Soldat
Graded Earnings: $584,300.00
Race Record: 8-3-4-0
Trainer - Kiaran McLaughlin
Jockey - Alan Garcia
Owner - Harvey Clarke & W Craig Robertson III
Breeder - Brookfield Stud
Pedigree
From the first crop sired by the classy sprinter War Front, himself a son of the globally-influential stallion Danzig. War Front's signature victory came in the six-furlong Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. (G2) at Saratoga, and he also placed in such notable sprints as the Vosburgh S. (G1), Forego S. (G1) and Tom Fool H. (G2).
War Front did win once going 1 1/16 miles, but that romp occurred around just one turn in the Princelet S. at Belmont Park; after disappointing next time out when sixth in the Discovery H. (G3) over the same track and trip, he reverted to sprinting for the remainder of his career.
Off to a hot start at stud, War Front is already responsible for two Kentucky Derby hopefuls -- Fountain of Youth S. (G2) hero Soldat, who has stayed farther than his sire could, and multiple Grade 2 star The Factor. Having demonstrated track-record setting speed sprinting six furlongs at Santa Anita, The Factor easily dominated over 1 1/16 miles in the Rebel (G2). Other promising progeny include Kentucky Oaks (G1) prospect Summer Soiree, who romped by 10 3/4 lengths in the Bourbonette Oaks; turf stakes winner Great Mills, just run down late in the Transylvania S. (G3); Data Link, a three-time winner routing on turf; and Group 3-placed Irish stakes winner Warning Flag.
Soldat is the first foal from the unraced Le Relais, a daughter of the versatile Coronado's Quest, who captured major races from sprint distances up to the 1 1/4-mile Travers S. (G1). By champion and 1988 Derby runner-up Forty Niner, and from the maternal family of the legendary Ruffian, Coronado's Quest had the speed to set a track record in the 6 1/2-furlong Cowdin S. (G2) at Aqueduct, and the stamina to romp just two starts later in the 1 1/8-mile Remsen S. (G2) in his juvenile finale. He continued in the same vein at three over a variety of trips, including the seven-furlong Riva Ridge S. (G2), the 1 1/8-mile Wood Memorial (G2) and Haskell Invitational (G1), and later eked out a photo-finish decision in the Travers.
Coronado's Quest did not have the immediate impact at stud that might have been expected, and he was subsequently exported to Japan. Yet his top performer, nearly $2 million-earner Society Selection, inherited her sire's versatility by winning the prestigious Test S. (G1) at seven furlongs and the 1 1/4-mile Alabama S. (G1). Coronado's Quest might well end up exerting a greater influence as a broodmare sire, for his daughters have produced the likes of Kodiak Kowboy, Canada's champion two-year-old male of 2007 and the United States' champion male sprinter of 2009; Hopeful S. (G1) victor Boys at Tosconova, who was knocked off the Derby trail; Spinaway S. (G1) queen Mani Bhavan; and current Dubai Group 3 winner Mendip, a 6 1/4-length romper in last year's 1 3/16-mile Al Bastakiya.
Le Relais's dam, the multiple Canadian stakes-placed Malbay, had more of a sprinting pedigree. Her best foal was Canadian Grade 3 victress Mulrainy, who won at up to 1 1/16 miles. Further back, this is also the female family of Pine Dance, winner of the 1 3/16-mile American Derby (G2) on turf. Soldat's fourth dam, or great-great-grandmother through the maternal line of descent, was sired by Ole Bob Bowers, whose claim to fame was siring Hall of Famer and fan favorite John Henry.
Soldat's five-generation pedigree features two crosses of Hall of Famer Round Table, one apiece from War Front and Le Relais, and that double-dose of high-class stamina might be asserting itself to temper the speedier elements.
