These partnerships often spanned multiple horses and years.
| Jockey | Grade 1 wins | Key horses |
|---|---|---|
| Corey Nakatani | 7 | Voodoo Dancer (2) |
| Joel Rosario | 6 | Tonalist (2), Gufo (2), Far Bridge (2) |
| Ramon Dominguez | 6 | Gio Ponti (6) |
| Cornelio Velasquez | 4 | Winchester (3) |
| Dylan Davis | 3 | Carson's Run (2) |
| John Velazquez | 3 | Tonalist (2) |
Signature stakes
The Sword Dancer Stakes was a key target for the Clement stable, as his horses captured this prestigious turf event five times.
| Stakes race | Wins | Winning horses |
|---|---|---|
| Sword Dancer | 5 | Honor Glide (1999), Winchester (2011), Gufo (2021, 2022), Far Bridge (2024) |
| Manhattan | 3 | Forbidden Apple (2001), Gio Ponti (2009), Winchester (2010) |
| Beverly D. | 3 | England's Legend (2001), Royal Highness (2007), Mauralakana (2008) |
| Joe Hirsch Turf Classic | 2 | Winchester (2010), Far Bridge (2024) |
| Jockey Club Gold Cup | 2 | Tonalist (2014, 2015) |
| Diana | 2 | Winchester |
Racing venues: A New York turf master
Clement's dominance was most evident in New York racing, where he captured 24 of his 41 Grade 1 victories. Belmont Park served as his primary stage with 14 wins, and Saratoga contributed eight more.
| Track | Wins |
|---|---|
| Belmont Park (BEL) | 14 |
| Saratoga (SAR) | 8 |
| Woodbine (WO) | 4 |
| Del Mar (DMR) | 4 |
| Arlington Park (AP) | 4 |
| Keeneland (KEE) | 3 |
Surface and distance
Clement's specialization became clear through his surface preferences as 34 of his 41 Grade 1 wins came on turf, establishing him as one of America's premier turf trainers. His horses excelled at classic and marathon distances, with nine wins each at 1 1/4 miles and 1 1/2 miles, distances that often separate the truly elite runners.
| Surface | Wins | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Turf | 34 | 83% |
| Dirt | 6 | 15% |
| Synthetic | 1 | 2% |
| Distance | Wins | Most Grade 1 wins |
|---|---|---|
| 1 1/2 mile | 9 | Sword Dancer (5 wins), Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (2) |
| 1 1/4 mile | 9 | Manhattan (3), Jockey Club Gold Cup (2) |
| 1 1/8 mile | 8 | Diana (2), Garden City (2), Del Mar Oaks (2) |
| 1 mile | 8 | Shadwell Turf Mile (2), Summer (2) |
| 1 3/16 mile | 4 | Beverly D. (3) |
Christophe Clement's legacy lives on through his family and stable and these 41 Grade 1 victories and the countless other horses he developed throughout his career.
Complete record: All 41 Grade 1 winners
| Year | Horse | Race | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Far Bridge | Joe Hirsch Turf Classic | Joel Rosario |
| 2024 | Far Bridge | Sword Dancer | Joel Rosario |
| 2024 | Carson's Run | Saratoga Derby | Dylan Davis |
| 2023 | Carson's Run | Summer | Dylan Davis |
| 2022 | Gufo | Sword Dancer | Joel Rosario |
| 2021 | Pizza Bianca | BC Juvenile Fillies Turf | Jose Ortiz |
| 2021 | Mutamakina (GB) | E. P. Taylor | Dylan Davis |
| 2021 | Gufo | Sword Dancer | Joel Rosario |
| 2020 | Gufo | Belmont Derby | Junior Alvarado |
| 2019 | Decorated Invader | Summer | Irad Ortiz, Jr. |
| 2016 | Yellow Agate | Frizette | Manuel Franco |
| 2015 | Tonalist | Cigar Mile | John Velazquez |
| 2015 | Tonalist | Jockey Club Gold Cup | John Velazquez |
| 2015 | Hard Not to Like | Diana | John Velazquez |
| 2015 | Hard Not to Like | Gamely | Victor Espinoza |
| 2014 | Tonalist | Jockey Club Gold Cup | Joel Rosario |
| 2014 | Tonalist | Belmont Stakes | Joel Rosario |
| 2013 | Discreet Marq | Del Mar Oaks | Julien Leparoux |
| 2011 | Gio Ponti | Shadwell Turf Mile | Ramon Dominguez |
| 2011 | Winchester | Sword Dancer | Cornelio Velasquez |
| 2010 | Gio Ponti | Shadwell Turf Mile | Ramon Dominguez |
| 2010 | Winchester | Joe Hirsch Turf Classic | Cornelio Velasquez |
| 2010 | Gio Ponti | Man o' War | Ramon Dominguez |
| 2010 | Winchester | Manhattan | Cornelio Velasquez |
| 2009 | Miss World | Garden City | Cornelio Velasquez |
| 2009 | Gio Ponti | Arlington Million | Ramon Dominguez |
| 2009 | Funny Moon | Coaching Club American Oaks | Alan Garcia |
| 2009 | Gio Ponti | Man o' War | Ramon Dominguez |
| 2009 | Gio Ponti | Manhattan | Garrett Gomez |
| 2009 | Gio Ponti | Frank E. Kilroe Mile | Ramon Dominguez |
| 2008 | Mauralakana (FR) | Beverly D. | Kent Desormeaux |
| 2007 | Rutherienne | Del Mar Oaks | Corey Nakatani |
| 2007 | Royal Highness (GER) | Beverly D. | Rene Douglas |
| 2007 | In Summation | Bing Crosby | Corey Nakatani |
| 2005 | Relaxed Gesture (IRE) | Canadian International | Corey Nakatani |
| 2003 | Voodoo Dancer | Diana | Corey Nakatani |
| 2001 | Voodoo Dancer | Garden City | Corey Nakatani |
| 2001 | England's Legend (FR) | Beverly D. | Corey Nakatani |
| 2001 | Forbidden Apple | Manhattan | Corey Nakatani |
| 1999 | Honor Glide | Sword Dancer | Jose Santos |
| 1994 | Danish (IRE) | Queen Elizabeth II | Julie Krone |