Multiple G1 placed Soldier Rising headlines overflow field for G2 Red Smith
At 11h16, on November 11, 2023 • By AQUEDUCT
Trainer Christophe Clement is hopeful that third time will be the charm with multiple Grade 1-placed millionaire Soldier Rising as he makes his third straight start in the Grade 2, $300,000 Red Smith for 3-year-olds and upward going 11 furlongs over the inner turf at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Owned by Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, Morris Bailey, and Michael J. Caruso, Soldier Rising finished a respective third [2021] and ninth [2022] in the past two runnings of the Red Smith. This year, the 5-year-old Frankel gelding has finished a late-rallying second in four Grade 1 turf events on the circuit, completing the exacta in the Grade 1 Man o’ War in May and the Grade 1 Resorts World Casino Manhattan in June, as well as the Grade 1 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer in August at Saratoga Race Course and the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont at the Big A.
Although he has yet to win a stake since joining Clement’s stable in the summer of 2021, Soldier Rising was a two-time allowance optional claiming winner in the NYRA circuit last year. Two starts after a win going the Red Smith distance over a yielding Widener turf course at Belmont, he came from seven lengths off the pace to win by a head going 1 3/16 miles at Saratoga.
“He’s doing great. He’s finished second in four Grade 1 races in New York this year, so it would be nice to finally win a race at some stage,” said Clement, a two-time Red Smith winning trainer. “I don’t think anyone has been more consistent this year than him in the New York turf division.”
Jose Ortiz, the pilot aboard Solider Rising in 10 of his starts, will have the mount from post 8.
