Zulu returns a winner in Tamarac Stakes

Zulu, an exciting Todd Pletcher-trained 3-year-old prospect earlier this year, returned to the races a winner in Sunday’s $60,000 Tamarac Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Zulu, who had not run since finishing 12th as the favorite in the Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland in April, was sent to the sidelines to regroup after that effort. In his return Sunday, the son of Bernardini sat off the pace in the seven-furlong Tamarac before reaching the leaders around the far turn. Ridden by Javier Castellano, the 1-2 favorite moved to the lead at the top of the lane, and drew off to a 2 3/4-length victory over Yellow Chips while being kept to the task by his rider. The win was the 300th of the year for Castellano.

“I’m very excited to do it with this horse,” Castellano said of win No. 300 for 2016. “He was impressive. He’s a really nice horse. I’m glad to see him come back. I’m very satisfied the way he did it today. He’s a very classy horse. I give all the credit to Mr. Pletcher the way he brought him back after a long time.”

At the 2015-16 Championship meet, Zulu showed his affinity for the Gulfstream Park oval by winning the first two starts of his career in easy fashion. In his stakes debut, he finished second to Mohaymen in the Fountain of Youth (G2).

“He has natural speed but he’s not super quick, either. The benefit of drawing outside is you get a little opportunity to let things unfold and let him get his legs up underneath him. I thought when Javier asked him he responded well," said Pletcher, who notched his seventh stakes victory of the young Championship Meet Sunday.

 

Graded stakes-placed Yellow Chips closed from last in the seven-horse field to finish 2 1/2 lengths clear of third-place finisher Fearless Dragon. Zulu, who is owned by Stonestreet Stables Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier and Derrick Smith, ran seven furlongs in 1:22.12.     

 

“Overall I thought it was a good effort. He hadn’t run in eight months so anytime you haven’t been out in a while you hope you have them tight enough and fit enough," Pletcher said. "He had to kind of overcome a little bit of a wide trip, but I think the final time was pretty solid considering. It’ll be interesting to see how the time stacks up on the day but there was a pretty good headwind down the stretch. I thought it was a good effort.”

Pletcher said the $150,000 Hal’s Hope (G3) at Gulfstream Park Jan. 14 looks like a "nice fit" for Zulu.