Barry and Joni Butzow's Zozos returned to the work tab for the first time since his runner-up effort behind Epicenter in the $1 million Louisiana Derby (Grade 2) on March 26 with an easy half-mile move in :48 early Friday morning at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.
With exercise rider Kelvin Perez in the saddle, Zozos began his 5:30 a.m. workout in a rather leisurely opening quarter-mile of :25. Zozos increased his speed to the wire and completed the final quarter in :23 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:00.80, according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols.
“It was a good first work back after the Louisiana Derby,” trainer Brad Cox said. “He came out of the race in great shape and I think got a lot out of finishing second. He really finished up well in today's work.”
Named after a restaurant in the Virgin Islands, Zozos broke his maiden in January at Fair Grounds and returned against first-level allowance competition for an emphatic 10 ¼-length score. The sun of Munnings finished 2 ½ lengths back of Epicenter in the Louisiana Derby after getting pressured for much of the early pace.
Zozos is one of three Kentucky Derby contenders for Cox. He's also scheduled to run Gold Square's $1.25 million Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Cyberknife and Peachtree Stable's $600,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) runner-up Tawny Port.
All three of Cox's Derby contenders are stabled in Barn 22 at Churchill Downs.
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