Soldat wires field in Gulfstream slop

Grade 3 winner Soldat, runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G2) in November at Churchill Downs, opened his sophomore campaign with an impressive victory in a 1 1/8-mile allowance race on Friday at Gulfstream Park.

The dark bay or brown War Front colt set all the pace under jockey Alan Garcia and drew off with ease, turning a two-length lead at the top of the stretch into a 10¾-length victory, his second from six career starts.

Trained by Kiaran McLaughlin for Harvey Clarke and Craig Robertson III, Soldat, sent off as the 6-to-5 favorite, covered the distance in 1:49.22 on a sloppy track.

Cool Blue Red Hot finished second, 1¾ lengths in front of third-place Beamer. Todd Pletcher’s debut maiden winners Lauburu and Financial Empire, finished fifth and sixth, respectively, in their second career starts.