Zulu Kingdom looks to rule G3 Pennine Ridge; Nitrogen streaks into G2 Wonder Again

Posted On 03 Jun 2025

Zulu Kingdom looks to rule G3 Pennine Ridge

By Michael Adolphson

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Saturday’s Grade 3 Pennine Ridge, which has been increased in prize money to $300,000 and decreased in distance to 1 1/16 miles for its 2025 renewal, has drawn a field of 10 sophomores to tackle the inner turf test.

Imperious on paper among them is Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, Bill Strauss and Michael Caruso’s Zulu Kingdom, who seeks to give trainer Chad Brown a record fourth victory in a race that has been won by the likes of Divisidero, Oscar Performance and Catholic Boy – all multiple Grade 1 winners – and served as a substantial stepping-stone to the Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational.

Once beaten from six runs, Zulu Kingdom has won four stakes, including the Grade 3 With Anticipation over this distance on Saratoga’s inner turf last August and the Grade 2 Pilgrim in September at Belmont at the Big A. Most recently, he was a smart winner of Churchill Downs’ Grade 1, $1 million American Turf five weeks ago. His lone blemish was a seventh behind Henri Matisse – form franked when the Aidan O’Brien trainee took the French Guineas four weeks ago.

Flavien Prat reunites from the rail post. Brown won the respective 2016, 2019 and 2023 renewals with Camelot Kitten, Demarchelier and Kalik.

“He’s doing good,” Brown said. “He did get a quarter crack a few weeks ago, but it’s come together quicker than I anticipated, which is good. His last work went very well, so he’s a go. He’s always seemed like a Grade 1 horse and I was surprised he got beat in the Breeders’ Cup. I shipped him out West as one of my best chances of the weekend – that’s how much I liked the horse. He has come back this year and kind of picked up right where he left off, as far as my opinion of him.”

Another runner exiting Kentucky Derby Day is Flying Mohawk, who contested the big race for owners Two Eight Racing, Berry Family Racing and Kaleta Racing.

Trained by Whit Beckman, a former assistant to both Chad Brown and Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, the son of Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Karakontie returns to his regularly scheduled trajectory as a proper turf horse after his 18th-place finish. Second in the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks over all-weather and a smart winner of a salty Fair Grounds turf allowance in late January, the dark bay colt has connections assured of a good performance. Frankie Dettori rides from post 4.

“If you take out his last start and look at his turf progression, you have to be optimistic,” Beckman said. “We thought from Day One that he was a quality turf horse, but the Derby is the Derby and you have to take your shot. Outside of that run, he has improved with every effort. I don’t think we have seen how good he’s going to be on the grass just yet. The way he’s been running in all his starts, there’s more there. He doesn’t have a style yet. He’s won from right up off the pace when he broke his maiden and then when he won at the Fair Grounds, he stumbled coming out and collected himself nicely before showing a tremendous turn-of-foot.”

Cherie DeVaux, another former Brown assistant with a burgeoning yard, entered unexposed Constitution colt States’ Rights, who has a pair of allowance seconds this season in as many starts for Belladonna Racing, Twin Brooks Stables, Woodford Racing, B.C.W.T. Ltd., Taylor Creek, Rod Hatfield and Hatfield Stables.

A $350,000 Fasig-Tipton New York Saratoga Select Yearling Sale buy, the Virginia-bred dark bay was second to Flying Mohawk at Fair Grounds two starts back and ships in from Keeneland after a series of smart works, including a 4th-of-57 half-mile drill in 48.20 on May 31. Jose Ortiz, who piloted Oscar Performance in 2017, rides from post 3.

“He’s training very well,” DeVaux said. “He was unlucky at Keeneland with a frustrating stretch run. He’s trained great out of that race, and we had to pivot from the Penn Mile, but this spot suits him well.”

Another contingency-driven entrant from the rained-off Penn Mile is Gary Barber’s three-time Listed stakes winner and American Turf fourth Mi Bago, who breaks from post 7 under three-time Pennine Ridge winner Irad Ortiz Jr. [2016, 2022 and 2023].

Fair Grounds winter form lines also go through CJ Thoroughbreds and Mo Speed Racing’s Tom’s Magic [post 5, Ben Curtis], a one-sided winner of its Black Gold Stakes in March. Entering for the always-capable barn of Mike Stidham, he exits a perplexing no-show when ninth of 12 in the Grade 3 Transylvania. Despite such, the son of Justify has connections’ objective confidence and confident objective pointing north.

