Frankel Colt Luther Put Up to Victory in Hall of Fame Stakes

Luther (GB) (Frankel {GB}) crossed the line a clear second to hot favorite Zulu Kingdom (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) in Friday's featured GII National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes at Saratoga, but endured a year's worth of trouble in running and was ultimately promoted to the victory by the stewards.

Taken back to the rear of the field as Mi Bago (Vekoma) stole away up front, the Tattersalls October graduate was bumped soundly into the first turn by longshot Tiz Dashing (Tiz the Law) and was relegated to last. Joel Rosario availed himself of what appeared to be clear sailing down the backstretch and he began pinching ground at the fence, only to be stymied yet again inside of Clever Again (American Pharoah) with about a half-mile to travel.

In the meantime, Zulu Kingdom was ridden patiently in the clear by Flavien Prat and kicked it into high gear when popped the question, quickening up to score by a convincing margin. Rosario claimed foul against the first-past-the-post, arguing that Prat came in on Tiz Dashing, forcing that one into Luther and the stewards ultimately upheld the protest. Clever Again, making his first start on the turf, was moved up to second and Tiz Dashing to third. Zulu Kingdom was placed fourth.

For trainer Charlie Fellowes, the result was a bit of welcome news after Shes Perfect (Ire) (Sioux Nation) was demoted from an apparent victory in this year's G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French 1000 Guineas) and placed second.

“I know first-hand it's not the way you want to win a race,” he said. “I feel really bad for the connections of the winner, as it's a bad way to win and a very tough loss for them, but I'm unbelievably proud of my horse and how well he ran.

“I'm gutted I'm not over there, as they keep telling me how wonderful a place Saratoga is, especially as this might be the biggest–actually I would have to say it is the biggest–win of my career. To come all the way over there to America and win a Grade II at Saratoga for a lot of money is unbelievable.”

Winner of Haydock's Listed Ascendant Stakes at two, Luther was runner-up in a Apr. 3 conditions test over the Chelmsford all-weather ahead of a close fourth to Henri Matisse (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French 2000 Guineas) at ParisLongchamp May 11. Well back in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly over an extended mile and a quarter June 1, the bay made belated progress to round out the trifecta in the July 4 GI Belmont Derby over nine furlongs.

Fellowes suggested Luther's American sojourn is likely at its end for now, but that a return trip for a race like the GI Breeders' Cup Mile or, alternatively, a race in Australia could be in the offing.

Pedigree Notes:

Luther is the 107th worldwide group/graded winner for his Banstead Manor-based stallion.

A son of this breeder's 2018 G3 Musidora Stakes heroine Give And Take, Luther second dam is Grace And Glory, whose full-brother Fame And Glory (GB) won the 2009 G1 Irish Derby following a runner-up effort in the G1 Investec Derby and later went on to become Europe's champion stayer, highlighted by a three-length success in the G1 Gold Cup in 2011. This is also the female family of 2015 G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas winner and GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf runner-up Legatissimo (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and Shifting Sands (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), victorious in Saratoga's Better Talk Now Stakes for Peter Brant and Chad Brown in 2021.

Give And Take is also the dam of the 2-year-old colt Swiped (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), unplaced on Windsor debut June 23, a yearling colt by Baaeed (GB) and a filly by the champion six-time Group 1-winning son of Sea The Stars (Ire) foaled Apr. 28.

LUTHER wins the Grade 2 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes @nmrhof via DQ under @JRosarioJockey for trainer Charlie Fellowes. pic.twitter.com/rNgqRGoGDw

— NYRA (🎪) (@TheNYRA) August 1, 2025

Friday, Saratoga
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF RACING HALL OF FAME S.-GII, $400,000, Saratoga, 8-1, 3yo, 1mT, 1:35.06, fm.
1–LUTHER (GB), 120, c, 3, by Frankel (GB)
            1st Dam: Give And Take (GB) (GSW-Eng, GSP-Fr,
            $116,657), by Cityscape (GB)
            2nd Dam: Grace And Glory (Ire), by Montjeu (Ire)
            3rd Dam: Gryada (GB), by Shirley Heights (GB)
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. (250,000gns Ylg '23 TATOCT).
O-Paul Hickman and Nicholas Jones; B-Coln Valley Stud (GB);
T-Charlie Fellowes; J-Joel Rosario. $220,000. Lifetime Record:
SW-Eng, GISP-USA, 9-3-2-1, $434,782. Werk Nick Rating: A+.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Clever Again, 122, c, 3, American Pharoah–Flattering (Ire),
by Galileo (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE.
($500,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). O-Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC,
Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor and Derrick Smith;
B-Orpendale/Chelston/Wynatt (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen.
$80,000.
3–Tiz Dashing, 120, c, 3, Tiz the Law–Breaking Beauty, by Into
Mischief. ($215,000 Wlg '22 FTKNOV). O-Sackatoga Stable;
B-Camas Park Stud (KY); T-Barclay Tagg. $48,000.
Margins: 1HF, HF, 3. Odds: 1.85, 7.50, 20.10.
Also Ran: Zulu Kingdom (Ire), Mi Bago, Tank. Scratched: Maui Strong, McAfee, Out On Bail. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.