The $200,000 Pilgrim Stakes (G2), a 1 1/16-mile grass race at Aqueduct, is part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series, so Saturday’s winner gets a free ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) on Nov. 1 at Del Mar.
For the most part the Juvenile Turf has been an ATM for European horses, who won 12 of its 17 runnings, including the past three. Yet there were three colts who hit the Pilgrim-Juvenile Turf double – Fire At Will (2020), Structor (2019) and Oscar Performance (2016). So maybe one of the inexperienced runners in this Pilgrim can give America a fourth Juvenile Turf trophy.
It won’t be easy to beat shippers trained by Ireland’s Aidan O’Brien and England’s Charlie Appleby, who have nine victories between them. O’Brien (six) swept the last two years and Appleby won in 2021.
Zulu Kingdom. Coglianese Photo.
Irish-bred and America-based Zulu Kingdom represents America’s best home to win the Pilgrim
Trainer Chad Brown, longtime king of America’s grass stakes, has dominated the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1), winning six of 16 runnings, but Structor is his only Juvenile Turf winner. This time he’ll send 8-5 favorite Zulu Kingdom and second-time starter Early Adopter (6-1, who surged late to break his maiden at Saratoga.
The Irish-bred Zulu Kingdom was impressive in his United States debut after winning first time out in a listed race in France. He took the With Anticipation (G3) at Saratoga by a neck, rallying inside for Flavien Prat while zipping the final three-sixteenths of a mile in 29 seconds.
“He got a great trip and really came through first time in the country for us,” Brown told nyra.com publicity. “I think he’ll move forward from that. He’s very professional and working very well.”
Breaking Down the Race: Speed Analysis and Top Contenders for Betting Insights
The Zulu Kingdom is the field’s only stakes winner, and six of his seven rivals haven’t run in one. Without Caution, Concord Green, Smooth Breeze and Fully Authorized each has a grass win, but maiden Flying Mohawk (6-1) appears more interesting. He showed a decent late kick in two turf starts, particularly the last-out second at Kentucky Downs.
Joel Rosario gets on Zulu Kingdom because Prat will be at Santa Anita to ride multiple-stakes winner National Treasure in the California Crown Stakes (G1).
Like many of Brown’s 2-year-olds, Early Adopter was able to overcome a slow pace (:48 3/5, 1:13 3/5) and rally for the win. “He came up to Saratoga from Monmouth,” Brown said. “First time out, for him to get it together and get up in time was good.”
For those who bet horse racing, there isn’t much early speed in the race. Expect first-time turfer Noble Confessor, a maiden who tracked a hot pace in his debut, to lead from the rail under Irad Ortiz, Jr. Zulu Kingdom should track from second or third, with Early Adopter near the back. Zulu Kingdom moves in upper stretch, passes pacesetter Noble Confessor and wins, with Early Adopter getting up late for second.
“Two forward-moving horses that seem to be progressing,” Brown said. “They’re nice, solid 2-year-olds, at the top of the division, I hope.”
The picks: 1 Zulu Kingdom 2 Early Adopter 3 Noble Confessor
The field for the $200,000 Pilgrim Stakes (G2), from the rail out, with jockey, trainer, odds:
1 Noble Confessor (Irad Ortiz, Jr., Todd Pletcher), 6-1
2 Flying Mohawk (Jose Lezcano, Whit Beckman), 6-1
3 Without Caution (Kendrick Carmouche, Cherie DeVaux), 8- 1
4 Zulu Kingdom (Joel Rosario, Chad Brown), 8-5
5 Concord Green (Dylan Davis, Shug McGaughey), 4-1
6 Smooth Breeze (Ricardo Santana, Jr., Jorge Abreu), 12-1
7 Fully Authorized (Sam Marin, Michael Dini), 15-1
8 Early Adopter (Manny Franco, Chad Brown), 6-1