Fountain of Youth winner Soldat to return to grass in Virginia Derby

Soldat, the winner of the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth who finished 11th in the Kentucky Derby, will return to the grass and make his next start in the $600,000 Virginia Derby on July 16, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said Thursday.

As a 2-year-old, Soldat made three starts on turf, winning the Grade 3 With Anticipation at Saratoga as a maiden before running second in both the Pilgrim Stakes at Belmont and second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.

Transferred to the turf for his 3-year-old season, Soldat won an allowance race by 10 lengths and the Fountain of Youth by two before running fifth in the Florida Derby and 11th in the Kentucky Derby.

"We had a great trip, he broke well, was sitting perfect, he just didn’t fire," McLaughlin said about the Kentucky Derby. "We thought he’s probably best to back to the turf."