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Bravazo Retired; Zulu Alpha Prepares to Return in Summer

Author: Clint Goodman
Published: Wednesday May 06, 2020
It was confirmed on May 5 that Calumet Farm homebred Bravazo had been retired from racing. The grade 2 winner and multiple grade 1-placed horse will return to Calumet May 11, with future stud plans still being discussed. 

The 5-year-old son of Awesome Again is conditioned by Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas.

Bravazo's Career 

Bravazo broke his maiden at Churchill Downs in his second career start. His third start followed in the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland, where he finished second against top-level competition. 

At 3, Bravazo took his 2018 debut in an allowance race at Oaklawn Park before going on to win the Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. He then ran in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), finishing sixth. 

In the 2018 Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course, he ran late at Triple Crown winner Justify and ended up finishing half a length behind. 

In all of 2018, Bravazo placed in four other top-level stakes, including a second-place finish in the betfair.com Haskell Invitational Stakes (G1) and the Clark by Norton Healthcare. He also finished third in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) and Runhappy Travers Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1). 

In 2019, Bravazo was only lightly raced. He started twice, with his best performance being a fourth-place finish in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1). 

This year, he made four starts, with the best being a fourth-place finish in the Essex Handicap at Oaklawn. He also went on to go unplaced in the May 2 Oaklawn Handicap (G2).

Bravazo was retired with a 3-4-3 record out of 22 starts and earned $2,033,195. 

After purchasing his dam, Tiz o'Gold, from Adena Springs in foal to Awesome Again for $35,000 at the 2014 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, Calumet became the breeder of Bravazo. 

Tiz o'Gold has produced a total of five foals so far, including unraced Calumet homebred 2-year-old by Raison d'Etat named Country Captain and a yearling by Gun Runner, 2017 Horse of the Year. 

Zulu Alpha Prepares for Return

One of the nation's best turf horses, Zulu Alpha, is preparing for his summer return. He will return to training after Churchill Downs reopens its barn areas. 

The last breeze for the son of Street Cry was after his second-place finish in the March 28 Kitten's Joy Pan American Stakes (G2T) at Gulfstream Park. Following that performance, he was given a break. 

It was decided to freshen Zulu Alpha after the various cancellations and postponements of major stakes due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 

The six-time graded stakes winner continued to keep an active schedule throughout the winter and early spring at Gulfstream. He took the Jan. 25 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes Presented by Runahppy (G1T), as well as the Feb. 29 Mac Diarmida Stakes (G2T). He then went on to finish second in the Pan American.

"With the uncertainty, we decided to send him to the farm for a couple weeks, and a couple weeks turned into a month," trainer Mike Maker said.

Zulu Alpha has started in 13 races for new owner Michael Hui since September 2018, with more than $1.8 million in earnings. One of his victories was the Sycamore Stakes (G3T) at Keeneland in October 2018.

His total lifetime earnings are at more than $2 million, with 11 of his 33 races being victories. 

One of the possible return races for the gelding is the United Nation Stakes (G1T) this summer. It is a $300,000 race running at 1 3/8 miles.