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Turf Veteran Zulu Alpha Closes Out Keeneland Summer Meet With Elkhorn Win

Michael Hui's even-money favorite Zulu Alpha surged past longshot pacesetter Postulation in deep stretch by three-quarters of a length to win Sunday afternoon's 35th running of the $175,000 TVG Elkhorn (G2) for 4-year-olds and up in the final race of the five-day Keeneland Summer Meet in Lexington, Ky.

Trained by Mike Maker and ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, Zulu Alpha completed the 1 1/2 miles on a turf course rated as good in 2:30.82. The victory secured the Summer Meet riding title for Gaffalione with seven wins and gave Maker three winners on the afternoon, including the Kentucky Utilities Transylvania (G3) two races prior with Field Pass.

It was the fourth Elkhorn victory for Maker, who won last year with Bigger Picture with Gaffalione aboard, in 2016 with Da Big Hoss and 2013 with Dark Cove.

Postulation led the field of 11 through unopposed fractions of :25.56, :52.02, 1:18.14 and 1:43.20 as Zulu Alpha raced back in ninth.

Gaffalione began to pick off horses on the far turn and then swung six wide in the stretch for clear sailing at Postulation, who did not give way until inside the sixteenth pole.

The victory was worth $105,000 and improved Zulu Alpha's career earnings to $2,165,114 with a record of 34-12-5-5. Sunday's triumph was the seventh graded stakes victory for Zulu Alpha, who also won the 2018 Sycamore (G3) at Keeneland.

Zulu Alpha is a 7-year-old Kentucky-bred gelded son of Street Cry (IRE) out of the A.P. Indy mare Zori. He paid $4, $2.80 and $2.60. Postulation, ridden by Julien Leparoux, returned $22 and $11.40 and finished 1¼ lengths front of Nakamura, who paid $6.20 to show under John Velazquez.

Jais's Solitude finished another 1¼ lengths back in fourth and was followed in order by Ry's the Guy, Arklow, Oscar Dominguez (IRE), He's No Lemon, Apreciado, Henley's Joy and Hellorhighwater.

TVG Elkhorn Quotes
Tyler Gaffalione: “(Being the Summer Meet's leading rider) feels amazing. I'm so glad to be getting the opportunities that I've been getting.”

How straightforward is Zula Alpha to ride? “He's as easy as they come. He just drops his head and you let him do his thing. He knows where the wire is. He's got some turn of foot.”

Is this one of the more impressive wins that he's had? “He's just keeps getting better and better throughout the year. All credit goes to (trainer) Mike (Maker) and his team. I'm just blessed to be part of it.”

Mike Maker: “After Gulfstream (where he won the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational-G1 and Mac Diarmida-G2 and was second in the Kitten's Joy Pan American-G2), we sent him to the farm again. We got delayed with the virus. Going a mile and a half, you're always a little bit concerned. But even I can't mess this one up.”

What do you map out between now and the fall? “Beginning of the year, our plans got changed a little bit because of the virus. But it was Kentucky Downs and then the Breeders' Cup (at Keeneland).”

Michael Matz, trainer of runner-up Postulation: “We're quite proud of him the way he ran. He's been off for almost seven months. He's no spring chicken, so we were really pleased the way he ran today. It was a shame he couldn't last (on the lead) a little longer, but that's what happens. Sometimes you get beat. But we were really proud of him. He tried hard and didn't give up the whole way. We were pleased with his effort. He's been a good horse for us. He always tries and he does what he can do. That's all you can ask of a horse.”

Graham Motion, trainer of third-place finisher Nakamura: “I was very pleased with the race for him coming off that (eight-month layoff). He is very competitive with these types of horses. He ran like he was fit enough. The (very slow) pace probably did not help us, but winner came from about where we were.”

On Nakamura's next race: “Possibly the Bowling Green (G2) at Saratoga (on Aug. 1) would be an option for sure. (The Breeders' Cup at Keeneland) would be ambitious at this staloage, but never say never. I love the Breeders' Cup.”

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Field Pass Prevails In Tight Transylvania Stakes Finish

Three Diamonds Farm's Field Pass held off Street Ready by a nose to win Sunday's 32nd running of the $100,000 Kentucky Utilities Transylvania (G3) for 3-year-olds at Keeneland on closing day of the Lexington, Ky., track's five-day summer Thoroughbred meet.

Trained by Mike Maker and ridden by Ricardo Santana Jr., Field Pass covered the 1 1/16 miles on a turf course labeled good in 1:42.56.

