Soldat arrives at Churchill Downs – Horse Racing Update
After stabling in Palm Meadows for the winter, Soldat made his way to Louisville accompanied by Dialed In, for their first work-out at Churchill Downs on Monday.
Trainer Nick Zito accompanied both colts on the short van ride from Louisville airport to Churchill Downs.
Kiaran McLaughlin is very confident of his colt, Soldat’s ability to win the biggest race of his career. The son of War Front worked his final drill in a time of 1:01 2/5 for five furlongs on April 29.
He was working at Palm Meadows, as the race track is closed for the season following the conclusion of training.
Soldat’s work-out was monitored by his watchful trainer, as he managed to astound him by working the four furlongs in 49 seconds and galloping out the five eighths in 1:01.40. The work-out was done with his regular rider Danny Wright.
The colt gave an opening quarter in :25 and another quarter in :24. He blitzed the final eighth in :12. His trainer was not looking for a heavy work-out, as McLaughlin said, “I was very pleased, He went fast in his work last week, going :47 and :59. He hasn’t
missed a day of training in over a year, so he’s already fit. This was just a maintenance work. He’s ready to go.”
Soldat began his career as a runner-up in the first two starts. The first two races were held on Turf so the owner gave him a shot on grass. With Anticipation was the colt’s first attempt on grass and around two turns. He managed to get a win on the Saratoga
race track in September 3, 2010. Soldat had Alan Garcia aboard him in the With Anticipation Stakes.
He was runner up in the Pilgrim race which was held in the fall of 2010. This year the three year old has enjoyed a victory in the Fountain of Youth Stakes on February 26, 2011. He was sent as the 2-1 second choice in the race. Soldat ran with relentless
tenacity and gave a final time of 1:50.23 and paid $4.80 as the favourite.
The colt did give a disappointing performance during the April 3, 2011 Florida Derby ending at the fifth place, the worse ever for him. He has always been a runner-up in his career of seven lifetime starts.
The dark brown colt is owned by Harvey Clarke and W. Craig Robertson III. He is 3-4-0 from eight starts. Hopes are high in the McLaughlin camp as Soldat gears up for the Run for the Roses. He was runner up in his experience on the Churchill track, Breeder’s
Cup Juvenile Turf held on November 6, 2010.
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