King Zachary romps to record-setting Birdstone victory

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Thanks to a failed turf experiment one week earlier and a supplemental nomination, King Zachary wound up running in Thursday’s $100,000 Birdstone at Saratoga and he dominated the field, winning off by 8 1/2 widening lengths over Marconi while also breaking the 1 3/4-mile track record that has stood for nearly 90 years.

The farthest distance at which King Zachary had competed prior to the Birdstone was 1 1/4 miles in the 2018 Travers when he finished a late-running fourth behind Catholic Boy. A 4-year-old son of Curlin, King Zachary joined trainer Graham Motion’s barn earlier this year and had been winless in three starts that included a seventh- and last-place finish going 1 3/16 miles in his turf debut here last Wednesday.

So, as a bit of a last resort, Motion decided to keep King Zachary around for another week, supplement him to the Birdstone, and see if running three turns was what he really wanted to do.

With John Velazquez aboard once again, King Zachary bided his time in midpack for over a mile while kept within easy range of the pacesetting Marconi. King Zachary commenced his bid leaving the half-mile pole the second time, engaged Marconi midway on the final bend, readily shook that one off upon settling into the stretch and with Velazquez peeking back at the competition near midstretch, steadily increased his advantage to the end.

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Marconi controlled the race from the outset through moderate fractions but proved no match for the winner while easily holding off the slow-starting, even-money favorite Rockety by 1 3/4 lengths to be second-best. It was a long, long way back to the others – 19 1/2 lengths separated Rocketry and fourth-place finisher Patch.

King Zachary completed 14 furlongs over the fast track in 2:52.97 seconds, shattering the old mark of 2:55 set by Reigh Count on Sept. 1, 1928. He paid $18.80.

The Birdstone was the third win of the day for Motion, who sent out Empressof the Nile to capture an allowance race here 30 minutes earlier and first-time starter King of Egypt to win a maiden special weight turf dash in the fifth race at Laurel.

“I had this race in mind because I thought this was what he wanted to do, but I also wanted to get him on the grass and that failed,” said Motion. “We kept him up here, and thought if he was doing well we’d take a shot in this race. There are just not that many opportunities to do this, and I was glad he proved me right. I told Johnny in the paddock 'If this isn’t what he wants to do, I don’t know, because he’s such a beautiful animal. There’s no doubt he has plenty of talent.'”

Motion said he was proud of the fact his horse not only broke but actually shattered such a longstanding track record.

“A track record since 1928, even though they don’t write the race very often, it’s certainly impressive for him to be able to do that. And the way he was able to do it. When Johnny looked back under his leg, I knew he had a lot of horse,” said Motion.