Tag: Zozos

Munnings’s Zozos Leads Home ‘Rising Star’ 1-2-3 in ‘WAYI’ Ack Ack

Barry and Joni Butzow's homebred and 'TDN Rising Star' Zozos (Munnings) took them all the way for an overdue first graded stakes success in Saturday's GIII Ack Ack S., a 'Win and You're In' for the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.

The 3-5 favorite set a pressured pace, albeit through very manageable early fractions of :23.69 and :47.10 going a one-turn mile beneath the Twin Spires. He let it out a notch as they straightened for home and held Justify (Scat Daddy)'s half-brother and 'Rising Star' Stage Raider (Pioneerof the Nile) safe by a length. Three Technique (Mr Speaker) completed the 'Rising Star' trifecta.

Zozos, a strong second at just third asking in the 2022 GII Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby, reeled off three straight wins earlier this term, including the Knicks Go S. over this same track and trip May 6 and the Hanshin S. at Ellis Park July 2. He was a disappointing fourth as the heavy favorite going 1 1/16 miles around two turns in Monmouth's GIII Philip H. Iselin S. last time Aug. 19.

“I didn't think he would get away with that easy of an early lead,” winning trainer Brad Cox said. “I thought Florent (Geroux) did a good job to not let Caddo River (Hard Spun) get too close on his outside. He's run well this year and trained well out of his last race at Monmouth.”

Cox continued, “I think he's now a really good one-turn horse. We'll see who's going where in the Breeders' Cup and make a decision on his next start soon. I don't know what we'd do if we don't go to the Breeders' Cup, but we'll let this horse tell us what's next. It's a lot to ask of any horse to make the trip from Kentucky to California against some of the best horses in the world.”

Pedigree Notes:

Zozos becomes the 27th graded stakes winner for Munnings. Forestry is now the broodmare sire of 27 graded winners as well. The Butzows acquired the dam of Zozos for $57,000 at the 2011 Keeneland September and raced her to nine victories and eight minor placings from 32 starts for earnings north of $233,000. Papa's Forest had a colt by Candy Ride (Arg) in 2023 and was bred back to Jackie's Warrior.

Saturday, Churchill Downs
ACK ACK S.-GIII, $400,000, Churchill Downs, 9-30, 3yo/up, 1m, 1:35.32, ft.
1–ZOZOS, 121, c, 4, by Munnings
              1st Dam: Papa's Forest, by Forestry
              2nd Dam: Dixie Sue, by Dixieland Band
              3rd Dam: Barbara Sue, by Big Spruce
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O/B-Barry Butzow & Joni Butzow (KY); T-Brad H. Cox; J-Florent Geroux. $242,280. Lifetime Record: 11-7-1-0, $882,688. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Stage Raider, 121, h, 5, Pioneerof the Nile–Stage Magic, by Ghostzapper. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($950,000 RNA Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-John D. Gunther; B-John D. Gunther (KY); T-Cherie DeVaux. $78,800.
3–Three Technique, 121, h, 6, Mr Speaker–Nite in Rome, by Harlan's Holiday. ($50,000 Wlg '17 KEENOV; $180,000 Ylg '18 FTKJUL; $47,000 RNA 4yo '21 KEENOV). O-Miller, David E., Grindley, Eric and Werner, John; B-Omega Farm LLC & Bally Breeders (KY); T-Jason G. Cook. $39,400.
Margins: 1, 1, 5 1/4. Odds: 0.77, 6.70, 4.25.
Also Ran: O Besos, Caddo River, Seize the Night, Skyro.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuelTV.

The post Munnings’s Zozos Leads Home ‘Rising Star’ 1-2-3 in ‘WAYI’ Ack Ack appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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T.C. Stevens, Son of Jockey Gary Stevens, To Ride First Race

T.C. Stevens, son of Hall of Fame Jockey Gary Stevens, will ride his first race as a professional jockey at Fair Grounds March 19 for trainer Steve Asmussen. T.C. has been named on Motown Missile (Mo Town) in the race six. A regular exercise rider for trainer Brad Cox, T.C. has morning rides on Instant Coffee (Bolt d'Oro), Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}), Zozos (Munnings), Strobe (Into Mischief), and Tapit's Conquest (Tapit).

