Both Chad Brown and Todd Pletcher have three previous wins going in to the Pennine Ridge Stakes of 2025 on Belmont Stakes day, with America’s day at the races again taking place upstate at Saratoga, rather than in New York City.
A Grade III contest for three-year-olds over an extended mile on the turf with $300,000 in the prize purse, these leading trainers hope to one up each other. Pletcher aims three at the race, while Brown has Zulu Kingdom from his local barn.
Following a Grade I success in the American Turf Stakes at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby day, it’s no wonder Belmont Stakes betting sites strongly favor the Ten Sovereigns ridgling down in class. Zulu Kingdom has a penalty for his top-tier victory, but knows Saratoga well after winning the With Anticipation Stakes here last summer.
Starting his career in the care of French master trainer Andre Fabre, Madaket Stables purchased him as a juvenile. Zulu Kingdom hasn’t looked back since, besting re-opposing rival Noble Confessor by a neck in the Grade II Pilgrim Stakes at Aqueduct.
When the pair met again in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, however, it was Pletcher’s Quality Road colt who finished off the better in sixth. Zulu Kingdom was a couple of lengths behind. Noble Confessor shaped more like a middle-distance horse at Del Mar than a miler, though, and placed on his return to action in an Aqueduct maiden.
Morning Line odds for the Pennine Ridge Stakes in 2025 suggest Pletcher has a better chance in the race with A. P. Kid. Another ridgling, the son of Honor A. P. won his Gulfstream Park maiden in March after previously running sixth to Preakness Stakes second Gosger.
Flying Mohawk Back on Turf After Failed Derby Bid
D. Whitworth Beckman switched his Flying Mohawk to dirt for a Kentucky Derby campaign that didn’t work out. The Karakonite colt didn’t stay in the opening leg of the Triple Crown and trailed in last. However, he placed in the Jeff Ruby behind Final Gambitt and, prior to that, beat States’ Rights at the New Orleans Fair Grounds.
Flying Mohawk should do so again off the same terms and could turn out a better horse on grass. On his juvenile form and finishing fifth in the Pilgrim, there’s something to find with Zulu Kingdom and Noble Confessor, though. There aren’t many horses heading to Saratoga off the back of wins.
Pletcher’s third runner is the longshot Bulldoze, who needs a lot of progress real quick to have any say here. Mi Bago ran better when dropping to fourth behind Zulu Kingdom last time, but also flopped in the Transylvania Stakes previously alongside Tom’s Magic.
Both need improvement to cause the favorite in the Pennine Ridge Stakes of 2025 any worries. Golden Channel and Thirteen Colonies are the only others in the field to taste victory last time. Those came at a much lower level in maidens, so they too must progress.
Zulu Kingdom seems, on paper at least, to have little in the way of competition here. He does concede weight all-round to nine rivals, but is a Grade I horse in a much easier race. Brown looks to have found a great opening in his own backyard to add more prize money.
Pennine Ridge Stakes 2025 Post Positions & Morning Line Odds
- Zulu Kingdom (124lbs) – 6-5 fav SCRATCHED
- A. P. Kid (120lbs) – 10-1
- States’ Rights (120lbs) – 6-1 SCRATCHED
- Flying Mohawk (120lbs) – 9-2 SCRATCHED
- Tom’s Magic (122lbs) – 15-1 SCRATCHED
- Bulldoze (120lbs) – 30-1
- Mi Bago (122lbs) – 6-1
- Golden Channel (120lbs) – 20-1
- Noble Confessor (120lbs) – 12-1
- Thirteen Colonies (120lbs) – 20-1
Our Handicapper’s Win Place Show Bets for Pennine Ridge Stakes 2025
Win: Zulu Kingdom SCRATCHED
Place: Flying Mohawk SCRATCHED
Show: Noble Confessor (ATB)
WATCH: Noble Confessor & Zulu Kingdom Run at the Breeders’ Cup
