Saratoga Maidens Presented By Keeneland: Winning Always a Thrill, Be It The Stanley Cup Or a Race at Saratoga

[Wandering Eyes]

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – As the 2-year-old colt Soldier N Diplomat (Army Mule) was charging down the stretch at Saratoga Race Course Saturday afternoon, his owner, Vinnie Viola, up in his clubhouse box, was eyeballing him and the finish line at the same time.

“I was holding my breath the whole way down,” Viola said.

Soldier N Diplomat had to hold off a late charge by Accost (MacLean's Music) to win the second race, a $100,000 maiden special event weight for 2-year-olds. At the end of the six furlongs, Soldier N Diplomat, trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, had won the race by a neck.

Viola owns St. Elias Stable with his wife Teresa. He is no stranger to success in sports. Last month, the Florida Panthers, owned by Viola, won their second straight Stanley Cup, beating the Edmonton Oilers in six games.

If Soldier N Diplomat's rousing victory in his first start reminded Viola of Panthers star Sam Bennett scoring a breakaway goal, he wasn't saying. But the rush of victory at the Spa in front of a packed house was just as sweet to Viola as a Panther victory at a sold-out Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, FL.

“The physical sensation is a little different,” Viola said in the winner's circle. “When you win a horse race, you kind of get to exhale. When the hockey game is over, you inhale.”

Ridden by Jose Ortiz, Soldier N Diplomat began separating himself in deep stretch and Viola began feeling good. Then, Accost and jockey Manny Franco began to rally for trainer Chad Brown and the result was certainly in doubt.

“When he took the lead around the sixteenth pole, I started to lean in, thinking he was going to widen,” Viola said. “When I saw the other horse coming, I started to lean back …”

No worries, Ortiz had it the whole way.

Viola paid $950,000 for the colt and a major reason he did it was on the advice of ace bloodstock agent Steve Young. Army Mule, who Viola also campaigned, carries a soft spot in the owner's heart. He ranks him at the top of the list of horses he has owned even though he only raced three times.

He won them all by a combined margin of 22 1/4 lengths, the last being a 61/4-length win in the GI Carter Handicap in April of 2018. He was retired late that year because of a knee injury, one that cost him most of his 2-year-old season.

Young found Soldier N Diplomat at this year's OBS March Sale.

“Steve called me and said, 'Vin, this is a stamp of Army Mule,” Viola said. “We looked at him and thought he looked just like his dad.”

All eight of the runners in the race were making their career debuts.

Soldier N Diplomat had showed promise in the mornings and Ortiz had worked him. Mornings and afternoons are two different things.

“He relaxed well, which helped us a lot and he punched home nicely,” Ortiz said. “They are babies, you never know. Sometimes, they work good in the morning, but you never know until you get out here.”

Soldier N Diplomat ran the six furlongs in 1:11.87 and paid $3.90, $2.80 and $2.10.

“He has trained terrific,” Young said. “He is one those horses that trains with such action and mechanics that shows he has got more in the tank.”

Viola wasn't sure what is next for his budding star, but the GI Hopeful Stakes at the end of the Saratoga meet was heard in the winner's circle.

Viola said he has a “few more” Army Mules in his possession, but Soldier N Diplomat is his best.

“This is just a real blessing,” Viola, who probably said the same thing at the end of the NHL playoffs, said as the Saratoga winner's circle emptied out.

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