“I am very grateful to Mr. Asmussen and his staff for giving me this opportunity,” stated Stevens. “I've had this dream of being a jockey for a very long time. While I realize I am further along in life than is the norm to start this career path, I know that I am prepared and will go out there on Sunday and do the absolute best that I can.”

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Some Derby Day Fact ‘N Figs

You've all done the donkey work. Maybe you've resigned yourself to the skinny prices about Zandon (Upstart) and Epicenter (Not This Time) and there's a good chance you've debated–internally or otherwise–whether Mike Battaglia got it right from the perspective of the morning line. Or, you argue, 'It's a 20-horse field, there isn't a snowball's chance in hell I am betting one of the favorites when there is value to be found elsewhere.'

Surely, you reason, there isn't much that separates the market leaders from horses like 'TDN Rising Star' Messier (Empire Maker), whose sire couldn't quite get to Funny Cide (Distorted Humor) here some 19 years ago. You contend that, despite his obvious lack of experience, Taiba (Gun Runner)–named a 'TDN Rising Star' as recently as Mar. 5–has as much or more or even much more talent than the 19 fellow sophomores that will gather at the top of the Churchill stretch just before 7 p.m. Eastern time Saturday.

You have likely marveled at the boundless energy displayed by Crown Pride (Jpn) (Reach the Crown {Jpn}), just the second Japanese-bred horse to make a Derby appearance, and you have struggled trying to figure out how he fits into your betting strategy. Many will deem him a must-use for exotics, while others will take a stand based on a starting price that figures to be pretty short, a whole lot less than his 20-1 morning line in any case.

There is also the Florida form to be considered, represented by GI Curlin Florida Derby hero White Abarrio (Race Day) and Simplification (Not This Time), the second of two runners in the race for his boom sire and the idea of many of a very live longshot.

T.D. Thornton has done a yeoman's job over the last six months laying out his Derby pecking order–his final assessment can be reviewed here–and we strongly encourage you to use the TDN's Kentucky Derby Special Edition, with a great Steve Sherack cover story on Steve Asmussen's Derby quest, as a resource for Saturday's big race. But to lighten things up just a bit, here is a bit of Derby Day whimsy.

Letter (Im)perfect…

Zandon is joined in Saturday's field by fellow 'Z' horse 'TDN Rising Star' Zozos (Munnings), but they'll have to 'overcome' history, as no 'Z' horse since Zev in 1923 has been draped with the roses. Believe it or not, this isn't the first time a Derby has had more than one 'Z' horse, as Z Fortune and Z Humor were 10th and 14th, respectively, behind Big Brown in 2008. And if you're backing Simplification, 'TDN Rising Star' Smile Happy (Runhappy) or even Summer Is Tomorrow (Summer Front), take heart. Horses that begin with the 20th letter of the alphabet have won the Derby on 19 occasions, most recently with double 'S' Super Saver back in 2010.

Minnesota Front and Center on Derby Day…

The popularity of racing in Minnesota has continued to grow over the past several years, owing in large part to some forward-thinking execs at Canterbury Park who have increasingly focused on the customer experience. Those tuning into Saturday's broadcast from the 'Land of 10,000 Lakes' will have plenty of rooting interest, as Zozos is owned and bred by Minnesota's own Barry and Joni Butzow, while native son Jeff Drown campaigns morning-line pick Zandon. And Minnesotan Bob Lothenbach will be watching when Bell's the One (Majesticperfection) runs for the third straight season in the GI Derby City Distaff. She defeated 2019 GI Kentucky Oaks heroine Serengeti Empress (Alternation) in a thriller in the COVID-delayed renewal in September 2020.

O Canada…

Two-time graded winner and GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby runner-up Messier would become the third Kentucky Derby winner bred north of the border were he to get home first Saturday afternoon. The $470,000 Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearling Showcase grad was bred by Sam-Son Farm in Ontario, also the birthplace of Sunny's Halo, who took down the 1983 Derby when total purse money was, wait for it, a whopping $250,000. E. P. Taylor's Northern Dancer is the third of the trio, having broken ground for Canada in 1964. Only one Canadian-bred has placed in the race since–eventual Triple Crown spoiler Victory Gallop was second in 1998.

