TDN RISING STARS

January 15, 2016 - Gulfstream Park, Race 10, AOC, USD $44,000, 7F, .0000, NW1X

Zulu, G, 3, 2013 by Bernardini

1st Dam: Temporada, by Summer Squall
2nd Dam: Lemhi Go, by Lemhi Gold
3rd Dam: Midnight Rapture, by Giboulee

Owner: Stonestreet Stables LLC, Susan Magnier, Michael B. Tabor & Derrick Smith
Breeder: Ron Magers & Robert Marcocchio (KY)
Trainer: Todd A. Pletcher

Zulu–a $400,000 KEESEP yearling and a $900,000 FTFMAR juvenile–stayed perfect in impressive fashion en route to 'TDN Rising Stardom' in the Gulfstream slop Friday. He may be heading next to the GII Fountain of Youth S. Feb. 27. The bay, a professional front-running two-length debut winner as the 3-5 chalk going six furlongs in Hallandale Dec. 5, posted a trio of four-furlong breezes at Palm Beach Downs in the interim–capped by a bullet :48.95 (1/9) move Jan. 8. The 1-5 favorite chased on the outside in second through an opening quarter in :22.76 here. With John Velazquez in the saddle, Zulu made his move off the turn for home and responded nicely to a few cracks of the whip in the stretch to win going away by a dazzling 7 1/4 lengths. Fellow Todd Pletcher trainee Prospectus (Uncle Mo) got the nod for second. “I thought it was a good effort,� Pletcher said. “It was nice to see him step up after only one start and stretch out a little bit, and he seemed to do it pretty professionally. Everything about his pedigree suggests he’s going to want to stretch out.� Pletcher continued, “I was just telling [co-owner Michael Tabor] that he’s two-for-two at Gulfstream and at some point we have to test the waters; whether it would be in [the Fountain of Youth] or not is still up in the air. We’ve got some options in front of us and that is one of them.� Zulu, whose second dam is MGSW Lemhi Go (Lemhi Gold), is a half-brother to Third Chance (Kafwain), MSW & GSP, $481,464; and Banner Bill (Rockport Harbor), MSW, $349,217. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $46,800. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.