Zulu Alpha Upsets Magic Wand in Pegasus World Cup Turf

Michael Hui never thought he'd win a grade 1.

The feeling was mutual for the previous connections of Zulu Alpha, at least where the Street Cry runner was concerned. They dropped him in to be scooped up by Hui for an $80,000 tag in September of 2018 at Churchill Downs.

Turns out Zulu Alpha just needed someone to take a chance on him. The former claimer rewarded that faith Jan. 25 when he turned back Coolmore's Magic Wand with a rail-skimming run to win the $980,000 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes Presented by Runhappy (G1T) at Gulfstream Park, and his exhilarated owner was there to cheer him every step of the way. 

"I just watched, stood, and screamed," said Hui, an Arkansas native who got his start in the business by playing the claiming game. "It's just an unbelievable feeling. I never thought I would win a grade 1. I'm a very moderate, soft-spoken guy, but I stood there and screamed my lungs out."

The W. L. McKnight (G3T) on the same Saturday card would have been a safer play for Zulu Alpha, who won the 2019 running of the grade 3 event. But trainer Mike Maker, a man of few words but big actions, knew his horse was training at another level since a fourth-place finish in the Nov. 2 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) at Santa Anita Park.

"I thought he got unlucky in the Breeders' Cup or he might have gotten a bigger slice there," Maker said. "He got some time off after that and he really thrived coming in."

Hui had plenty to worry about as they made the return to grade 1 company, with Zulu Alpha racing without Lasix as part of the race conditions and cutting back to 1 3/16 miles after running in the 1 1/2-mile Breeders' Cup Turf.

"I guess the no (Lasix) wasn't an issue, but it was in the back of my mind," Hui said. "He's performed the last several years with it, (but) to race without it, Mike Maker felt that it wasn't an issue. The other (concern) was the distance … the comfort level would have been substantially higher at 11 or 12 furlongs, but the trip worked out."

Zulu Alpha was in tight quarters early after breaking from post 1 in a field of 12 and had to steady, but jockey Tyler Gaffalione kept his cool and his inside position while tracking 10th as 7-2 second choice Magic Wand showed the way. The group 1-winning European invader clicked through moderate fractions of :24.06 and :48.45, with Zulu Alpha still 10th and awaiting room inside as three-quarters went in 1:11.94.

Magic Wand straightened for home the one to catch, but Gaffalione had plenty of horse and gave his mount the signal to engage. Zulu Alpha moved up to third through a 1:34.82 mile, and kicked into high gear inside the eighth pole en route to a two-length win.

"The horse broke well and the speed set up in front of us. I was able to let my horse settle," Gaffalione said. "They just kept opening up and I didn't see any reason to go around them, so we just stayed on the fence. He really exploded down in there and finished the job. He honestly got more competitive down in there."

"The sea parted, and Zulu does what Zulu does in the stretch," Hui said. "He finishes very strong, and we have a winner."

Magic Wand held on gamely for second by a neck over Instilled Regard, claiming the runner-up spot a second year in a row. Sacred Life emerged from a four-way photo to get fourth by a head over Arklow. They were followed by Sadler's Joy, who made a strong run after getting pinched back to last at the break, Henley's Joy, Admission Office, Mo Forza, Channel Cat, 3-1 favorite Without Parole, and Next Shares.

For Hui, who became a fan as a teenager while attending races at Oaklawn Park, the top-level win came after 10 years as an owner.

"I never envisioned winning a grade 1, a grade 2, or a grade 3, but it gets into your blood, and you take the next step," he said. "It's been a lot of fun, but I never dreamed of being here, so I'm just going to enjoy the moment."

Zulu Alpha paid $25.60 on a $2 win ticket at 11-1 odds and completed the distance in 1:51.60 over a firm course for his fifth graded stakes score and first in grade 1 company. Bred in Kentucky by Calumet Farm out of the A.P. Indy mare Zori, he has a 10-4-5 record from 31 starts, with earnings of $1,971,674. 

"Since he's been back, he's been a lot sharper," Maker said. "For a million dollars, you have to take a shot, and it paid off."

Video: Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational S. presented by Runhappy (G1T)