“We’re looking to bounce back with him because he didn’t show up at Keeneland and I have a feeling that might have been because he wasn’t happy on that soft course,” Stidham said. “He trained very well before and very well after. Being an Ontario-bred, our goal with him is the King’s Plate and this is a good spot to get him there. It just depends on the weather with him.”

Pletcher, who won the respective 2014, 2021 and 2022 editions with Gala Award, Sainthood and Emmanuel, entered Gulfstream Park maiden winners A. P. Kid [post 2, John Velazquez] and Bulldoze [post 6, Luis Saez], as well as Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf sixth and maiden Noble Confessor [post 9, Dylan Davis]. Noble Confessor is cross-entered in a Friday maiden special weight over the same course and distance.

The field is completed by a pair of last-out maiden winners: Gatsas Stables and R. A. Hill Stable’s George Weaver-trained Golden Channel [post 8, Manny Franco] and Lindy Farms’ Phil Antonacci-trained Thirteen Colonies [post 10, Umberto Rispoli].

Television coverage of Belmont Stakes Day will air across the FOX Sports family of networks beginning at 10:30 a.m. Eastern [FS1] prior to national broadcast coverage on FOX beginning at 2:30 p.m. For the complete Belmont Stakes Racing Festival television schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/belmont-stakes/event-info/tv-schedule/.

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Nitrogen streaks into G2 Wonder Again

BY Keith McCalmont

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – D.J. Stable’s Kentucky homebred Nitrogen will chase millionaire status when she brings a four-race win streak into Saturday’s Grade 2, $300,000 Wonder Again, a 1 1/16-mile inner turf test for sophomore fillies on Belmont Stakes Day, at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by Hall of Famer Mark Casse, the Medaglia d’Oro bay has found a new level this year with four wins in as many starts while running her bankroll to $981,604 through a 7-4-1-2 ledger.

She graduated in style in the Listed Ginger Brew in January at Gulfstream Park and added the Grade 3 Florida Oaks in March at Tampa Bay Downs, the Grade 2 Appalachian in April at Keeneland and the Grade 2 Edgewood on May 2 at Churchill Downs.

Last out, she drew off to win by 3 1/2-lengths in the 1 1/16-mile Edgewood under returning pilot Jose Ortiz with an explosive turn-of-foot when asked.

“She’s beautiful. She’s big and tall. She’s never been much of a workhorse so if you watched her work, you would think she was just average, but when she runs, she explodes when Jose asks her the question,” Casse said.

Casse noted that Ortiz believes Nitrogen, who will exit post 6 carrying a co-field high 123 pounds, has won with plenty in the tank.

“It would appear that way. Jose certainly feels that way,” Casse said.

Although she exited her 2-year-old campaign a maiden after three attempts, she demonstrated her abundant class with a three-quarter length third in the Grade 1 Natalma in September at Woodbine before closing from 12th-of-14 to finish a close third in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in November at Del Mar.

Casse indicated that a good result on Saturday would propel Nitrogen to the nine-furlong Grade 1, $500,000 Belmont Oaks Invitational on July 5 during the four-day July 4 Racing Festival at Saratoga.

Nitrogen, a half-sister to multiple graded stakes-placed Love to Shop, is out of the stakes-placed Uncle Mo mare Tiffany Case – a half-sister to graded stakes-winner Talk Veuve to Me.

Casse also sends out Bessie Abott [post 3, Dylan Davis, 118 pounds], a half-sister to multiple graded stakes-placed Spirit And Glory, who was second to returning rival Al Jafara in her stateside debut in a Keeneland allowance for owners Gary Barber and Team Valor International.

Newstead Stables’ Laurelin [post 8, Kendrick Carmouche, 120 pounds], an Irish-bred chestnut daughter of Zarak, is undefeated in three starts for trainer Graham Motion.

Laurelin has notched all three of her victories with recent recipient of the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award Kendrick Carmouche at the helm at Aqueduct Racetrack, scoring on debut in October traveling 1 1/16-miles. She followed with a victory in the Tepin in November by a half-length over New York-bred Five G, who subsequently won the Cash Run at Gulfstream and later the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks.

Last out, in her April 27 seasonal debut, Laurelin posted a game neck victory over pacesetting returning rival Opulent Restraint in the one-mile Listed Memories of Silver with another returning rival, Virgin Colada, in third.

There, she stalked Opulent Restraint through splits of 23.11, 48.60 and 1:14.05. Into the final turn, Carmouche tipped Laurelin to the outside of Opulent Restraint as a retreating Burner Account drifted in and caused Italian Soiree to steady and bump with the favored Virgin Colada, who had her rally from last stymied.

