2nd-Saratoga, $100,000, Msw, 7-26, 2yo, 6f, 1:11.87, ft, neck.
SOLDIER N DIPLOMAT (c, 2, Army Mule–Diplomatic Miss, by Violence) had his fair share of admirers at this year's OBS March Sale, ultimately hammering to St. Elias for $950,000 after gliding over the synthetic track in :10 flat (see below) during his under-tack preview. Having logged five breezes at Keeneland at the back end of the spring, he trained forwardly once transferred to the Spa in late June and was duly dispatched as the 9-10 chalk in a field of eight first-time starters.
Off only fairly from his low gate, the Feb. 15 foal was hustled along and settled in a stalking third as Vino Vici (Vino Rosso) made play through an opening quarter in :22.19. Tracking the leading pair around the turn, Soldier N Diplomat confronted Vino Vici approaching the eighth pole, edged clear and found the wire narrowly best. Accost (Maclean's Music) was one of the first to break the line, sat a midfield trip and was getting to the winner at the finish.
St. Elias campaigned Army Mule, himself an $825,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic juvenile, to three wins from as many starts, capped by a victory in the GI Carter Handicap (114 Beyer). Machmer Hall purchased Diplomatic Miss, a daughter of four-time graded winner and four-times Grade I-placed Miraculous Miss (Mr. Greeley), for just $45,000 at the 2019 Keeneland January Sale. The mare is also represented by a yearling Authentic filly that has been entered for Keeneland September. Sales history: $950,000 2yo '25 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $55,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-St Elias Stable; B-Machmer Hall (KY); T-Steven M Asmussen.
Soldier N Diplomat hangs on to win R2 at Saratoga and break his maiden on debut! 💪
Steve Asmussen trains and @jose93_ortiz was aboard. pic.twitter.com/JKXUSoGw7S
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) July 26, 2025
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