Zulu Seeks Skip Away Rebound

The Todd Pletcher-trained Zulu made a splash during the 2015-16 championship meet at Gulfstream Park to establish himself as an exciting Triple Crown prospect with three impressive performances.

The 4-year-old son of Bernardini   is scheduled to compete at Gulfstream March 25 in the $100,000 Skip Away Stakes (G3), where he will seek to recapture the form that earned him the favorite's role in last year's Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland.

Zulu was never a factor in that start, and was subsequently sidelined for eight months. He returned to action with a 2 1/2-length victory in the seven-furlong Tamarac Stakes at Gulfstream Dec. 19, only to finish fifth in the one-mile Hardacre Mile Gulfstream Park Handicap (G2) last time out.

"We would like to run him again at Gulfstream just because, overall, he's had quite a bit of success here," Pletcher said.

In the one-turn Gulfstream Park Handicap Feb. 11, Zulu raced evenly and wide while never posing a threat to Sharp Azteca, a dominating 4 1/2-length winner.

"He never really got into a good rhythm. It wasn't his best race, but he seemed to bounce out of it well," said Pletcher, who trains Zulu for Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith, and Stonestreet Stables. "We're trying to figure out what his best distance is."

Although he was no match for Sharp Azteca last time out, Zulu debuted at six furlongs with a two-length victory over that rival at Gulfstream in late 2015. He followed up the effort with a 7 1/2-length triumph at seven furlongs. In his first start around two turns, Zulu made his stakes debut in the 1 1/16-mile Xpressbet.com Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2), in which he contested the pace before checking in second behind heavily favored Mohaymen.

Joseph Allen's Team Colors, second in last year's Skip Away, is slated to take on Zulu in a field of six. The James Jerkens-trained 5-year-old finished second in a turf allowance race at Gulfstream Feb. 18.

The son of Street Cry was sidelined for nine months before finishing sixth in the Jan. 17 Hal's Hope Stakes (G3) over a fast Gulfstream track and returning to turf in his last start.

"The Hal's Hope wasn't a great spot to run him first start back. He made a big middle move and flattened out. There wasn't anything I wanted to run him in on dirt so he went and ran on turf," Jerkens said. "I think he likes the dirt a little better than he likes the turf."

Multiple-stakes winner Fear the Cowboy is set for a Florida return in the Skip Away after racing primarily in Louisiana with stops in Kentucky, Minnesota, and Texas during the past two years. The Efren Loza Jr.-trained 5-year-old, who broke his maiden in his second start and captured the Three Chopt Road Stakes at Gulfstream, finished second in the Maxxam Gold Cup at 1 1/8 miles at Sam Houston Race Park last time out.

Hy Riverside, who won the Sunshine Millions Classic at Gulfstream Jan. 21; Flashy Jewel, who captured the Old Hickory overnight stakes last time out; and Joshua's Comprise round out the field.