Bemma's Boy upsets stablemate Zulu Alpha in Pan American

Zulu Alpha had ascended to the top of the national turf ranks in recent months for trainer Mike Maker – and it took Maker to demonstrate that yes, the 7-year-old gelding is beatable after all.

In a one-two finish for Maker, it was Bemma’s Boy who caught his heavily favored stablemate, Zulu Alpha, in the final strides of an exciting 59th running of the Grade 2, $200,000 Kitten’s Joy Pan American, part of the Florida Derby undercard Saturday at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

Bemma’s Boy got a ground-saving, perfectly timed ride from Florent Geroux when edging Zulu Alpha, the 7-10 favorite in a field of nine older horses. The winner paid $20.40 after finishing the 1 1/2-mile distance in 2:24.91 over firm turf.

Spooky Channel led much of the way, but with a half-mile to run, Tyler Gaffalione already had late-running Zulu Alpha in a prime spot to strike. Into the stretch, with 37-1 shot Current having overtaken Spooky Channel for a short lead, Zulu Alpha moved alongside Current to challenge, and those two proceeded to duel past the furlong pole and into deep stretch.

In the end, it was Bemma’s Boy who closed strongest to reel them both in. After stalking the pace along the rail through all three turns, Geroux swung his mount out from behind the two dueling leaders to nail Zulu Alpha by a neck, with Current just another head back in third. Channel Cat, the 2-1 second choice, was fourth, while Spooky Channel faded to fifth.

Bemma’s Boy, owned by Paradise Farms Corp., is a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding by Into Mischief. Maker claimed him for $30,000 at Churchill Downs last May and had won two of six subsequent starts with him. The Pan American marks the first stakes win for Bemma’s Boy and directly follows a runner-up finish in the Grade 3 John B. Connally Turf Cup at Sam Houston in late January.

Zulu Alpha was incurring his first defeat in three starts at the 2019-20 Gulfstream championship meet after winning the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf and the Grade 2 Mac Diarmida.

The $2 exacta (2-9) paid $48.40, the $1 trifecta (2-9-4) returned $304.30, and the 10-cent superfecta (2-9-4-1) was worth $64.55.