SOLDAT (War Front), who broke his maiden in the grassy With Anticipation S.
(G3) last summer, highlights a very intriguing allowance on the main track at
Gulfstream Park Friday. Carded as the
9TH race,
the 1 1/8-mile test will feature a field of eight, and Soldat is eligible for
the entry-level conditions with only one career victory.
Runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G2) most recently, Soldat
recorded a second in the Pilgrim S. (G3) after rolling to a three-length score
in the With Anticipation. McLaughlin nominated him to last Sunday’s Dania Beach
S. on turf, but decided to give the dark bay colt another shot on dirt.
The Kentucky-bred opened his racing career with a pair of runner-up finishes
versus maiden special weight rivals on the main track at Belmont Park and
Saratoga, and Soldat will be pointed toward the Kentucky Derby (G1) with a
strong showing on Friday.
“He might be all right on dirt,” McLaughlin said. “He finished second twice
before he went to turf. We’ll find out.”
It will be no easy task. DIALED IN (Mineshaft) created a stir when winning
his career bow for Nick Zito at Churchill Downs on November 12. The massive colt
broke slowly and looked beaten turning for home, but he exploded from the back
of the pack to win going away in the 6 1/2-furlong event. Zito, who likes to
give his first-time starters a race, expects further improvement, and the
two-time Derby winner is bullish about Dialed In’s Triple Crown prospects. The
dark bay is bred to relish two turns, and Julien Leparoux will return to
the saddle for his second career start.
Trainer Todd Pletcher will send out the uncoupled entry of LAUBURU
(Unbridled’s Song) and FINANCIAL EMPIRE (Empire Maker). Jockey John Velazquez
will stick with Lauburu, who captured a seven-furlong maiden special weight at
Aqueduct on November 13. A $925,000 yearling purchase, the gray colt is a
half-brother to multiple champion Ashado and Grade 1 winner Sunriver. Financial
Empire, who commanded a sales price of $800,000 as two-year-old in training,
rallied to half-length decision in his career bow at Calder on December 16, and
jockey Eibar Coa will be back up.
HALO’S THUNDER (Thunder Gulch) will add blinkers for Kenny McPeek following a
sixth in the grassy Tropical Park Derby. The bay colt recorded a pair of fourths
in the Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2) and Iroquois S. (G3) in his last two dirt
starts. COOL BLUE RED HOT (Harlan’s Holiday) is a good-looking prospect from the
Angel Penna Jr. shedrow, breaking his maiden by 3 1/4 lengths last time out at
Calder, and BEAMER (Vindication) exits a 5 1/2-length maiden romp at Tampa Bay
Downs for Carl Nafzger.
MAS TRUENO (Afleet Alex), who was last seen breaking his maiden by three
lengths at Parx Racing, rounds out the field.