(Zulu Kingdom / Photos by Holly M. Smith)

From the Keeneland Media Team / Amy Owens:

Zulu Kingdom (IRE) Bids for Second Keeneland Grade 1 Win
in Coolmore Turf Mile on Fall Stars Saturday

Five stakes set for Fall Stars Saturday

LEXINGTON, KY (Sept. 29, 2026) – Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, William Strauss and Michael Caruso’s Zulu Kingdom (IRE), winner of the Maker’s Mark Mile (G1) during Keeneland’s Spring Meet, headlines a field of nine entered Tuesday for Saturday’s 41st running of the $1.5 million Coolmore Turf Mile (G1).

The Coolmore Turf Mile is one of five stakes on Saturday’s 11-race card, part of the 25th anniversary of Fall Stars Weekend. Fall Stars Weekend kicks off the 17-day Meet Friday and continues Sunday with three more stakes.

In the other four Saturday stakes:

The 29th running of the $800,000 First Lady (G1) drew a field of 11. The field is led by Gary Barber, Crevalle Racing and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Classic Q, winner of the Just a Game (G1) Presented by Resolute Racing and Distaff Turf Mile (G2).

The 113th running of the $650,000 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) drew a field of six. The field is led by Gainesway Stable, Shamrock Stables and Michael J. Mackin’s Coach Pope and impressive Saratoga debut maiden winners American History for WinStar Farm, First Go Racing and CHC Inc., and Q B Rocket for Spendthrift Farm and Frank Fletcher Racing Operations Inc.

The 46th running of the $400,000 Thoroughbred Club of America (G2) drew a field of seven. The field is led by last year’s winner, Newtown Anner Stud’s Praying, and Gabriel Duignan’s multiple graded stakes winner Echo Sound.

The 30th running of the $400,000 Woodford (G2) Presented by FanDuel drew a field of 10. The field is led by Patricia’s Hope’s veteran $1,951,452-earner Nobals, winner of the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1).

Fields for the five stakes on Fall Stars Saturday, with trainers, riders and weights from the rail out, are:

Race 6, 3:40 p.m. – $400,000 Woodford (G2) Presented by FanDuel, 3-year-olds and up, 5½ furlongs (turf):

Post Horse Trainer Jockey Weight
1 Script Rusty Arnold John Velazquez 121
2 Mondogetsbuckets Chris Block Javier Castellanos 121
3 No Nay Hudson Wesley Ward Jose Ortiz 121
4 Nobals Larry Rivelli Gerardo Corrales 121
5 Okiro Jose Garoffalo Tyler Gaffalione 121
6 Joe Shiesty Eric Foster Fernando De La Cruz 121
7 Motorious (GB) Phil D’Amato Umberto Rispoli 121
8 My Boy Prince Mark Casse Luis Saez 125
9 Its Bourbon Thirty Jeremiah O’Dwyer Luan Machado 121
10 Doncho Michelle Lovell Irad Ortiz Jr. 121

Race 7, 4:12 p.m. — $400,000 Thoroughbred Club of America (G2), 3-year-olds and up, fillies and mares, 6½ furlongs, “Win and You’re In” race for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1):

 Post Horse Trainer Jockey Weight
1 Praying Robbie Medina John Velazquez 121
2 Jersey Pearl Darrin Miller Francisco Arrieta 121
3 Queen’s Martini Ron Moquett Tyler Gaffalione 121
4 Evanescence Eddie Kenneally Jose Ortiz 121
5 Zeitlos Steven Asmussen Brian Hernandez Jr. 121
6 Eclatant Brad Cox Irad Ortiz Jr. 125
7 Echo Sound Rusty Arnold Luis Saez 121

Race 8, 4:44 p.m. — $800,000 First Lady (G1), 3-year-olds and up, fillies and mares, 1 mile (turf):

Post Horse Trainer Jockey Weight
1 Pin Up Betty Mike Maker Ben Curtis 125
2 Lush Lips (GB) Brendan Walsh Tyler Gaffalione 125
3 Mandanaba (FR) Francis-Henri Graffard Umberto Rispoli 125
4 Expensive Queen (IRE) Brendan Walsh Luis Saez 125
5 And One More Time Mark Casse Javier Castellano 125
6 Deep Satin Cherie DeVaux Jose Ortiz 125
7 Love You Anyway Rusty Arnold Axel Concepcion 125
8 Segesta Chad Brown Irad Ortiz Jr. 125
9 Classic Q Mark Casse John Velazquez 125
10 Bless the Broken Brad Cox Brian Hernandez Jr. 125
11 Vina Arana (IRE) Jack Sisterson Adam Beschizza 125

Race 9, 5:16 p.m. — $650,000 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1), 2-year-olds, 1 1/16 miles, “Win and You’re In” race for $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance: 

Post Horse Trainer Jockey Weight
1 Coach Pope Kenny McPeek Jose Ortiz 122
2 Q B Rocket Brad Cox Junior Alvarado 122
3 Phone Booth Doug O’Neill Umberto Rispoli 122
4 Title Worthy Dallas Stewart Gerardo Corrales 122
5 Jaded Mark Casse Irad Ortiz Jr. 122
6 American History Todd Pletcher John Velazquez 122

Race 10, 5:48 p.m. — $1.25 million Coolmore Turf Mile (G1), 3-year-olds and up, 1 mile (turf), “Win and You’re In” race for the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1):

Post Horse Trainer Jockey Weight
1 Title Role (GB) Brendan Walsh John Velazquez 122
2 Brilliant Berti Cherie DeVaux Brian Hernandez Jr. 126
3 Rhetorical Will Walden Irad Ortiz Jr. 126
4 Mercante Brian Knippenberg Umberto Rispoi 126
5 Pass the Hat Bill Mott Junior Alvarado 126
6 Plensa Rusty Arnold Axel Concepcion 126
7 Lake Forest (GB)

 

 William Haggas Cieren Fallon 126
8 Kupuna Norm Casse Tyler Gaffalione 126
9 Zulu Kingdom (IRE) Chad Brown Jose Ortiz 126

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Since its first race meet 90 years ago, the Keeneland Association has devoted itself to the health and vibrancy of the Thoroughbred industry. The world’s largest Thoroughbred auction house, Keeneland conducts six sales a year, in January, April, September, October and November. Graduates of Keeneland sales dominate racing across the globe at every level. In April and October, Keeneland offers some of the highest caliber and richest Thoroughbred racing in the world. On Oct. 30-31, Keeneland will host the Breeders’ Cup World Championships for the fourth time, following 2015, 2020 and 2022. Uniquely structured, Keeneland is a privately held company with a not-for-profit mission that returns its earnings to the industry and the community in the form of higher purses and millions of dollars donated in support of horse industry initiatives and charitable contributions for education, research, and health and human services throughout Central Kentucky. Keeneland also maintains Keeneland Library, a world-renowned public research institution with the mission of preserving information about the Thoroughbred industry. To learn more, visit Keeneland.com.

For more information email Keeneland Communications Associate Amy Owens at aowens@keeneland.com.