Adam Coglianese Photo

Zulu Kingdom surges inside to win G3 With Anticipation

by Christian Abdo

European import Zulu Kingdom surged along the rail to win his stateside debut in Thursday’s Grade 3, $175,000 With Anticipation, a 1 1/16-mile inner turf test for juveniles, at Saratoga Race Course.

Jockey Flavien Prat’s ground-saving trip earned his 15th stakes victory of the meet, equaling the meet record held by Hall of Famer Joel Rosario and Irad Ortiz, Jr., who each won 15 in 2022, while Hall of Famer John Velazquez first set that mark in 2005, according to stats provided by Equibase.

“People have been talking to me about it… I’m very grateful. It’s been a great meet. I’ve been on good horses and they’ve been running well,” said Prat. “It would be amazing to break the record, but if not, at least we tied it, right?”

Prat is slated to ride West Hollywood [Friday, G3 Saranac], Steady On [Sunday, Listed Bernard Baruch], Phileas Fogg [Sunday, Listed Bernard Baruch, MTO], Highland Falls [Sunday, G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup] and Chancer McPatrick [G1 Hopeful] on Closing Day Monday.

Making his first outing for four-time Eclipse Award-winner Chad Brown after a debut win for trainer Andre Fabre in June at Saint-Cloud, the Ten Sovereigns bay exited post 4 alertly and settled into third position behind the Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher-trained pair of Repole Stable color bearers Nudge and Tenacious Leader, who were one-two through an opening quarter-mile in 24.20 seconds on the firm turf.

Nudge held a 1 1/2-length advantage over his Irad Ortiz, Jr.-piloted stablemate through the first turn and into the backside as Zulu Kingdom saved ground along the fence to the inside of European shipper Cavallo Bay through a half-mile in 48.70.

“Most of the time, horses from Europe, they break a tad slow and you quickly find yourself behind. So, I was hoping he could break with the field, which is what he did,” said Prat. “From there, obviously we go into the first turn and you ride behind the speed and you’re on the inside – I thought it was a great [trip].”

Entering the far turn, Tenacious Leader crept up to Nudge and Cavallo Bay loomed large to his outside. Prat was content to continue skimming the rail aboard Zulu Kingdom when the real running began after three-quarters in 1:12.77.

At the top of the lane, Tenacious Leader fought to get by the stubborn pacesetter with Manny Franco asking Cavallo Bay for his best down the center of the course. Tenacious Leader passed Nudge to his outside with one mile covered in 1:35.93, but his lead was temporary as Zulu Kingdom found room along the inside and gained ground rapidly.

Zulu Kingdom’s inside trip crafted by Prat proved to be a masterful one, bringing him to the wire a neck in front of the favored Tenacious Leader in a final time of 1:41.79.

It was three lengths back to Cavallo Bay in third, who edged Nudge by a nose for show-honors. Test Score and Without Caution completed the order of finish. Good Long Cry, Dancing Bear and Reach for the Rose were scratched, along with main track-only entrants Uncaged and Joey Muscles.

Meet-leading trainer Brown, who carried past scores in the event with Balance the Books [2012] and Startup Nation [2014], said it was a superb ride.

“I wasn't really sure if there was enough room in there but he's the one on him and he felt there was and he got through, luckily. He was traveling good the whole way,” said Brown, who won four races on the card, raising his count to 35. “The final piece of confidence I had was in the paddock - the horse just acted super.”

Brown said that a possible next start for Zulu Kingdom is in the Grade 2, $200,000 Pilgrim on September 28 at Belmont at the Big A, offering a "Win and You're In" berth to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.

“I've taken that path before - it's worked. I do think he'd benefit from one more race before the Breeders' Cup if we decide to do that," Brown said regarding the move he successfully completed with Structor in 2019.

Ortiz, Jr. said the Pletcher-conditioned Tenacious Leader was game in his grass bow, made following a second-out off-the-turf graduation traveling one mile on August 10 here.

“I went after him and he never kicked, so I keep riding and then when my horse feel that horse, he fight with that one, but, just missed,” said Ortiz, Jr. “He [Prat] cut the corner there, probably helped him.”

Bred in Ireland by Ecurie Peregrine SAS, Zulu Kingdom is out of the Smart Strike mare Zindziswa, making his second dam the dual group-winner Zinziberine. Campaigned by Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, William Strauss, and Michael Caruso, he banked $96,250 in victory while improving his record to 2-2-0-0 and returning $6.20 for a $2 win bet.

Live racing resumes Friday at Saratoga with a 12-race program that features the Grade 3, $175,000 Saranac [Race 6]. First post is 12:35 p.m. Eastern.

Saratoga Live will present live coverage and analysis of the Saratoga Race Course summer meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule/.

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