Zulu Alpha Shines on Record Day at Kentucky Downs

Mike Maker, the winningest trainer in the history of Kentucky Downs, experienced a frustrating first two days of the current Kentucky Downs meet, going winless with his first 19 starters and feeling unlucky with seven of his horses running second.

But Sept. 7, during the highlight day of the RUNHAPPY meet at the Franklin, Ky., track, that frustration was relieved when Zulu Alpha rolled to an authoritative 3 1/4-length victory in the $1,000,405 Calumet Farm Kentucky Turf Cup (G3T). The score gave Maker his fourth victory in the race, after Da Big Hoss  won it twice for him in 2015-16, followed by Oscar Nominated in 2017.  

Zulu Alpha's performance was the centerpiece of a record day at Kentucky Downs, which smashed its single-day betting mark with a total of $11,322,270 wagered on the 10-race card. The $1,283,262 increase was up 12.78% over the corresponding day last year. Kentucky Downs has set a betting record for each of the corresponding days for the first three days of the meet, which concludes Sept. 12.

Maker did not even have to sweat the result of the Kentucky Turf Cup. Zulu Alpha, under Jose Ortiz, quickly drew away from his rivals in the lane after stalking the leaders from fifth, leaving runner-up and 2018 winner Arklow, third-place finisher Campaign, and the rest of his foes far behind.

Even so, the trainer did not feel any sense of relief until the race's conclusion, which gave him his second winner of the day after Swanage broke him out of his losing streak by taking the third race on the Saturday card.

"Our horses have been running good, and it's only a second victory," he said. "But second pays well here when your horses run well in deep, competitive fields."

Although speed horses appeared at an advantage Saturday over a firm Kentucky Downs turf course that generated fast times, none of the early leaders could muster better than a fourth-place finish in the 1 1/2-mile Calumet Farm Kentucky Turf Cup. Pacesetting Factor This, who set fractions of :51.47, 1:15.32, and 1:39.50, lasted for fourth, while those that chased him, Botswanna and Hello Don Julio, weakened to 10th and ninth, respectively.

Ortiz, who won four races Saturday, said he was unconcerned with the early leaders, questioning whether they could stay 1 1/2 miles.

"I was more worried about Arklow because I know he could handle the distance," said Ortiz, currently tied with Florent Geroux in the standings with five winning rides. "I smooched at my horse passing the three eighths, and he was there for me. So I was very confident waiting for him. When we passed the quarter pole, I went on. I didn't feel (Arklow) closing on, I said, 'Alright, let's go.' He exploded. He gave me a great run."

The second choice in the field of 11 behind 8-5 choice Arklow, Zulu Alpha paid $6.20 to win, $3.40 to place, and $2.60 to show. He was clocked in 2:28.62 for the distance on a turf course rated firm.

With a purse of $1 million, the richest in Kentucky Downs history, the Kentucky Turf Cup is the most lucrative race Zulu Alpha has won, but not his only major stakes victory. The 6-year-old gelded son of Street Cry, who owner Michael Hui claimed for $80,000 last September at Churchill Downs, won last fall's Sycamore Stakes (G3T) at Keeneland, defeating Arklow, and the W. L. McKnight (G3T) and Mac Diarmida Stakes (G2T) this past winter in Florida. Most recently, he finished fifth, beaten a length, in the Bowling Green Stakes (G2T) at Saratoga Race Course.

The Oct. 17 Sycamore at Keeneland could present an option for Zulu Alpha, if he does not run in the $4 million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) Nov. 2 at Santa Anita Park.

Maker is leaving the determination on Zulu Alpha's next race to Hui. "Everything is on the table and he pays the bills. He'll have final say if we go to the Breeders' Cup," he said.

The $591,170 payday for winning the Kentucky Turf Cup, which received a purse hike from last year's $750,000, elevated the winner's career earnings to $1,172,544. Bred in Kentucky by Calumet Farm out of the A.P. Indy mare Zori, he has a 9-4-5 record from 28 starts.

Ms Bad Behavior Sharp in Ladies Turf Stakes

A little rest did wonders for Ms Bad Behavior, who rewarded her connections with a sharp comeback victory in the $356,320 Three Chimneys Ladies Turf Stakes Saturday in her Kentucky Downs debut.

After bearing out and getting pulled up in the April 6 Royal Heroine Stakes (G2T) at Santa Anita Park, the Richard Baltas trainee was given time off and pointed toward her first start outside Southern California. Baltas took the mile turf event for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and upwards, last year with Insta Erma.

"We gave her a little break after the last race," assistant trainer Aimee Dollase said. "She had run quite a bit so she needed a well-deserved rest. She came back, she trained great, her last few works had been super. Richard had a lot of confidence in her, as did the owners, and they decided to send her out here."

With Ortiz in the irons, the 4-year-old Blame  filly opened a clear lead from the start and set the pace on the inside with Mitchell Road racing second under a stout hold.

"I tapped her on the shoulder right out of the gate and she got going pretty quickly," Ortiz said. "When we got to the top of the hill, she put the ears up and was very relaxed going down the hill. I just let her be her, let her get comfortable. And when I asked her to go by the three-sixteenths, she just rebroke."

Ortiz said Ms Bad Behavior adapted well in her first journey over Kentucky Downs' unique course.

"Here it is up to the horse," he said. "If they like it, you're going to run well. Otherwise, you have no shot. Because sometimes when they go down the hill, especially, they put on the brakes a little bit. They're not used to it."

Mitchell Road was pocketed on the rail and ran out of ground after she was tipped out late, as the winner went clear by 1 1/2 lengths in a final time of 1:35.25 on turf rated firm. Simply Breathless completed the trifecta.

The race marked the first graded victory for Ms Bad Behavior, who won the 2018 China Doll Stakes as a 3-year-old for owners Sayjay Racing, Greg Hall, and Brooke Hubbard.

"We've always been trying to get her to that next level because it seemed like she'd always get caught and run second, or she'd hit the board but get there a little late in that last part," Dollase said. "But she came back great and has been training lights out. She's a good filly with a lot of heart and class, and it showed today."

Bred in Ontario by Ron Clarkson out of the stakes-winning Stormy Atlantic mare Cumulonimble, Ms Bad Behavior improved her record to 4-7-3 from 17 starts, with earnings of $501,251. She was a $75,000 purchase by Hubbard from Castle Park Farm's consignment to the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, and is a half sister to 2019 Queen's Plate winner One Bad Boy and to Blessed Truly, winner of the Aug. 28 OLG Muskoka Stakes Presented by CTHS (Ontario Division). The mare has a Palace Malice  yearling consigned by Castle Park as Hip 773 to the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, and was barren in 2019. She was bred to Accelerate  for 2020.

Video: Calumet Farm Kentucky Turf Cup S. (G3T)

Video: Three Chimneys Ladies Turf S. (G3T)