A year ago, Spirit of St Louis was sitting good as the dominant figure among the New York-bred turf set. On Saturday, the six-year-old can enhance his credentials to be the leader among all older U.S. turf performers in the $1 million Manhattan (G1) at Saratoga.

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).

While the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) was Saturday’s main event, Festival Day 45 also included four supporting stakes.

The Aidan O’Brien/Ryan Moore tandem completed a Breeders’ Cup Friday double when Henri Matisse exploded late in the Juvenile Turf (G1).

Making his stateside debut for Chad Brown, Zulu Kingdom bravely came through a narrow seam on the rail to edge favored Tenacious Leader in Thursday’s With Anticipation (G3) at Saratoga.