Chilean-bred Mufasa made his North American stakes debut a winning one on Saturday at Aqueduct, taking charge at the top of the stretch and going on to post a 4 1/4-length victory over Scotland in the $250,000 Vosburgh Stakes (G3).
Mufasa. NYRA/Coglianese Photo.
Two spots for Breeders’ Cup weekend secured by Belmont at The Big A winners
The Vosburgh, one of two “Win and You’re In” races at the Big A, earned the 5-year-old son of Practical Joke a fees-paid spot in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) on Nov. 2 at Del Mar.
In the other Breeders’ Cup qualifier, Zulu Kingdom took the lead in deep stretch and held off Noble Confessor by a neck to win the $200,000 Pilgrim (G2) for 2-year-olds on the turf, thus gaining a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1).
Ridden for the first time by Irad Ortiz, Jr., Mufasa tracked Dean Delivers through an opening half-mile in 46.47 over the sloppy and sealed track, then swept wide to grab the lead and glide through the sloppy and sealed stretch to win the 7-furlong contest in 1:22.51.
“We were expecting something big from him,” said trainer Ignacio Correas, IV, who saddled Mufasa to a sixth-place finish at Churchill Downs in his first stateside start and followed that with a victory over multiple graded stakes winner Repo Rocks at Colonial Downs.
“Probably when he ran at Churchill, it was a little short, but he showed he could run, he made a big move that day,” added Correas, who said he would consider both the 6-furlong Sprint and the Dirt Mile for Mufasa.
“Then, at Colonial, he beat a very good horse. Then today he was impressive again. I mean, no words can describe his performance.”
Owned by Carlos Saavedra and Stud Vendaval, Inc., Mufasa extended his record to 10-0-0 from 13 starts, having won eight of 10 in Chile including the Gen. Jose Miguel Carrera V (G3). He returned $5.20 for a $2 win bet and has earned $250,841.
Scotland, who closed from fifth, was 2 ¾ lengths in front of front-runner Dean Delivers. Following him under the wire were Baby Yoda, Seven’s Eleven, and Lord Miles.
Pilgrim Stakes: It’s Zulu Kingdom
Zulu Kingdom doubled his graded stakes wins as he added the Pilgrim to his earlier victory in the With Anticipation (G3), kicking into high gear inside the eighth pole and hitting the wire in 1:48.67 over the yielding outer turf for his third win in as many starts.
Zulu KIngdom. NYRA/Coglianese Photo.
Owned by Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, William Strauss and Michael Caruso, Zulu Kingdom returned $3.70 as the favorite in the field of eight.
“He was great even though he got steadied on the backside,” said trainer Chad Brown, who has now saddled the winners of four Pilgrims. “I was happy to see he handled the soft ground – I wasn’t sure. It looks like a nice setup for the Breeders’ Cup.”
The Irish-bred son of Ten Sovereigns made his debut in France in June while in the barn of Andre Fabre before being purchased privately. Ridden by Joel Rosario in the With Anticipation, he angled in to take the lead near the eighth pole and then held off favored Tenacious Leader to win by a neck.
Noble Confessor finished 4 ½ lengths in front of Early Adapter, who was followed under the sire by Smooth Breeze, Flying Mohawk, Without Caution, Concord Green and Fully Authorized.