Zulu Alpha to Miss Breeders' Cup Turf

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 10/28/2020 - 08:57
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Zulu Alpha to Miss Breeders' Cup Turf
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Photo: Mathea Kelley
Zulu Alpha after winning the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes at Gulfstream Park

Zulu Alpha, one of the leading long-distance turf horses in the U.S., will miss the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) due to a minor injury, owner Michael Hui said Oct. 28. 

Hui said the 7-year-old Street Cry gelding showed a small degree of swelling in his left front leg Oct. 24 that necessitated veterinary treatment that will prevent him from running in the Breeders' Cup. He described the injury as "almost like a big bruise" that should heal with rest.

Zulu Alpha was not among the pre-entries announced for the Turf by Breeders' Cup officials on Wednesday. The second-richest race among 14 Breeders' Cup contests, the $4 million Turf is headed by European pre-entries Lord North, Mogul, Magical, and Tarnawa, plus Americans Arklow, Channel Maker, and United.

A seven-time graded stakes winner and earner of more than $2.2 million, Zulu Alpha had been enjoying his best season in 2020. Early this year, he won the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes Presented by Runhappy (G1T), and as the year progressed he added scores in the Mac Diarmida Stakes (G2T) and TVG Elkhorn Stakes (G2T). He also ran second in the Kitten's Joy Pan American Stakes (G2T) and third in the Calumet Farm Kentucky Turf Cup (G3T) in his most recent start Sept. 12 at Kentucky Downs.

He had been breezing at Churchill Downs Trackside for trainer Mike Maker following the Kentucky Turf Cup, last working five furlongs there in 1:02 2/5 Oct. 18.

Hui said Zulu Alpha will be pointed for a winter campaign at Gulfstream Park after the gelding has some initial time off at Maker's barn at Trackside and later at a farm.