Jeff Drown's Zandon worked a half-mile in :49.24 Sunday over the Saratoga's main track in preparation for Saturday's $1-million Whitney (G1), a nine-furlong route for older horses. The Whitney offers a “Win and You're In” berth to the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) in November at Santa Anita Park.
“The breeze went super and the horse is doing great. I'm looking forward to running him,” said trainer Chad Brown, who is in search of his first Whitney win.
The 4-year-old Upstart colt captured the 2022 Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland en route to a close third-place finish in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby (G1) when 1 1/2 lengths back of the victorious Rich Strike. He has hit the board in five of six starts since the Derby – all in graded events – including a last-out second to returning Whitney rival Cody's Wish in the Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap (G1) on June 10 at Belmont Park.
Brown said Zandon will benefit from a return to two-turns after showing determination to best Grade 1 winner White Abarrio by a head for place honors in the Met Mile.
“I was very pleased with his effort. He showed a lot of heart to be second. Clearly, he was second best in the race. Cody's Wish is arguably the best dirt horse in training in this country, so a lot of respect for him,” Brown said. “Our horse is doing fine and I think he's better around two turns. He's got a tall order here. It probably won't be a big field, but it's a very strong field with Cody's Wish and some other top horses. He's got his work cut out for him, but I really like the way the horse is doing and I like him at a mile and an eighth. I think that's his best distance. I'm just hoping he runs the race of his life and is able to spring an upset.”
Zandon, who sports a record of 2-5-3 from 11 career starts and purse earnings in excess of $1.7 million, made two Spa starts last summer – both in events won by eventual champion 3-year-old male Epicenter – when second in the Jim Dandy (G2) and third in the Travers (G1).
Bred in Kentucky by Brereton C. Jones, the $170,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase by Mike Ryan, agent, is out of the Creative Cause mare Memories Prevail, who is a half sister to dual graded stakes winner Cairo Memories.
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