Hui Comes to Town as Zulu Alpha Tackles Elkhorn
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Zulu Alpha before winning the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes at Gulfstream Park
Owner Michael Hui was driving on the Bluegrass Parkway, Keeneland-bound, when he got a call to talk about Zulu Alpha.
Of course he took it.
With the former claimer turned grade 1 winner entered in the $175,000 TVG Elkhorn Stakes (G2T) July 12 at the Lexington track, Hui and his wife, Paige, were headed on an 8 1/2-hour trek from their home state of Arkansas to cheer on their 7-year-old gelding in person.
"We had reservations at Keeneland, and ultimately the protocols were put in place (to allow owners), and I got the green light from Paige to go, and she came with me," Hui said. "The way the world is today, if this has to be the first step, to allow owners in on a restricted basis, hopefully as we find out more about this virus, spectators can ultimately come back because Keeneland is a very special place from a social standpoint. It's a lot of fun because it's all about the horses and the love of racing."
Keeneland holds a special place in Zulu Alpha's Cinderella story. Claimed for $80,000 in September 2018 out of an allowance optional claiming race at Churchill Downs, the son of Street Cry won the Sycamore Stakes (G3T) next out in Lexington and has campaigned exclusively in graded company since. Now a six-time graded stakes winner, he rose to the height of the sport this year when he won the Jan. 25 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes Presented by Runhappy (G1T) at Gulfstream Park, followed by a score in the Feb. 29 Mac Diarmida Stakes (G2T) at the Florida oval.
Rested since a runner-up finish, a neck behind the winner, in the March 28 Kitten's Joy Pan American Stakes (G2T) at Gulfstream, the Mike Maker trainee has been prepping forwardly for his next target.
"Mike has done a phenomenal job working with 'Zulu' and his progression—Mike and his whole staff," Hui said. "'Zulu' is 7, and I don't think he could be doing any better. He had about a six-week vacation, he came back to Mike at the Churchill Downs training center (Trackside) mid-May, and he's made steady progress.
"He was doing well enough that Mike considered sending him to New York last weekend for the Manhattan (G1T), but we opted out because of shipping and it was 10 furlongs instead of 12, so we decided just to run here in Mike's own backyard."
Michael Hui in March in his box at Oaklawn Park
Hui said he expects a strong performance in the 1 1/2-mile Elkhorn from Zulu Alpha, who worked five furlongs in 1:01 3/5 July 4 at Trackside in preparation for this run. The gelding was third in the 2019 edition of this event.
"When Mike put the Manhattan on the table a couple weeks ago, the question I had was, 'Is he pre-Pegasus sharp?'" Hui said. "Mike doesn't say a whole lot, but he goes, 'Yes, very much so. He's January sharp.'"
Hui said Zulu Alpha, who will leave post 5 under Tyler Gaffalione and a 120-pound impost, should remain in Kentucky through the Breeders' Cup World Championships, hosted this year by Keeneland. A start at Kentucky Downs, where he won the 2019 Calumet Farm Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes (G3T), could come between the two. Zulu Alpha was fourth in the 2019 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) at Santa Anita Park.
Twelve additional grass marathoners will line up Sunday. Chief among them is $1.8 million earner Arklow, who comes in off a runner-up finish in the June 13 Louisville Stakes (G3T) at Churchill after a 4 1/2-month layoff. Fifth in the Pegasus World Cup Turf one start prior for trainer Brad Cox and Donegal Racing, Joseph Bulger, and Peter Coneway, the 6-year-old son of Arch seeks his first win since the 2019 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes (G1T), which he won in October. Florent Geroux has the mount from post 10 aboard the 123-pound highweight.
NBCSN will provide live coverage of the Elkhorn from 5-7 p.m. ET.
Keeneland, Sunday, July 12, 2020, Race 9Entries: TVG Elkhorn S. (G2T)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Apreciado (KY)
Gerardo Corrales
118
Michael J. Maker
30/1
2
2Nakamura (MD)
John R. Velazquez
118
H. Graham Motion
8/1
3
3Ramsey Solution (KY)
Julio A. Garcia
118
Wesley A. Ward
20/1
4
4Postulation (KY)
Julien R. Leparoux
118
Michael R. Matz
15/1
5
5Zulu Alpha (KY)
Tyler Gaffalione
120
Michael J. Maker
8/5
6
6Jais's Solitude (FL)
Corey J. Lanerie
118
Eddie Kenneally
15/1
7
7He's No Lemon (KY)
Rafael Bejarano
118
H. Graham Motion
8/1
8
8Hellorhighwater (KY)
James Graham
118
Darrin Miller
50/1
9
9Oscar Dominguez (IRE)
Joel Rosario
118
Richard Baltas
10/1
10
10Arklow (KY)
Florent Geroux
123
Brad H. Cox
3/1
11
11Ry's the Guy (KY)
Chris Landeros
118
Ian R. Wilkes
15/1
12
12Hierarchy (KY)
Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.
118
Joe Sharp
30/1
13
13Henley's Joy (KY)
Ricardo Santana, Jr.
118
Steven M. Asmussen
15/1