Will It Be A Day for the Grays?…

The Derby has drawn a trio of gray colts for the third time in four years, with Florida Derby runner-up Charge It (Tapit) and Barber Road (Race Day) joining White Abarrio. Since 1930, grays in the Derby have a record of 8-3-10 from 112 starters. There were three gray winners between 1997 and 2005 (Silver Charm, Monarchos and Giacomo).

Five Thrives in Derby…

Since the use of the starting gate for the Derby began back in 1930, the post with the highest strike rate has been gate five (smile happy, Smile Happy), with 10 winners from 92 starters (10.9%). The second most prolific winning barrier is the 10 hole, with nine winners from 85 runners (10.6%). As has been widely noted, post position 17 has yet to toss up a Derby winner (apologies to any Classic Causeway fans out there) and just three horses to have started from there have run in the first three. Next worst is gate six, with two winners.

A Reason to Root for Rich Strike…

The unfortunate 11th-hour defection of the Wayne Lukas-trained Ethereal Road (Quality Road) means that Rich Strike (Keen Ice) draws into the Derby in gate 20. We don't need to point out that the handsome chestnut is hopelessly overmatched on paper, but it is not hard to be happy for trainer Eric Reed. About a week before Christmas in 2016, Reed and his wife Kay suffered an unspeakable loss when their Mercury Training Center went up in flames, with a reported 23 horses–mostly yearlings–perishing. But he has persevered–his runners won 80 races in 2021, his best result since 2014–and it does the heart good to see him on a stage such as this one.

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Wednesday’s Derby Report: Crown Pride & Taiba Works Highlight Busy Morning

LOUISVILLE, KY – Crown Pride (Jpn) (Reach the Crown {Jpn}) had Wednesday morning's 'Dawn at the Downs' crowd buzzing just three days out from the GI Kentucky Derby.

With the G2 UAE Derby winner continuing to warm up with his popular dressage-like jogging routine in the chute on a very cool and overcast morning, Todd Pletcher's troops of Charge It (Tapit), Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo) and Pioneer of Medina (Pioneerof the Nile) were the first to hit the track for the special Derby/Oaks training period at 7:30 a.m.

Owner Jerry Crawford stood alongside the two-time Derby winning Hall of Fame trainer on the backstretch while closely monitoring Donegal Racing and Repole Stable's aforementioned GII Wood Memorial S. winner.

With jockey Christophe Lemaire's yellow helmet cap fittingly matching Crown Pride's Kentucky Derby saddle towel, the dark bay blitzed through a visually impressive half-mile bullet breeze in :46.60. Under a nice hold approaching the quarter pole with ears flicking back and forth, Crown Pride switched leads right on cue in the stretch and powered on through the wire as he continues to impress in his training.

The unbeaten Taiba (Gun Runner), credited with just a lone six-furlong breeze breeze since his sensational GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby win, blew out three furlongs beneath Joel Rosario in :38.40. The chestnut followed that same blueprint before his Santa Anita Derby win. Tim Yakteen's former late and legendary boss Charlie Whittingham is certainly smiling somewhere. One of the more efficient movers you'll see, Taiba brought $1.7 million as a Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Sale 2-year-old in training.

The top two choices on Mike Battaglia's Kentucky Derby morning-line, meanwhile, were also out stretching their legs during this action-packed 15-minute time slot. Slightly favored Zandon (Upstart) continues to stride out beautifully during his preparations beneath the Twin Spires for Chad Brown. Typically out for Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen during the pre-dawn hours, Epicenter (Not This Time) looked the part as well while training much later than usual amidst the chaos.

With his neck bowed and sporting lots of blue and yellow equipment, no one stood out more than the stunning gray White Abarrio (Race Day).

The blaze-faced Zozos (Munnings) also caught the eye while galloping a powerful 1 1/2 miles along with his Brad Cox-trained stablemates Cyberknife (Gun Runner) and Tawny Port (Pioneerof the Nile).

Despite temperatures hovering in the 50s, Smile Happy (Runhappy) was a bit lathered on his neck during his routine gallop.

Back at the barn and still with cotton balls in his ears, Epicenter kept his cool before a big crowd of admiring media and fans while getting cleaned up as training hours began to wind down.

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