Zulu Kingdom’s win ties Flavien Prat for Saratoga meet record

Europe import Zulu Kingdom surged along the rail to win his stateside debut Thursday in the Grade 3, $175,000 With Anticipation Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile, inner-turf test for 2-year-olds at Saratoga. 

Jockey Flavien Prat’s ground-saving trip earned his 15th stakes victory of the meet, equaling the meet record held by Hall of Famer Joel Rosario and Irad Ortiz Jr., who each won 15 in 2022, and Hall of Famer John Velazquez, who first set that mark in 2005, according to statistics provided by Equibase.

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“People have been talking to me about it,” Prat said. “I’m very grateful. It’s been a great meet. I’ve been on good horses, and they’ve been running well. It would be amazing to break the record, but if not, at least we tied it, right?”

Prat is slated to ride West Hollywood on Friday in the Saranac (G3), Steady On or main-track-only Phileas Fogg in Sunday’s listed Bernard Baruch, Highland Falls on Sunday in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) and Chancer McPatrick on closing day Monday in the Hopeful (G1).

Zulu Kingdom made his first outing for four-time Eclipse Award-winner Chad Brown after a debut win for trainer André Fabre in June at Saint-Cloud, France. The Ten Sovereigns bay exited post 4 alertly Thursday and settled into third position behind the Todd Pletcher-trained pair of Repole Stable color bearers Nudge and Tenacious Leader. They went one-two through an opening quarter-mile in 24.20 seconds on the firm turf. 

Nudge held a 1 1/2-length advantage over his Ortiz-piloted stablemate through the first turn and into the backside. Zulu Kingdom saved ground along the fence to the inside of Europe shipper Cavallo Bay through a half-mile in 48.70 seconds.

“Most of the time horses from Europe, they break a tad slow, and you quickly find yourself behind. So I was hoping he could break with the field, which is what he did,” Prat said. “From there obviously we go into the first turn, and you ride behind the speed, and you’re on the inside. I thought it was a great (trip).”

Entering the far turn Tenacious Leader crept up to Nudge, and Cavallo Bay loomed large to his outside. Prat was content to continue skimming the rail aboard Zulu Kingdom when the real running began after three-quarters of a mile in 1:12.77. 

At the top of the lane Tenacious Leader fought to get by stubborn pacesetter with Manny Franco asking Cavallo Bay for his best down the center of the course. Tenacious Leader passed Nudge to his outside with one mile covered in 1:35.93, but his lead was temporary. Zulu Kingdom found room along the inside and gained ground rapidly. 

Zulu Kingdom’s inside trip crafted by Prat proved to be a masterful one, bringing them to the wire a neck in front of the favored Tenacious Leader with a final time of 1:41.79. 

It was three lengths back to Cavallo Bay in third, who edged Nudge by a nose for show honors. Test Score and Without Caution completed the order of finish. Good Long Cry, Dancing Bear and Reach for the Rose were scratched along with main-track-only entrants Uncaged and Joey Muscles. 

Meet-leading trainer Brown, who carried past scores in the With Anticipation with Balance the Books in 2012 and Startup Nation in 2014, said it was a superb ride. 

“I wasn’t really sure if there was enough room in there, but he’s the one on him, and he felt there was, and he got through, luckily. He was traveling good the whole way,” said Brown, who won four races Thursday, raising his meet-leading count to 35. “The final piece of confidence I had was in the paddock. The horse just acted super.”

Brown said a possible next start for Zulu Kingdom could be in the $200,000 Pilgrim (G2) on Sept. 28 at Belmont at the Big A. The race offers a win-and-you’re-in berth to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf on Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

“I’ve taken that path before. It’s worked. I do think he’d benefit from one more race before the Breeders’ Cup, if we decide to do that,” Brown said regarding the move he successfully completed with Structor in 2019.  

Ortiz said Pletcher-conditioned Tenacious Leader was game in his grass bow, which was made following a second-out, off-the-turf graduation traveling one mile on Aug. 10 at Saratoga. 

“I went after him, and he never kicked, so I keep riding, and then when my horse feels that horse, he fights with that one but just missed,” Ortiz said. “(Prat) cut the corner there. Probably helped him.”

Bred in Ireland by Ecurie Peregrine, Zulu Kingdom is out of the Smart Strike mare Zindziswa. His his second dam is dual group winner Zinziberine.

Campaigned by Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, William Strauss and Michael Caruso, Zulu Kingdom banked $96,250 in victory while improving his record to 2: 2-0-0 and returning $6.20 for a $2 win bet.