Page 22 - March 2017

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2016 Freshman sire oF The Year
Zulu Dragon Wins 2016 Freshman sire Title
by Sue Zuber
Zulu Dragon
Of the 2016 freshman sires, Zulu Dragon was the only one to sire two Graded stakes winners, Running Dragon and Magnifico Dragon. Three others were stakes finalists, and five were winners.
Just nine 2 year olds from Zulu Dragon’s
first crop faced the starter last year, but they made their races count, amassing $698,986 and propelling Zulu Dragon to the head of the class of 2016 freshman sires.
There were 10 freshman sires that made the American Quarter Horse Association’s list of top 200 sires of money earners
in 2016. Of those, Zulu Dragon had
the second-fewest number of 2014 foals registered at 15, and the second-fewest starters. Seven stallions on the list had 20 or more registered foals in their first crops, and two had 50 or more.
Zulu Dragon’s numbers may have been small, but the horses behind the figures
were mighty. Of the 2016 freshman sires, Zulu Dragon was the only one to sire two Graded stakes winners, Running Dragon and Magnifico Dragon. Three others were stakes finalists, and five were winners.
While the odds were stacked against Zulu Dragon numerically, they were also not in his favor geographically. The stallion stood his first few seasons at stud in Chihuahua, Mexico, under the ownership of 21 Partnership, who owned the 2007 stallion during part of his racing career.
A New Mexico Runner
Beginning in 2009, Zulu Dragon raced exclusively in New Mexico, making his first start for owners Donna Aldridge and Lola Willis,
and trainer Mike Joiner. Zulu Dragon broke his maiden in his debut, but that would be the last time he would visit the winner’s circle until his 4-year-old season, though he did qualify for and finish fifth in the Hobbs America Futurity-G3. The only stakes race he contested at 3 was the Hobbs America Derby-G2, where he ran ninth.
Sold to 21 Partnership at the end of his sophomore campaign, Zulu Dragon won his first start of 2011, an allowance race at Sunland Park, for trainer Jose Badilla, Jr. After one more win in an allowance race at SunRay Park, Zulu Dragon took home his first stakes win in the La Plata Stakes-G3. He raced in stakes company three more times that year, including a second- place finish in the Mr Jet Moore Handicap-G3.
Zulu Dragon continued strong as a 5 year old, when he finished second in the West Texas Maturity-G2. Midway through the year, he switched barns for the final time, making the last four starts of his career for trainer Eduardo Gonzalez. Those included a win in the James Isaac Hobbs Stakes-G2 and a runner-up effort in the KOFX-FM Radio Handicap-G3. The
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20 SPEEDHORSE, March 2017
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