Zulu Kingdom will be a solid prediction when assessing the Pilgrim Stakes field this weekend.
The two-year-old has been faultless on his two career starts, making the breakthrough in Grade Three company on his first U.S. start last month.
However, Todd Pletcher has often targeted the Pilgrim on the horse racing schedule with standout contenders, meaning that Noble Confessor deserves plenty of respect.
Offshore Odds: Zulu Kingdom Expected to Progress in Grade Two Company
[Latest odds taken from bet365 at 8:17 am on 09.27.24]
| Horse | Odds |
|---|---|
| Zulu Kingdom | +200 |
| Early Adopter | +450 |
| Concord Green | +600 |
| Noble Confessor | +600 |
| Flying Mohawk | +800 |
| Smooth Breeze | +800 |
| Without Caution | +800 |
| Fully Authorized | +1400 |
Pilgrim Stakes Recent Winners
| Year | Winning Horse | Winning Jockey | Winning Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Agate Road | Irad Ortiz Jr | Todd Pletcher |
| 2022 | Major Dude | Irad Ortiz Jr | Todd Pletcher |
| 2021 | Annapolis | Irad Ortiz Jr | Todd Pletcher |
| 2020 | Fire At Will | Kendrick Carmouche | Michael Maker |
| 2019 | Structor | Irad Ortiz Jr | Chad Brown |
Pilgrim Stakes: Race Information
| Information | Stats |
|---|---|
| Track | Aqueduct |
| Classification | Grade Two |
| First Held | 1979 |
| Race Distance | 1 1/16 Miles |
| Race Conditions | Two-Year-Olds |
| Purse | $200,000 |
| Most Successful Jockey | John Velazquez (5) |
| Most Successful Trainer | Todd Pletcher (6) |
Zulu Kingdom Sets High Standard
Zulu Kingdom arrived in the United States with a lofty reputation after making a winning start to his career at Saint-Cloud in impressive fashion in June.
Chad Brown immediately worked his magic with the two-year-old, and Zulu Kingdom made an immediate impression on U.S. debut when landing the G3 With Anticipation.
Speed figures highlight his clear potential, and he should be hard to oppose if at the same level as he was at Saratoga in August.
Brown Double-Handed in Pilgrim Bid
Unexposed horses have an excellent record in the Pilgrim, and Brown’s Early Adapter ticks the right boxes this weekend.
The two-year-old made a winning debut on track at the end of last month, beating a decent field in impressive fashion at Saratoga.
An Equibase speed rating of 81 was set, and he’s certainly a lively contender if improving from a green debut.
Concord Green Overlooked in Betting
Despite the obvious claims boasted by Zulu Kingdom, it could be worth taking a chance on Concord Green in the Pilgrim Stakes on Saturday.
Dylan Davis takes the ride on the Claude McGaughey runner, who made an impressive racecourse debut at Saratoga last month.
He has been kept fresh since that effort, and he could be dangerous to the market leader in receipt of weight.
-
Tags:
Leave a Comment