Multiple stakes winner Zozos will attempt to keep his perfect 2-for-2 record in races carded at one mile when he competes as the heavy 6-5 morning line favorite in Saturday's 31st running of the $400,000 Ack Ack (G3) at Churchill Downs.
Owned by Barry and Joni Butzow, Zozos has won five of seven starts after trainer Brad Cox cut the 4-year-old son of Munnings back in distance following his 10th-place finish in the 2022 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1).
Zozos has won three of five starts in 2023 including a three-length romp in the Hanshin Stakes at Ellis Park.
In his last start, Zozos set the early fractions in the 1 1/16-mile Iselin (G3) at Monmouth Park but gave way to finish fourth to Whelen Springs, who is entered in the Lukas Classic (G2).
“He just didn't fire last time,” jockey Florent Geroux said. “He's run well at Churchill and he'll be tough if he can return to how he ran this spring.”
The Ack Ack goes as Race 9 of 11 with a post time of 4:58 p.m.
The field from the rail out (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds):
- Seize the Night (Jon Court, Jade Cunningham, 12-1);
- O Besos (Tyler Gaffalione, Greg Foley, 7-2);
- Three Technique (Rafael Bejarano, Jason Cook, 3-1);
- Stage Raider (Brian Hernandez Jr., Cherie DeVaux, 6-1);
- Zozos (Geroux, Cox, 6-5);
- Skyro (James Graham, Brian Lynch, 10-1); and
- Caddo River (Declan Cannon, Wayne Lukas, 15-1).
The Ack Ack is a Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” race for the Dirt Mile (G1). The winner will receive an all entry fees-paid berth to the Nov. 4 Dirt Mile at Santa Anita.
The post Rebounding Zozos Should Be ‘Tough’ In Saturday’s Ack Ack appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
