SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Zulu Kingdom crossed the finish line first by 1 1/2 lengths over Luther in Friday’s Grade 2, $400,000 National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Stakes at Saratoga, but the stewards disqualified him from first and placed him fourth for interfering with two horses going into the first turn.
Thus, Luther, who encountered trouble multiple times in the race and ran gallantly to finish second, was elevated to first. Clever Again and Tiz Dashing, who finished third and fourth, respectively, were elevated to second and third with Zulu Kingdom placed fourth.
The stewards, reviewing film only after Joel Rosario, the rider of Luther, lodged an objection, blamed Flavien Prat, the jockey of Zulu Kingdom, for coming over on Tiz Dashing, ridden by Javier Castellano, who in turn came over Luther into the first turn of the race. Luther hit the rail entering the first turn.
It appeared that Castellano checked Tiz Dashing into Luther in anticipation of Prat coming over on him as he guided Zulu into the first turn.
“I thought I was clear,” Prat said. “I thought two horses inside of me were battling for the same spot and I took the blame.”
The stewards did not post the inquiry sign but Rosario lodged an objection against Zulu Kingdom and Tiz Dashing.
Asked why he felt Prat, and not Castellano, was at fault, Rosario said, “Javier was right here going to the turn, [Prat] came over right at that point. If he would have stayed up there a little bit it would have been okay.”
The stewards – Braulia Baeza Jr. (New York Gaming Commission), Victor Escobar (New York Racing Association), and Cody Watkins (Jockey Club) – apparently agreed with Rosario.
In a ruling, the stewards wrote that going into the first turn, “Zulu Kingdom shifted left, leaving insufficient room on its inside, resulting in Tiz Dashing having to take back for a number of strides and carried left into the path of Luther, who made contact with the running rail for numerous strides and caused the rider to check sharply, losing significant momentum and resulted in Luther losing its racing position into the first turn.
“The stewards are satisfied that the incident cost #2 Luther and #3 Tiz Dashing the opportunity at a better placing, and as a result #7 Zulu Kingdom was disqualified from 1st and placed 4th.”
Luther had even more trouble than what happened in the first turn. He clipped heels with Mi Bago coming out of the gate. Down the backstretch, Rosario tried to advance Luther into contention with an ambitious move along the rail. But approaching the far turn, Clever Again, took the inside path forcing Rosario to drop back to next-to-last.
In tight along the rail around the far turn, Luther had clearer sailing in the stretch and was gaining. Meanwhile, Prat had Zulu Kingdom four wide and, despite the horse staying on his left lead in the stretch, he was able to outfinish Luther and cross the wire first. Zulu Kingdom, trained by Chad Brown, covered the mile in 1:35.06. Luther, sent off the second choice, returned $5.70 to win.
Zulu Kingdom earned a 90 Beyer Speed Figure, matching his career best, while Luther earned an 87 Beyer for the victory.
Charlie Fellowes, the trainer of Luther, watched the race from his home in England, told the NYRA publicity department “that it was a really messy race and my fella got carved up a little early-on, then rushed up into position. He really ran an unbelievable race to finish second, considering. Had he had a smooth trip, jumped out well and maintained a position behind the lead, he would have legitimately won it on his own.”
Ironically, earlier this year Fellowes lost a major victory in France – the French Guineas – when Shes Perfect was disqualified.
“I know first-hand it’s not the way you want to win a race,” Fellowes said. “I feel really bad for the connections of [Zulu Kingdom] as it’s a bad way to win and a very tough loss for them.”
Fellowes, who said the Grade 2 victory was the biggest of his career, said Luther would likely return to England but could be considered for the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar on Nov. 1 or a trip to Australia.
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