The Kentucky Derby meet’s American Turf Stakes winner Zulu Kingdom looks one of the best milers on grass of her generation, and can prove it with victory in the $400,000 Grade II National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on Friday, August 1.
A three-year-old filly by top Irish sprinter Ten Sovereigns, she returns to the Spa track in Upstate New York despite a penalty for her Churchill Downs success. The American Turf is a key part of the schedule for the Kentucky Derby day undercard with a prize purse of about $925,000.
Zulu Kingdom beat subsequent Belmont Derby winner Test Score in the 1,700m Grade I contest on May 3 by over a length, so that advertised her form from Churchill Downs. She’s also in the perfect hands for Saratoga as trainer Chad Brown has won the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes there six times over the last decade.
He has seven successes in this in total and another victory will give the barn the outright record, currently tied with Bill Mott. Zulu Kingdom meets the re-opposing third and fourth from her prep race, Barclay Tagg runner Tiz Dashing and Dale Romans’ Maui Strong, off the same terms as when landing the Grade III Manila Stakes at the Spa earlier in Saratoga’s summer meet.
Another familiar rival for her here is American Turf fourth Mi Bago from the Mark Casse barn. Zulu Kingdom gives weight to all but one of her eight rivals in this field of nine, but the participation of fellow topweight McAfee depends on the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes being switched to the main track from the inner turf.
Transatlantic Raider Luther an Interesting Opponent
After placing and showing in Grade IIIs like the Peter Pan Stakes and Ohio Derby, Richard Dutrow’s Cloud Computing colt would probably be the one who could give the filly most to think about. With his spot uncertain, UK runner Luther finished a similar distance behind Test Score in the Belmont Derby than Zulu Kingdom beat that one in the American Turf.
Charlie Fellowes’ son of Frankel just missed the show in the French 2000 Guineas in the spring. He passed the Longchamp wire a short-neck behind French Derby hero Camille Pissarro in Paris. Luther’s Listed victory at Haydock Park in England as a juvenile also reads well as he beat subsequent Group 2 Prix de Malleret heroine Qilin Queen, conceding 5lb to the filly.
Returning to a mile in the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes looks a smart play. Whether Luther, home in front of re-opposing rival Tank last time, has enough speed to hang with Zulu Kingdom is another matter, but the others have it to do to beat her.
Steve Asmussen’s Clever Again wasn’t good enough for the Triple Crown trail as he finished last in the Preakness Stakes. This American Pharoah colt was way behind McAfee in the Ohio Derby, so must bounce back from a couple of poor performances. Penn Mile third Out On Bail finished ahead of Mi Bago last time for Michael Maker and won at the Spa twice as a juvenile, so could surprise a few.
Based on Morning Line odds, he’s a longshot with Kentucky Derby betting sites for the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes, but don’t discount that good course record. Zulu Kingdom is in that unusual position for fillies conceding weight to the boys, but plenty suggests she can do so again.
National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes Post Positions Draw & Morning Line Odds
- Mi Bago (122lbs) – 8-1
- Luther (120lbs) 3-1
- Tiz Dashing (120lbs) – 15-1
- Maui Strong (120lbs) – 12-1
- Clever Again (122lbs) – 6-1
- Out On Bail (120lbs) – 15-1
- Zulu Kingdom (124lbs) – 6-5
- Tank (122lbs) – 8-1
- McAfee (124lbs) – Evs fav [MAIN TRACK ONLY]
Our Handicapper’s Verdict – Bet Zulu Kingdom Or Not?
It looks a good opportunity for Zulu Kingdom to complete her hat-trick in graded races over a mile. The home team doesn’t offer much in the way of opposition and she’s already won at higher level, and over course and distance. Her barn’s superb recent record mean there’s no holes in her profile and handicappers should have her favorite.
On the pick of his European form, Luther could go well under Joel Rosario. Having won over a mile as a juvenile, however, there is a question mark about whether he would better over further. At bigger forecast prices, Out On Bail finished ahead of Mi Bago off level weights last time and now receives 2lb, so he should confirm Penn Mile form and could spring a shock by making the show again.
WATCH: Zulu Kingdom Win the American Turf Stakes on Kentucky Derby Day
