Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen will be chasing seven-figure stakes races for 3-year-olds on two continents in upcoming weeks.
Asmussen said Wednesday morning that Soldier N Diplomat is targeting the $1 million Southwest (G3) Jan. 31 at Oaklawn, with stablemate Obliteration headed to the $1.5 million Saudi Derby (G3) Feb. 14 in Saudi Arabia. Both races offer qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby.
Facing some of the country's top 2-year-olds, including probable Eclipse Award winner Ted Noffey, Further Ado and Buetane, Soldier N Diplomat finished fourth in the seven-furlong Hopeful Stakes (G1) Sept. 1 at Saratoga and third in the 8 ½-furlong Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) Nov. 29 at Churchill Downs in his last start.
Soldier N Diplomat was a debut winner at going six furlongs Sept. 1 at Saratoga and a nine-length winner in his only other start, in a one-mile allowance race Oct. 26 at Churchill Downs.
Asked what he likes about Soldier N Diplomat, Asmussen said: "How fast he is. He's got a lot of talent."
In advance of his 3-year-old debut, Soldier N Diplomat has had four workouts at Fair Grounds since the Kentucky Jockey Club.
"He'll work Saturday at Fair Grounds and then come up here if the weather clears," Asmussen said.
Asmussen, a three-time Southwest winner, trains Soldier N Diplomat for the nationally prominent St. Elias Stable (Vinnie and Teresa Viola), which purchased the son of unbeaten Grade 1 winner Army Mule for $950,000 at the OBS March Sale of Two-Year-Olds in training. St. Elias Stable campaigned Army Mule with future Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher.
The Southwest is Oaklawn's second of four Kentucky Derby qualifying races and will offer 42 total points to its top five finishers (20-10-6-4-2, respectively) toward starting eligibility for the first leg of the Triple Crown.
Entries will be accepted and post positions drawn Sunday for the Southwest and three other stakes races Jan. 31, including the $300,000 Martha Washington for 3-year-old fillies.
In addition to Soldier N Diplomat, the Oaklawn racing department listed nine other early probables Wednesday morning for the Southwest -- Baytown Dreamer for trainer Paul McEntee, Circle Tap (Dallas Stewart), D'code (H. Ray Ashford Jr.), Rancho Santa Fe (Brad Cox), Reclamation (Chris Davis), Silent Tactic (Mark Casse), Silver Prince (Ron Moquett), Sleepingonfreedom (Kenny McPeek) and Strategic Risk (Casse).
Strategic Risk and Silent Tactic, who finished first and second, respectively, in Oaklawn's $250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes Jan. 3, both worked five furlongs over a good-rated surface Wednesday morning. Silent Tactic went in 1:01.60, Strategic Risk in 1:02.40.
Earlier on the Jan. 3 card, Obliteration, in his return to dirt, was a 7 ½-length winner of the $150,000 Renaissance Stakes for 3-year-olds at 6 furlongs. The one-turn Saudi Derby is 1,600 meters (about 1 mile) on dirt.
"He flies out of Miami on (Feb. 2), runs on the 14th," Asmussen said.
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