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Zulu Kingdom tops pair for Chad Brown in G2 Pilgrim

by Mary Eddy

Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, William Strauss and Michael Caruso’s graded stakes-winner Zulu Kingdom leads a duo of strong contenders for four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Pilgrim, a 1 1/16-mile outer turf test for juveniles, at Belmont at the Big A.

The Pilgrim – a “Win and You’re In” for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf on November 1 at Del Mar – is slated as Race 11 and is one of four graded stakes on Saturday’s 12-race card, which also features the Grade 1, $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic in Race 6, the Grade 2, $400,000 Woodward in Race 4, and the Grade 3, $250,000 Vosburgh – a “Win and You’re In” for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint – in Race 9. First post is 12:05 p.m. Eastern.

Zulu Kingdom makes his second start for Brown after a successful stateside debut last out on August 29 in the Grade 3 With Anticipation going Saturday’s distance at Saratoga Race Course. There, he rated in third under Flavien Prat and patiently awaited his cue before pouncing in the final turn and going head-to-head with Tenacious Leader at the top of the lane.

The two battled on gamely down the stretch before Zulu Kingdom proved superior along the inside in the shadow of the wire and prevailed by a neck in a final time of 1:41.79. He earned a field-best 80 Beyer Speed Figure for the victory.

“He got a great trip and he really came through first time in the country for us,” said Brown, who has won this event three times with Noble Tune [2012], Bobby’s Kitten [2013] and Structor [2019]. “I think he’ll move forward from that. He’s very professional and is working very well.”

The Irish-bred Ten Sovereigns bay is undefeated in two starts after beginning his career in France with conditioner Andre Fabre, winning his debut by a comfortable 3 1/2 lengths sprinting seven furlongs in June over soft Saint-Cloud turf.

Bred by Ecurie Peregrine SAS, Zulu Kingdom is out of the Smart Strike mare Zindziswa, with his second dam being the dual group-winner Zinziberine.

Hall of Famer Joel Rosario has the call from post 4.

Brown also sends out the promising debut winner Early Adopter [post 8, Manny Franco] for owner Klaravich Stables on the heels of a determined neck victory on August 31 at the Spa.

The chestnut son of Lope de Vega trained at Monmouth Park throughout the summer before shipping up to Saratoga for his debut, where he stalked the pace in fifth-of-9 early and four lengths off the pace. Franco swung the colt four-wide in the final turn and, despite losing his crop, roused his mount to the narrow victory just in time over Authentic Gallop, completing the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.70. He was awarded a 63 Beyer.

“He came up to Saratoga, shipped from Monmouth, and he took everything in that week,” Brown said. “First time out, for him to get it together and get up in time was good. He’s moved forward.”

Out of the Group 2-winning Dalakhani mare Silk Sari, Early Adopter was purchased for $215,754 from Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. He is a half-brother to Chanderi, the dam of multiple Australian group-winner Zardozi.

Brown added he is pleased with the way both of his talented colts have prepared at Saratoga Race Course for their next test.

“Two forward-moving horses that seem to be progressing,” Brown said. “They’re nice, solid 2-year-olds at the top of this division, I hope.”

Stuart Janney, III’s Kentucky homebred Concord Green [post 5, Dylan Davis] also looks to step up off a strong debut maiden win on August 17 at Saratoga for Hall of Fame conditioner Shug McGaughey.

The War Front bay overcame an awkward start in the 1 1/16-mile maiden over good footing, but was well off the pace in eighth through the first three-quarter miles before making up ground steadily under returning pilot Dylan Davis. He gained with every stride down the lane and found enough late to inch past Davy Crockett and win by three-quarter lengths in a final time of 1:46.22.

Concord Green is out of the winning Arch mare Mata Mua, making him a half-brother to graded stakes-winner Scarlett Sky, winner of the 2021 Grade 3 Transylvania going this distance over the Keeneland turf.

Trainer Whit Beckman is hopeful a last-out second at Kentucky Downs provided Flying Mohawk [post 2, Jose Lezcano] with enough experience to graduate in style in his third career outing Saturday.

Campaigned by Jayson Werth’s Two Eight Racing, Berry Family Racing and Kaleta Racing, the Karakontie dark bay finished an even sixth on debut going this distance in July at Saratoga, but improved greatly last out when contesting a one-mile maiden on September 1 with the addition of blinkers.

There, Flying Mohawk stalked the pace as he did in his debut, but responded kindly when asked for his best by Frankie Dettori in the turn to come within one length of the front. He kept on well to maintain that margin and finish a game second to Warlander, earning a 75 Beyer for the effort.

“He’s doing fantastic,” Beckman said. “The blinkers seemed to sharpen and focus him up. Frankie said it kind of took him a second to get his bearings over that track at Kentucky Downs, but we figure back on a regular oval, he should be pretty sharp. He gained another level of experience and you hope they figure out something else and put it together for the next start.”

A $72,000 purchase at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Flying Mohawk is out of the Twirling Candy mare Bonbons Fleur, a half-sister to multiple graded stakes-winner Change of Control.

Joseph A. Hinkhouse’s New York homebred Smooth Breeze [post 6, Ricardo Santana, Jr.] steps up to open company after a debut win against fellow state-breds on August 30 at the Spa for conditioner Jorge Abreu.

The More Than Ready gray stalked and pounced to the head victory after a bumpy beginning. He tracked 1 1/2 lengths off a moderate pace before taking dead aim at Deemer in the stretch, and closed with every stride to nail his rival at the wire and complete the 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.23.

“He came out of the win at Saratoga in pretty good shape,” Abreu said. “He has been doing everything right.”

Smooth Breeze’s second dam, Trophy Gal, is a half-sister to graded stakes-winner Unbridled Humor, dam of multiple stakes-winner and Grade 3 Vosburgh contender Comedy Town.

Completing the field are maiden-winners Without Caution [post 3, Kendrick Carmouche] for trainer Cherie DeVaux and Fully Authorized [post 7, Samuel Marin] for trainer Michael Dini; as well as the maiden Noble Confessor [post 1, Irad Ortiz, Jr.] for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, who has won the past three runnings of the Pilgrim with Annapolis [2021], Major Dude [2022] and Agate Road [2023].

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