Breeders Cup, Breeders Cup Prep Race

Pilgrim Stakes 2024 Analysis

With Anticipation hero Zulu Kingdom seeks more stakes glory in Pilgrim (Adam Coglianese Photo)

By Jarrod Horak

The Grade 2, $250,000 Pilgrim Stakes will be run at Belmont at Aqueduct on Saturday, September 28, 2024, and this race is a Win & You’re In for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. The eight entrants will travel 1 1/16 miles on the outer turf course and Zulu Kingdom attempts to run his record to 3-for-3 for trainer Chad Brown. The Pilgrim goes as the eleventh race with a scheduled post time of 5:17 p.m. EDT.

Pilgrim Stakes Analysis

#1 Noble Confessor is still a maiden after three starts, and his trainer Todd Pletcher saddled the winner of this race in 2021, 2022, and 2023. This one needs to take a big step forward on the surface switch under Irad Ortiz Jr.

#2 Flying Mohawk added blinkers and landed the place in an improved effort second time out. The maiden needs to move forward again to threaten these.

#3 Without Caution was professional in his winning turf route bow at 13-1 odds on July 20. He disappointed in the Grade 3 With Anticipation second time out and needs to do better.

#4 Zulu Kingdom cruised by 3 1/2 lengths in his extended sprint turf debut in France and the show finisher was a next-out winner. He moved to the Chad Brown barm and was 2-1 in the Grade 3 With Anticipation at 1 1/16 miles on turf at Saratoga on Aug. 29, and he stalked and scored by a neck. He earned a field-best Today’s Racing Digest Final Time Rating (129) in the With Anticipation and could easily run his record to 3-for-3 under his new rider Joel Rosario.

#5 Concord Green rallied from far back to graduate in his turf route bow at Saratoga. He sports three works for this including a three panel bullet. 

#6 Smooth Breeze stalked and scored by a head in his New York-bred turf route debut. This is a tougher spot and he needs to run faster.

#7 Fully Authorized was up the track in his dirt sprint bow, and he stretched out and graduated in a flat mile turf race second time out. The Authentic colt will need to show more to be competitive in this spot.

#8 Early Adopter got up late in his turf route bow at Saratoga on Aug. 31. Chad Brown has good stats with his grads trying winners for the first time and Manny Franco stays put. He sports two works for this including a solid turf move on Sept. 20.

Pilgrim Stakes Video