Spa undercard: Zulu Kingdom, Phileas Fogg, Kingsolver win

Zulu Kingdom rewarded his heavy 2-5 favoritism by overtaking Maui Strong easily at the top of the stretch and surging home a three-quarter-length winner Friday in the Grade 3, $200,000 Manila, a one-mile, inner-turf test for 3-year-olds on day 2 of the July 4 racing festival at Saratoga.

Campaigned by Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, William Strauss and Michael Caruso, Zulu Kingdom moved to 3-for-3 this year and improved to 6-for-7 overall in his career.

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The Ireland-bred son of Ten Sovereigns was scratched out of last Friday’s Penn Mile (G3) and instead returned to the Spa, where he won his stakes debut in August by capturing the With Anticipation (G3) in his second career start.

Zulu Kingdom again displayed a strong turn of foot with jockey Flavien Prat keeping him in second early. Maui Strong led the eight-horse field through an opening quarter-mile in 23.19 seconds, the half in 46.85 seconds and three-quarters in 1:10.44 over firm going.

Near the pacesetter through the far turn, Zulu Kingdom showed great closing speed when straightened for home, pulling away from Maui Strong. Capitol Hill, ridden by Hall of Famer John Velázquez, put in a strong late kick and edged Tiz Dashing by a neck for runner-up honors.

Maui Strong finished fourth with Revolutionnaire, Reagan’s Wit, Mythical Man and Flat to Da Mat completing the finish in that order. Fire Pit, Uncatalyzed, Golden Channel and Strate Cash were scratched.

Zulu Kingdom built on the momentum of a 1 1/4-length win in the American Turf (G1) traveling 1 1/16-miles over good turf on May 3 at Churchill Downs. He defeated Test Score, who would win the Belmont Derby Invitational (G1) on Friday one race after the Manila.

After being bought privately after a maiden score in France at Saint-Cloud for trainer André Fabre in June 2024, Zulu Kingdom was transferred to trainer Chad Brown, who conditioned him to victories in both the With Anticipation and the Pilgrim (G2) at Belmont at the Big A in September.

Zulu Kingdom completed his 2-year-old campaign with a prominent seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf in November at Del Mar, marking the only time he has missed a trip to the winner’s circle.

“With all the scratches, Prat and I decided in the paddock just let him be forward, and go to the lead,” Brown said. “I thought maybe (Maui Strong) on paper would show some speed, which he did, so it was one of those instances where the race really developed how we handicapped it in the paddock. We thought maybe the one would go, if he does, sit next to him, just wait until you turn for home, let him loose, and he did that."

For his Friday win, Zulu Kingdom returned $2.80 on a $2 win wager. He improved his career earnings to $910,387 in nearly securing millionaire status.

“It seemed like there was a bit of speed, but not a ton,” Prat said. “I felt like the turf course was playing quick, and he is quick. When you want to use him, he is there for me.

"I felt really comfortable around the turn, then I squeezed him and he gave me a good run. He doesn't stop, but he always waits on horses, so it looks like someone is coming, but I felt like it was under control.”

Brown said he was happy to have entered Zulu Kingdom in the one-mile Manila rather than trying the 1 1/8-mile Belmont Derby (G1). He said the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (G2), contested at one mile on Aug. 1 at Saratoga, could be the next step.

Phileas Fogg leads all the way in Suburban

Kendrick Carmouche hustled Phileas Fogg from the rail post to the early lead and held the advantage all the way to a head victory over stalking Antiquarian in the $400,000 Suburban (G2), a 1 1/4-mile main-track race for older horses.

Taking the two path through the first turn, Phileas Fogg was kept on a tight rein up the backstretch by Carmouche. He maintained a one-length lead over Antiquarian, who bobbled coming out of post 6 in the field of seven.

The victorious 5-year-old Astern gelding responded to Carmouche’s right-handed crop by opening a three-length passing the quarter pole. By then Phileas Fogg was tiring, and he barely held off Antiquarian, who accelerated when he was urged by John Velázquez.

“The last sixteenth to the wire, I was very, very worried about getting beat, and he almost did,” winning trainer Gustavo Rodríguez said. “Thank God he won for us. We were screaming like you have no idea. We are very happy and blessed.”

Locked, the 9-10 favorite, weakened late but still held third.

The winning time was 2:02.97 after early splits of 23.72, 47.83, 1:11.48 and 1:36.02 on the fast track. Phileas Fogg paid $14.40 for a successful $2 win bet.

Asked about a possible start for Phileas Fogg on Aug. 2 in the Whitney (G1), Rodríguez said, “We don’t know yet. Let’s enjoy the win today. We will see. No plans. Maybe my owner does, but not me.”

Jupiter Stable owns Phileas Fogg, who cost $55,000 at a Keeneland sale in November 2023. Bred in Kentucky by Godolphin out of More Than Ready mare Merino, Phileas Fogg is 18: 9-4-0 with earnings of $736,773.

Kingsolver breaks maiden in Schuylerville

Kingsolver, with Flavien Prat up for trainer Rodolphe Brisset, graduated in style in the listed $150,000 Schuylerville, a six-furlong sprint for six 2-year-old fillies.

Kingsolver entered from a 2 3/4-length fifth on debut in a 5 1/2-furlong, maiden sprint June 11 at Churchill Downs. But the talented dark bay out of Speightstown mare Famous Writer and named for Pulitzer Prize-winning American writer Barbara Kingsolver, was poetry in motion down the lane to score a memorable maiden win.

“We did a canoe trip with Barbara Kingsolver probably 20 years ago. I had just read her book Demon Copperhead right before we bought her. I saw Famous Writer, Kentucky connections, we’ve got to name her Kingsolver,” said Mary Nixon of Storyteller Racing, who campaigns the filly in partnership with Michael Schroeck, Open Gate Horse Ventures, Brian Cahoe, Scott Catlett, Dave Russel, Matthew Ransdell, Michael Motley and Joel Braun.

Kingsolver broke alertly from post 2 and won the battle for the lead through an opening quarter-mile in 22.35 seconds over the fast main track, fending off a trio of rivals up the backstretch. They included Evolution, who bobbled at the break, first-time starter Bay Yaupon and mutuel favorite My Sweetheart, who spurted away from the pack to show the way approaching the turn.

Frankie Dettori-piloted My Sweetheart, a maiden winner on turf, opened up through the turn and established a one-length lead at the stretch call after a half-mile in 46.39 seconds. Kingsolver was a clear and chasing second down the lane and gamely wore down the leader My Sweetheart to win by two lengths with a time of 1:13.17.

My Sweetheart completed the exacta by three lengths over Simone with Miss Magical, Bay Yaupon and Evolution completing the order of finish.

Kingsolver, a $95,000 purchase at the Ocala Breeders’ Sale March auction of 2-year-olds in training, is out of Speightstown mare Famous Writer. Bred in Kentucky by George Krikorian, Kingsolver banked $82,500 in victory while improving her record to 2: 1-0-0. She returned $8.90 for a $2 win bet.