A crowd of 32,344 came out to historic Saratoga Race Course on Saturday for two Grade 1 stakes events, contested under sunny mild conditions. The first of these was the $500,000 Sword Dancer Invitational Stakes (G1), with a field of six older horses contesting this 1 1/2 mile inner turf feature. Elkhorn and Manhattan winner Dancing Forever was sent off as the 3-2 favorite over Man O'War third place finisher Better Talk Now at 3-1 and last year's Sword Dancer winner Grand Couturier at 7-2.
Presious Passion was allowed an uncontested lead of as many as 3 lengths, setting slow fractions of 25.80, 50.44, 1:16.13, 1:41.73, and 2:06.78. Equitable sat second and Dancing Forever settled in third for all three turns. Presious Passion continued to lead into the stretch but tired through the lane. Grand Couturier, who raced in fourth early, found room on the hedge at the top of the stretch and closed with a rush on the inside, cruising under the line 2 lengths in front of late-running Better Talk Now, who had raced in last throughout and closed well down the center of the course. The running time was 2:32.21 over the good inner turf course. It was just 3/4 length more to late-running Interpatation third.
Results chart
