Zulu Pointed Toward Gulfstream Park Handicap

The Todd Pletcher-trained Zulu, who made a striking comeback in the Tamarac Stakes at Gulfstream Park Dec. 18, is being pointed to the $350,000 Gulfstream Park Handicap (G2) Feb. 11.

The 4-year-old son of Bernardini, who came off a an eight-month layoff to capture the seven-furlong Tamarac by 2 ¾ lengths, breezed an easy half-mile in 51.80 seconds at Palm Beach Downs Friday.

“We worked him by himself and just went intentionally easy – he’s not going to run until February 11,” Pletcher said. “We let him blow off a little steam, but not too much.”

Zulu, who is 3 for 4 at Gulfstream Park, is typically a high-energy horse, so Pletcher and his crew are always looking to keep the colt settled.

“Picking his head up has not been an issue; we kind of work on chilling him out,” he said. “He tends to get a little excited. We usually ship him over early and paddock school and those things. I thought he handled things really well in the Tamarac, but he’s always excited to go at it.”

The Gulfstream Park Handicap will be run at one mile on the dirt.

Also on the work tab for Pletcher at Palm Beach Downs on Friday was Theory, who was working for the first time since finishing 10th in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1). The 

After the race, it was discovered Theory, who won the Futurity Stakes (G3) in his second start after breaking his maiden at first asking, was sick.

“Just getting him back in the groove – an easy three-eighths to try to put him on a weekly work schedule and see where he lands,” Pletcher said. “[The Breeders’ Cup] was a disappointing effort, but the following morning he had a 103 (-degree) temperature and ended up having a pretty significant lung infection. We had to leave him in California for almost four weeks before we could ship him back. He had a legitimate excuse, but it was bad timing.”

Source: Gulfstream Park