Juggernaut led the field through fractions of :23.33, :47.76 and 1:12.45 with Fancy Liquor and Street Ready in closest pursuit and Field Pass saving ground in fifth.

In the stretch, Fancy Liquor pushed to the front but was joined at midstretch by Field Pass on his outside. Those two were immediately joined by Street Ready, who ducked to the inside under Chris Landeros. The trio dueled to the wire with Field Pass barely prevailing.

The victory, the fourth stakes triumph and second Grade 3 win for Field Pass, was worth $60,000 and increased the colt's bankroll to $418,610.

Field Pass is a Maryland-bred son of Lemon Drop Kid out of the Runaway Groom mare Only Me.

Sent off as the favorite in the field of 10, Field Pass returned $6.40, $4.40 and $3.60. Street Ready paid $12.60 and $7.60 and finished a neck ahead of Fancy Liquor, who paid $5.20 to show under Florent Geroux.

It was another half-length back to City Man, who was followed in order by Spanish Kingdom, Bama Breeze, Irish Mias, Vintage Print, Kinenos and Juggernaut.

In partnership with Keeneland, sponsor Kentucky Utilities has provided $7,500 in matching funds to support God's Pantry Food Bank and Nourish Lexington, two programs that are teaming to provide meals to those in need in Lexington during the current COVID-19 outbreak.

Keeneland is a proud founding partner of Nourish Lexington, which uses the skills and talents of displaced hospitality employees to prepare and serve these meals. Since its inception on April 1, Nourish Lexington has served more than 80,000 meals.

God's Pantry is critical to Nourish Lexington because many ingredients for meals are from the food bank.

To support this effort, please click here.

Kentucky Utilities Transylvania Quotes
Ricardo Santana Jr.: “He was sitting behind the speed, perfect. Turning for home, I took him out. He got in the clear and started running. Every time he saw those two horses on the inside he kept fighting.”

Mike Maker: “This horse loves to win. He's all heart. As Ricardo said, he never really doubted (Field Pass) would win. When he thought he was getting the lead, he started kinda backing off. When he felt the pressure, he dug back in.”

Will he get better in longer races for 3-year-olds? “I think so. We're gonna find out.”

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Casse Sends Out Pair Of Fillies For Spa’s Opening-Day Schuylerville

Stakes action at historic Saratoga Race Course kicks off with a field of eight 2-year-old fillies assembled for the 102nd running of the Grade 3, $100,000 Schuylerville on Thursday, Opening Day of the summer meet.

Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse will send out John C. Oxley's impressive maiden winner Beautiful Memories, who romped by 10 lengths in her career debut on May 28 at Churchill Downs.

The homebred chestnut daughter of Hard Spun received encouragement coming out of the gate in her debut before taking command and extending her lead through every point of call, crossing the wire on cruise control under jockey Jose Ortiz in a final time of 58.05 seconds for the five-furlong sprint.

Casse said Beautiful Memories demonstrated potential from the start.

“We broke her and had her down at the training center all winter and she seemed special,” said Casse. “I told Mr. Oxley when I breezed her that she gave me chills and that doesn't happen often.”

Beautiful Memories, a Kentucky homebred, is out of the Sky Mesa broodmare Sky Dreamer who is a half-sister to turf Grade 1-winner Dream Dancing as well as graded stakes-placed Dream Maker.

Beautiful Memories has been training forwardly for Casse, working two bullets at Churchill Downs heading into Thursday, most recently registering a five-furlong drill in 59.20 on July 4.

Casse said he is hoping for another impressive performance from Beautiful Memories on Opening Day at Saratoga.

“You always want to see more than just one time,” said Casse. “She's come back and trained well and her last two works have been really good. It was not a shock to see her run the way she did first out. We're hoping for a similar performance, but we'll let her do the talking.”

Ortiz, who piloted Catherinethegreat to a 2018 Schuylerville victory for Oxley and Casse, will retain the mount aboard Beautiful Memories from post 3.

Casse also sends out Gary Barber's New York-bred Make Mischief, who won her debut as the favorite in a five-furlong maiden special weight against her Empire State-bred counterparts on June 18 at Belmont.

The bay daughter of Into Mischief tracked two lengths off the pace in her five-furlong career debut and was a bit green in the stretch but had enough to score a half-length triumph.

Bred by Avanti Stable, Make Mischief is out of the Speightstown broodmare Speightful Lady and was purchased for $285,000 from the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred Yearling Sale last August.

Casse said he is looking for Make Mischief to step her game up a notch on Thursday.

“She's a horse we were high on this winter,” Casse said. “I thought her win was good, but I think she's better than what she showed, at least I'm hoping so. She'll have to come with a better performance.”

Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez will attempt a sixth Schuylerville triumph when piloting Make Mischief from the inside post.

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen will saddle Hopeful Princess, who arrives off a three-quarter length maiden score at Churchill Downs. Owned by Stonestreet Farm, the dark bay filly gave highly regarded freshman stallion Not This Time his first winner when stalking the pace from second, battling down the stretch with a foe and eventually coming out on top while galloping out with authority on May 21 at Churchill, earning a 75 Beyer Speed Figure.

Bred in Kentucky by Elm Tree Farm, Hopeful Princess is out of the More Than Ready broodmare More Than Magic.

Jockey Ricardo Santana, Jr. will pilot Hopeful Princess from post 8.

Ken and Sarah Ramsey's Sunny Isle Beach, who will exit post 5 under Irad Ortiz, Jr., will take a big step up in class for trainer Wesley Ward after displaying a victorious late kick on debut for a $75,000 tag on June 6 at Churchill.

The bay daughter of Jimmy Creed broke from the outside, where she laid mid pack early on, was caught seven wide at the top of the stretch but shifted to the inside of rivals down the lead to score a narrow victory.

“When you have a 2-year-old maiden winner you're halfway mandated to try stakes company so that's what we're doing here,” Ward said. “If you hit the board in a graded stakes race that's enshrined in their pedigree forever. We should be able to come from behind, so we'll sit back and ask Irad to be a cool-sitter and a go-getter, which is what he is. If there's a strong pace up front, then here we come.”

Bred in Kentucky by her owners and Dixiana Farm, Sunny Isle Beach is out of the Kitten's Joy broodmare Kathern's Kitten.

Completing the field are Hara [post 2, Tyler Gaffalione], Quinoa Tifah [post 4, Manny Franco], Queen Arella [post 6, Joel Rosario] and Dayoutoftheoffice [post 7, Junior Alvarado].

The Schuylerville is slated as Race 8 on Thursday's 10-race card, which offers a first post of 1:10 p.m. Eastern. Saratoga Live will present daily television coverage of the 40-day summer meet on FOX Sports and MSG Networks. For the complete Saratoga Live broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Saratoga Race Course, and the best way to bet every race of the 40-day summer meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, NYRA Bets is currently offering a $200 new member bonus in addition to a host of special weekly offers. The NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

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Cedillo To Sub For Luis Saez Aboard Maximum Security In San Diego Handicap

Abel Cedillo has been named to ride Gary and Mary West's Maximum Security in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar on July 18 when the 2019 champion 3-year-old makes his first start since being transferred to trainer Bob Baffert.

The New Year's Day colt was previously trained by Jason Servis, who in March was indicted on criminal charges of misbranding drugs and conspiracy resulting from an FBI probe into the illegal doping of racehorses.

Maximum Security's regular rider, Luis Saez, tested positive earlier this week for coronavirus and required to go into quarantine.

Baffert said Saez would regain the mount when he returns.

“I thought he might fit the horse,” Baffert said of Cedillo. “Cedillo has won some races for me, including that stake on the Wests' filly, Fighting Mad (the G2 Santa Maria on May 30 at Santa Anita).”

Cedillo, formerly based in Northern California, is completing his first full year in Southern California. At the recently completed Santa Anita meet, Cedillo finished second behind Flavien Prat in the rider standings.

Maximum Security has been assigned 127 pounds under the handicap conditions of the 1 1/16-mile San Diego, five more than Higher Power (winner of the G1 Pacific Classic in 2019) and Midcourt (G2 San Pasqual winner in 2020). No horse since Native Diver toted 131 pounds in 1965 has carried more weight in winning the San Diego Handicap. California Chrome won under 126 pounds in 2016 in his first start since winning the G1 Dubai World Cup.

First across the wire but disqualified for interference in the G1 Kentucky Derby last year, Maximum Security won eight of 10 races, most recently taking the inaugural running of the $20-million Saudi Cup in Saudi Arabia. The organizers of that event withheld the winner's purse after the federal indictment of Servis, trainer Jorge Navarro and two dozen others.

Baffert conceded Maximum Security may need a race after being off nearly five months since the Saudi Cup.

“I feel I've done as much with him as I can for this,” Baffert said on Sunday. “I've been working him in company. He's a lazy horse in the morning and I can see now why they may ran him for $16,000 (maiden claiming) first out. He's a really smart horse; a lot of class, and a really intelligent horse.”

Maximum Security finished his serious preparations for the San Diego with a five-furlong breeze on Saturday in :59.60.

Equibase past performances of San Diego Handicap nominees

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