Dragoon Guard (USA)

Dragoon Guard debuted in September of his two-year-old season at Churchill Downs, registering a second-place finish to future stakes winner Otto The Conqueror. He broke his maiden at Keeneland on his next start in April 2024, again over seven furlongs. He returned to Churchill Downs in June and chalked up another win, this time over a mile, by a three and three-quarter length winning margin.

His next start saw him line up against Gr.1 Santa Anita Derby winner Stronghold in the Gr.3 Indiana Derby over eight and a half furlongs at Horseshoe Indianapolis. He broke well and led his rivals into the first turn and stayed firmly in front as they hit the home stretch. A burst of acceleration saw him pull away from the field and he reached the line with a comfortable two and a half lengths in hand.

Trainer Brad Cox commented: “He ran well. I thought [jockey] Florent [Geroux] did a good job of getting him away and getting him involved and taking control of the race. Look, based off pedigree and his physical, he's bred to be a two-turn, mile-and-an-eighth and farther type horse. He stepped up today in his first start around two turns and ran well.”

His next run saw him victorious in the Grade 3 West Virginia Derby with a gate to wire win where he hit the line with a two and three-quarter length winning margin.

Dragoon Guard is the 14th Graded winner for his late sire Arrogate and is out of Graded winner Filimbi (Mizzen Mast), a daughter of dual Grade 1 winner Flute.