Zulu Kingdom will have an opportunity to secure a special spot in Keeneland racing history when he starts from the outside in an expected field of nine in the Turf Mile Stakes (G1T) Oct. 3 at the Lexington track.
In the spring Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, William Strauss, and Michael Caruso's Zulu Kingdom delivered a front-end score in the Mile Stakes (G1T) and now has a chance to become just the third horse this century to sweep Keeneland's spring and fall grade 1 mile races on the turf in the same season.
"It would be special," said trainer Chad Brown. "We've had a lot of success there and this horse has run well there, so hopefully he can continue it."
Two-time Horse of the Year Wise Dan completed the Keeneland sweep in 2014 and Miss Temple City won both races in 2016. While it wasn't in the same season, Brown sent out Carl Spackler to victory in the 2024 Turf Mile in the fall and the 2025 Mile in the spring.
To secure the same season sweep this year, Zulu Kingdom will have to top a field that includes last year's race winner, Rhetorical, while starting from the outside in the expected field of nine. Jose Ortiz will pick up the riding duties as regular rider Flavien Prat has opted to ride at Belmont Park, where he has been named on seven runners for Brown.
"He drew widest of everyone and he's going to have to get acquainted with a new rider. So he's got some things to overcome, but the horse is training very well," Brown said.
Ortiz figures to have some options aboard the Irish-bred 4-year-old son of Ten Sovereigns, who in the spring won the Mile on the front end but also has rallied to stakes wins from fourth or fifth, from as far as 5 lengths back. Brown said he'd prefer to save some ground but noted six-time graded stakes winner Zulu Kingdom has found ways to win when forced to race wide. The trainer added that type of trip gets tougher at the grade 1 level.
Last year's winner of this race, Gary Barber, Cheyenne Stable, and Wachtel Stable's Rhetorical, will try to defend his title when he starts from Post 3 under Irad Ortiz Jr. The 5-year-old son of current leading sire Not This Time rallied from fourth to win last year's Turf Mile and then finished fourth in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T). He added another grade 1 victory this year in the Turf Classic Stakes (G1T) at Churchill Downs.
Both Zulu Kingdom and Rhetorical will be making their first starts since running in the Fourstardave Stakes (G1T) Aug. 8 at Saratoga Race Course, where Zulu Kingdom finished third, a head in front of Rhetorical in fourth.
The Turf Mile is a Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win & You're In" race, awarding a fees-paid start in the Breeders' Cup Mile. This year's Turf Mile is especially attractive as the Breeders' Cup Mile will be conducted four weeks after Saturday's test over the same course.
Scheduled as race 10 on Saturday's card, the Turf Mile is scheduled for about 5:48 p.m. ET. The race follows the First Lady Stakes (G1T) and Breeders' Futurity (G1), completing three straight grade 1 races on the card.
Keeneland, Saturday, October 3, 2026, Race 10Entries: Coolmore Turf Mile S. (G1T)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 Title Role (GB) John R. Velazquez 122 Brendan P. Walsh - 2 Brilliant Berti (KY) Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. 126 Cherie DeVaux - 3 Rhetorical (NY) Irad Ortiz, Jr. 126 William Walden - 4 Mercante (KY) Umberto Rispoli 126 Brian Knippenberg - 5 Pass the Hat (KY) Junior Alvarado 126 William I. Mott - 6 Plensa (KY) Axel Concepcion 126 George R. Arnold II - 7 Lake Forest (GB) Cieren Fallon 126 William J. Haggas - 8 Kupuna (KY) Tyler Gaffalione 126 Norm W. Casse - 9 Zulu Kingdom (IRE) Jose L. Ortiz 126 Chad C. Brown -
