Zulu Kingdom reigns in American Turf

After racing too keenly and lasting by just a neck in the Columbia S. at Tampa Bay Downs, Zulu Kingdom was able to settle better in a stalking role in Saturday’s $924,780 American Turf (G1). That proved his key to victory on Kentucky Derby Day under the Twin Spires at Churchill Downs.

Trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Flavien Prat, the 2.17-1 favorite let speed merchant Mi Bago go to the lead. But it also helped that Golden Afternoon advanced on the outside to give Zulu Kingdom cover. With Warlander likewise handy on the inside, Zulu Kingdom was switched off in a cozy fourth through the opening stages.

Mi Bago was in his element carving out splits of :23.57 and :47.76 on the good turf course, and he began to spurt away by the six-furlong mark in 1:11.97. Zulu Kingdom set off in pursuit, quickly emerging as the only danger to the pacesetter.

The further they went down the stretch, the more momentum Zulu Kingdom gained, until he finally overhauled Mi Bago. The European import pulled 1 1/4 lengths clear while finishing 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.64.

Test Score rallied furiously on the inside, and New Century came from far out of it, to relegate Mi Bago to fourth. In their battle for second, Test Score edged New Century by a nose.

Mi Bago rounded out the superfecta another half-length back, followed by Giocoso, Iron Man Cal, Scipio, Maui Strong, Golden Afternoon, Maximum Promise, Megalodon, Hammerhead, Classic of Course, and Warlander. Charlie’s to Blame was a vet scratch, and also-eligibles A. P. Kid, Discreet Dancer, and Spirit Rags were also withdrawn. 

Campaigned by Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, William Strauss, and Michael J. Caruso, Zulu Kingdom improved his record to 5-for-6 with $800,338 in earnings. His lone loss was a seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) at Del Mar. But on Saturday, he reversed the form with Breeders’ Cup runner-up Iron Man Cal and fourth-placer New Century.

Zulu Kingdom was bred in Ireland by Mrs. Andre Fabre’s Ecurie Peregrine SAS. The Ten Sovereigns ridgling was a smart debut winner for Fabre at Saint-Cloud, attracting the attention of stateside interests. Privately acquired and transferred to Brown, he scored narrowly in both the With Anticipation (G3) and Pilgrim (G2) to book his Juvenile Turf ticket. He rebounded in his March 8 reappearance in the Columbia.

A half-brother to French stakes scorer Zulu Warrior, Zulu Kingdom is out of the Smart Strike mare Zindziswa, who is herself a full sister to Group 3 winner Zanzibari. Zulu Kingdom’s second dam is Group 2 vixen and prolific producer Zinziberine.