It’s too soon to say what the first part of 2026 holds for Magnitude, but whatever race comes into focus for the 3-year-old colt, preparations for it will happen in New Orleans.
Magnitude heads to Fair Grounds after beating the Dubai World Cup-winning 5-year-old Hit Show in the Grade 2, $600,000 Clark Stakes on Nov. 28 at Churchill Downs. Magnitude earned a 101 Beyer Speed Figure – raised from an initial 100 – after running 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.69 and beating Hit Show by a half-length.
Hit Show had a head on 3-year-old Chunk of Gold, who set a strong pace but had plenty of fight when Magnitude and jockey Jose Ortiz came to him at the three-furlong marker, going at the eventual winner tooth and nail before Chunk of Gold succumbed in the final half-furlong.
Steve Asmussen, who trains Magnitude for Ron Winchell’s Winchell Thoroughbreds, said that watching the race live, he was surprised seeing Magnitude tackle Chunk of Gold well before the homestretch.
“After the fact, thank goodness he did,” Asmussen said. “Jose could tell how much horse [Junior Alvarado on Chunk of Gold] had left.”
While Hit Show ate into Magnitude’s lead in the late stages, Ortiz told Asmussen that his mount pushed forward when he heard Hit Show closing ground.
Regardless of how he went about it, Magnitude became the first 3-year-old Clark winner since 2016, when Asmussen and Winchell won the race with Gun Runner, who went on to be Horse of the Year in 2017. In February, Magnitude delivered a “wow” performance romping in the Risen Star Stakes, but he came out of the race injured. A distant third in the Travers, he finished an improved second behind Baeza in the Pennsylvania Derby before notching his fifth win from 11 starts in the Clark.
Asmussen said Magnitude will get a couple easy weeks before connections form a specific plan. Obvious potential targets include the Pegasus World Cup in January and the Saudi Cup in February.
Soldier N Diplomat, who set a solid pace and tired to third Saturday making his two-turn debut in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes, also will be stabled at Fair Grounds. Asmussen said he’s inclined to keep Soldier N Diplomat in route races early next year.
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