Opulent Restraint dug in along the rail inside the eighth pole, but Laurelin would not be denied the narrow score in a final time of 1:38.68.

“You can’t fault her record, that’s for sure. She’s done nothing wrong and impressed me every time she’s run—particularly last time,” Motion said. “We have liked her a lot since the day she came to us and she has always been professional. I don’t think I’ve been surprised by any of her races.”

Bred in Ireland by M.H. Dixon and Mount Coote Estates, Laurelin was a $169,488 purchase from Book 1 of the 2023 Goffs Orby Yearling Sale and is out of the winning Cape Cross mare Bari, making her a half-sister to Irish stakes-winner Maude Gonne Spirit.

Five-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown will send out a formidable trio in Opulent Restraint [post 5, Irad Ortiz, Jr., 120 pounds], Virgin Colada [post 4, Joel Rosario, 118 pounds] and Al Jafara [post 1, Flavien Prat, 118 pounds] as he looks for a record-extending seventh win in this event following past success with Lady Eli [2015], New Money Honey [2017], Cambier Parc [2019], Consumer Spending [2022], Prerequisite [2023] and Segesta [2024].

Stephanie Seymour Brant’s Opulent Restraint, by Dubawi, captured the Listed Chelsey Flower by a nose traveling 1 1/16-miles in October at Belmont at the Big A. She was a 5 1/4-length fourth to Nitrogen in the Florida Oaks in her seasonal debut ahead of her game Memories of Silver try.

“A nice filly. Headstrong, but solid,” Brown said, as he pursues a fourth consecutive Wonder Again.

Opulent Restraint is out of the multiple graded stakes-winning dam Significant Form was second in this event in 2018 for the same connections.

Resolute Racing’s Virgin Colada, by More Than Ready, graduated at first asking in July at the Spa with a rallying half-length score. She was subsequently second in both the Listed P. G. Johnson at Saratoga and Grade 2 Miss Grillo at Belmont at the Big A before a troubled off-the-board effort in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in November at Del Mar.

She will look to get a clean run after traffic trouble last out in her seasonal debut in the Memories of Silver.

“She had a lot of trouble turning for home,” Brown said.

Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb and Richard Schermerhorn’s Al Jafara was a stylish winner of her stateside debut, closing from last-of-12 and seven lengths off the pace to win the aforementioned 1 1/16-mile allowance on April 12 over good Keeneland turf by 1 3/4-lengths over returning rival Bessie Abott.

“She was kind of a little further behind than I thought she would be, but she sure kicked on Keeneland’s turf. Hopefully, she takes to the Saratoga turf,” Brown said.

The Pinatubo chestnut made her first two starts in France for trainer Hedi Ghabri, including a maiden win at second asking in September traveling nine furlongs at Chantilly.

The $270,611 purchase from the Arqana Saint-Cloud sale is out of the Fastnet Rock mare Predawn, a full-sister to Group 1-winner Qualify and Group 2-placed Shogun.

KatieRich Stables’ May Day Ready [post 2, Frankie Dettori, 123 pounds] won the Grade 2 Jessamine last year at Keeneland en route to a runner-up effort in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar.

Trained by Joe Lee, the Tapit bay completed her campaign with an off-the-board effort in the Group 1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies at Kyoto in Japan.

May Day Ready has worked steadily over the Keeneland dirt for her seasonal debut, including a half-mile breeze in 48.80 on May 25.

The $325,000 purchase at the OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training is out of the Group 3-winning More Than Ready mare Nemoralia, who was second in the 2015 Grade 1 Frizette and third in the 2015 Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

A talented group also includes trainer Rusty Arnold’s recent maiden winner Love You Anyway [post 7, Luis Saez, 118 pounds], a $450,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase for Bregman Family Racing out of the Grade 3 winning Quality Road mare Princess La Quinta.

The Wonder Again is slated as Race 6 on Saturday’s 14-race card, headlined by the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets in Race 13. Other Grade 1 action includes the Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap [Race 8] – a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile; the Jaipur [Race 9], a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint; the Woody Stephens presented by Mohegan Sun [Race 11], and Resorts World Casino Manhattan [Race 12].

The stacked card adds the Grade 3 True North [Race 7] and the Grade 3 Pennine Ridge [Race 10]. First post is 10:45 a.m. and admission gates will open to the public at 9 a.m.

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