Zulu Alpha Rides the Rail to Sycamore Victory
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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Trainer John Ortiz and jockey Channing Hill celebrate after Zulu Alpha won the Sycamore Stakes at Keeneland
It has been barely a month since Zulu Alpha joined John Ortiz's shedrow, but in the short time the trainer has been acquainted with the 5-year-old gelding, a few intangibles have become obvious.
Having watched the son of Street Cry the past several months, Ortiz knew the venerable dark bay would be most effective when he is able to use his early speed. And as he watched jockey Channing Hill guide Zulu Alpha up the rail and past the horse most had targeted as the one to beat in the $100,000 Sycamore Stakes (G3T) Oct. 18 at Keeneland, it became equally clear that one of his newest runners was about to go down as one of his all-time favorites.
In his first start since being claimed by owner Michael Hui and Ortiz out of his victory at Churchill Downs Sept. 14, Zulu Alpha became the first graded stakes winner for his new conditioner when he put away favored Arklow in the lane and continued on for a two-length victory in the 12-furlong Sycamore.
It had already been a solid season for Ortiz, who has been training on his own since 2016. He celebrated his first stakes win this year when Sully's Dream took the Houston Distaff Stakes in January and later captured the New Orleans Ladies Overnight Stakes. When Hui claimed Zulu Alpha for $80,000 last month and sent him to Ortiz, they were impressed enough off the gelding's 9 1/2-length win that day to give him his fifth try against graded stakes company.
"I had been watching him, and he runs really big every time he runs, especially his last few starts," Ortiz said. "Right now, I'm just speechless and very thankful."
Zulu Alpha's tactical handiness has allowed him to prevail at distances as short as eight furlongs, and it allowed him to sit a perfect trip as he stretched out to 1 1/2 miles for the first time since running 10th in the 2017 Calumet Farm Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes (G3T).
Jockey Channing Hill, who was aboard the gelding in his three prior outings, let him relax in second behind pacesetter Final Copy as the latter rolled through fractions of :26.54 and :52.64 over a course rated good. When 2-1 choice Arklow advanced on the outside to move up to the runner-up spot as they reached a mile in 1:18.75, Hill kept Zulu Alpha tucked along the rail in third, then fourth, before giving his partner the "go" signal coming off the far turn for the final time.
"Obviously, there was a little concern because (Arklow is) the favorite, he's the horse to beat," Hill said. "I was happy my horse got a little cover first time down the lane. Then when (Zulu Alpha) pressed the pace, it was either, 'Am I going to fight him to stay in this bad spot, or am I going to put him inside?' The way he ran at Churchill last time, obviously, he enjoys coming through (along) the fence."
The ground-saving trip paid handsome dividends when the hard running kicked in midstretch. As Arklow tried to make a winning bid, Zulu Alpha was full of run under Hill as he reached the wire in 2:34.21 to reward those who backed him at 7-1 odds.
"I got a little concerned down the stretch because it looked like it was going to get a little tight up the rail," Ortiz said. "But Channing knew what he was doing. He got him through. I'm just happy.
Added Hill, "I just want to congratulate Johnny. It's a big day for him to win a graded stakes here at Keeneland. I was happy to do it for him."
Arklow, who was using the Sycamore as a possible prep for a start in the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T), held for second by 2 1/4 lengths over Bigger Picture. Final Copy and Some in Tieme rounded out the top five in the 11-horse field.
"I am disappointed we didn't win, but he ran well," said Brad Cox, trainer of Arklow. "(Jockey) Florent (Geroux) did a good job in putting him where he needed to be and adjusted to the slow pace. We will see how he comes out of this and go from there (regarding the Breeders' Cup)."
Bred in Kentucky by Calumet Farm out of the A.P. Indy mare Zori, Zulu Alpha made his first four career starts in Ireland before coming to North America last summer. He improved his record to six wins from 20 starts with $237,734 in earnings. He is the 125th black-type winner for his late sire.