Zulu hopes to hop on the 2016 Kentucky Derby Trail

Florida’s road to the 2016 Kentucky Derby begins on Saturday with two $100,000 stakes for three-year-olds. The Grade 3 Hutcheson at six furlongs, and the Mucho Macho Man, at a flat mile, headline a five-stakes afternoon at Gulfstream Park, and both should attract a number of newly turned sophomores with Derby aspirations. Among the most interesting, is a son of Bernardini from the Todd Pletcher barn. He’s only run once so far, but Zulu certainly made a stylish impression back on December 5. He’s nominated to both stakes on Saturday, with the Mucho Macho Man, being the more likely of the two.

It was opening day of Gulfstream Park’s championship meet where the bay colt owned by the power conglomerate of Stonestreet Stables, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith was first made known to the general public. A six furlong maiden special weight on the main track was the occasion, and Zulu (Bernardini--Temporada, by Summer Squall) made the most of his first impression. Classically bred, the Todd Pletcher trainee was bet down to 3-5 for his unveiling, but the race turned out to be more than a formality.

Made the overwhelming favorite in the field of nine thanks to a long list of ever faster workouts at Palm Beach Downs, Zulu broke well and moved to the inside under the guidance of John Velazquez. Making his way right to the lead, he zipped through early fractions of :22.35 and :45.18, but was not alone. Another first time starter, Sharp Azteca hounded Zulu around the far turn and into the stretch.

The pair went at it through a fast five furlongs in :57.33, before Zulu finally put his rival away. It was especially impressive considering that Sharp Azteca had Zulu pinned down on the rail for the entirety of their duel. In the end, it did not matter, though, as Zulu ultimately showed his class. On the wire, he was two lengths to the good, with no one else in the field closer than 7 ½ back. The final time of 1:10.08, underscored the impressive performance on a track labeled as “good”.

A $400,000 yearling purchase at Keeneland, Zulu was later sold for $900,000 as a two-year-old in training. With grandsires like Belmont Stakes winner A.P. Indy, and Preakness winner Summer Squall, the sharp debut winner would seem to be a solid candidate to stretch out in distance all the way to the ten-furlongs of the Kentucky Derby. Given the sharp quality of his first race, you can see why I am very interested in seeing his second race, and his first try in stakes company.

For his trainer Todd Pletcher, not only may Zulu give him a head start in search of his third consecutive Florida Derby, having won the last two editions with Constitution and Materiality, but it could also be part of a huge day moving towards the first Saturday in May. The Kentucky Derby winning trainer also is expected to have Prospectus running in one of the Gulfstream stakes, as well as Donegal Moon in the Jerome at Aqueduct.