Expert Pick of the Week: 2025 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes

Nov 26, 2025 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

Soldier N Diplomat wins at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)

A total of seven very talented two-year-old colts will run in Saturday’s $400,000 Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2) at Churchill Downs. The 1 1/16-mile race on the dirt will serve as a 2026 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series qualifier, with the top five across the wire earning points on a 10-5-3-2-1 structure.

RELATED: Kentucky Derby Power Rankings: Thanksgiving Weekend Approaches [Nov. 24]

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen will saddle two horses in the race, and Soldier N Diplomat is the one that I like the most. The Kentucky-bred juvenile made his first appearance at Saratoga on July 26 and was a debut winner while running six furlongs on the main surface. In his second assignment, which was also contested in upstate New York, he was the leader turning for home in the Hopeful S. (G1) but was empty late in checking in a well-beaten fourth behind soon-to-be champion Ned Toffey.

Soldier N Diplomat was last seen running in an allowance race on this track in his third career run on Oct. 26, and the son of Army Mule dominated his foes by a widening nine lengths even though he was hardly ridden in the stretch. The fact that he came home so swiftly while not being ridden hard tells me that going a bit longer in this race will be to his benefit. Purchased for a whopping $950,000 in March, the horse has registered two morning workouts on this course to prepare for his second race at Churchill Downs. He won’t be on the lead early on Saturday, but the top pick will never be that far back before putting in his best run in the stretch. Tyler Gaffalione will be in the saddle once again.

RELATED: Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Chip Honcho, Mob impress

The well-bred Further Ado turned heads in his third lifetime appearance for top trainer Brad Cox. By 2017 Horse of the Year Gun Runner, the horse ran long for the initial time at Keeneland on Oct. 10 and powered home to a monstrous, 20-length win with Irad Ortiz, Jr. riding. The chestnut colt was bought for $550,000 in April and looks like a star in the making. Following his huge win, Further Ado has recorded four morning workouts on the Churchill track to get ready for his first try with stakes runners. He will be a dangerous foe in a really good field if he shows even minor improvement from his last performance. Irad will ride him again on Saturday.

Expert Pick for the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes

An exacta box with #4 Soldier N Diplomat and #6 Further Ado in the 2025 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes is the Best Bet of the Week.

Wager

• $10 exacta box 4-6

Bonus Play (Golden Rod – Race 11)

• $2 trifecta box 5-6-12

RELATED: Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2 & Sire Wager