Zulu Alpha, Soglio give Maker 1-2 score in W. L. McKnight

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – After giving the riding Ortiz brothers a leg up on both of his runners, trainer Mike Maker swept the top two spots with Zulu Alpha and Soglio in the Grade 3, $200,000 W.L. McKnight, the final stakes prior to the two Pegasus World Cup events Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

Zulu Alpha, getting a comfortable trip from just behind the leaders in the 1 1/2-mile turf race, swept to command under Irad Ortiz Jr. in the final furlong to finish a half-length before Soglio, ridden by Jose Ortiz. The winner paid $6.60 as favorite after finishing in a hand-timed 2:36.80 over a yielding course.

“It’s always nice when you get a result like this,” said Maker, who has been particularly effective in recent years with long-distance turf horses. “Both horses got good rides and ran big races.”

Hunting Horn was along to finish third, another 3 1/2 lengths behind Soglio, with Hunter O’Riley fourth in a field of 13 older horses.

Zulu Alpha, a 6-year-old gelding by Street Cry, now has won two Grade 3 turf marathons since being claimed for $80,000 in September by Michael Hui, the well-traveled owner who was on hand for the race. Hui said he will leave the decision on a next start to Maker, although the March 2 Mac Diarmida and March 30 Pan American are obvious possibilities.

In all, Zulu Alpha has won seven of 22 starts.