Expectations high for Zulu
Todd Pletcher has had a quiet start at Gulfstream this year with his 3-year-olds, going 2 for 15 with them in January entering this week’s racing, but he looks poised to make some noise Friday. Pletcher starts Zulu and Prospectus in a first-level allowance for 3-year-olds going seven furlongs that goes as the 10th of 11 races.
Zulu seems likely to go off at less than even-money in the $44,000 race, as he did in winning his only start Dec. 5 at Gulfstream.
A son of Bernardini purchased for $900,000 in March by Stonestreet Farm and principals from Coolmore Stud, Zulu lived up to his 3-5 odds and lofty price tag by spurting to the lead and drawing away to score by two lengths, running six furlongs in 1:10.08 over a “good” track. That time earned him an 81 Beyer Speed Figure, the highest figure among the eight in Friday’s field.
With a long run to the first turn, the outside post also works in Zulu’s favor. From there, jockey John Velazquez can ride him patiently, either letting him take the lead without urging or rating him just off the pace if a horse to his inside is hustled early.
Pletcher’s other entrant, Prospectus, hasn’t run as quickly, with a career-best Beyer of only 64. He won his debut and then managed to rally for third in a six-furlong allowance after a slow start at Gulfstream on Dec. 12. He should appreciate stretching out a furlong in distance.
Key contenders
Zulu (Beyer: 81)
◗ He is related to a pair of multiple stakes winners in Third Chance and Banner Bill.
◗ Sold at Fasig-Tipton’s Florida sale in 2015 after working a furlong in 10.20 seconds.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 8 Zulu. Trainer Todd Pletcher is 43-22-8-1 with a $2.27 ROI over the past five years on dirt at Gulfstream Park in the second career start following a winning debut. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Prospectus (Beyers: 63-51)
◗ He is a son of the Pletcher-trained Uncle Mo, the leading first-crop and 2-year-old sire of 2015.
Cardio Cowboy (Beyer: 71)
◗ He dominated maidens in his debut Dec. 12 at Parx and has trained swiftly since, as he did prior to his first race.
◗ Parx-based jockey Frankie Pennington is in town for the ride.
Decisionsdecisions (Last 3 Beyers: 74-72-55)
◗ Proved an astute claim from a maiden $25,000 race Nov. 5 at Woodbine, winning that day and immediately returning for his new connections to take an optional claimer Nov. 29 late in that meet.
◗ Runs on dirt for the first time after making his three prior starts on Polytrack.
Avast Matey (Beyers: 67-61)
◗ After narrowly missing first out at 45-1 odds in July at Gulfstream, he returned for his second race five months later and took a maiden race by a neck Dec. 19.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 7 Avast Matey. Trainer Ralph Nicks is 26-1-3-4 with a $0.12 ROI over the past two years on dirt with last-out maiden winners. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan