Zulu Kingdom books ticket to Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf with Pilgrim win

Zulu Kingdom earned a berth into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf on Saturday, when he ran down the leaders in the stretch for a neck win over Noble Confessor in the Grade 2, $200,000 Pilgrim at the Belmont at Aqueduct meet. It was another 4 1/2 lengths back in third to Early Adopter.

Joel Rosario was aboard Zulu Kingdom, one of two stakes winners he had on the card. He guided Far Bridge to victory in the Grade 1, $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic.

Zulu Kingdom ($3.20) is now 3 for 3. He won his debut at Saint-Cloud in France, then captured the Grade 3 With Anticipation at Saratoga ahead of his win in the Pilgrim, which was a Win and You’re In qualifier for the BC Juvenile Turf on Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

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Zulu Kingdom raced in fifth early on as Flying Mohawk led the 1 1/16-mile race run over the outer turf that was labeled yielding. The official chart of the race noted that the fractional times were being reviewed due to a timing issue. Zulu Kingdom advanced on the final turn, was swung out into the stretch, and quickened to get to the wire ahead of Noble Confessor, who made a fast-closing bid up the rail. Zulu Kingdom covered the distance in 1:48.67 and notched a 76 Beyer Speed Figure.

"He went on,” winning jockey Joel Rosario told the publicity department at NYRA. “It looked like he was just playing in there, and yeah, just a good effort from him.

“The horse did it the right way. He got the job done nicely, that's the way to do it."

Rosario was aboard for trainer Chad Brown.

"He ran great even though he got steadied on the backside,” Brown told NYRA. “Joel did the right thing covering him up and bided his time. It got a little tight in there. I was happy to see him handle the soft ground - I wasn't sure. It looks like a nice setup for the Breeders' Cup.

“He's always struck me as a horse that might be even better at a mile with more pace. He's been able to get the job done the last two starts with two good rides and he keeps moving forward. I think we'll see the best of him at a flat mile.”

Early Adopter, a stablemate of Zulu Kingdom’s, was forced to check during the stretch run and came on again to save third in a photo.

“I was really proud of him the way he kicked on again after that happened,” Brown told NYRA of Early Adopter. “For a lightly raced 2-year-old, he composed himself and was able to restart again with very little race to go and still get up for third in a three-way photo. It was impressive. The horse has a lot of heart. He's not a very big horse, but he's a nice horse.”

Brown said it’s to be determined whether Early Adopter will also advance to the Breeders’ Cup.

Zulu Kingdom is a son of Ten Sovereigns who races for the partnership of Madaket Stable, Michael Dubb, William Strauss, and Michael Caruso. He has now earned $222,609.

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