Zozos Eyes Gentle Race First bet to win in Louisiana

The hybrid of Barry and Joni Butzow Zozos will contest its first stake on January 19 worth $150,000 in Louisiana Shares (G3). A 4-year-old will walk 1 1/16 miles longer than eight other older runners at Fair Grounds Racecourse & Slots.

Not starting since finishing 10th in the 2022 Kentucky Derby (G1), Zozos came back with a tier two grant at the Fair Grounds in mid-December. He took the win impressively and in the open after falling far in sixth and having to take down a game Treasury . After the race, coach Brad Cox pointed out that there was no rush to join Zozos to bet, and that he would likely pass his conditions, but instead, he was in Louisiana.

Gentle race, son of Munnings broke his first sprint last year on Sunday of the “Road to the Derby” weekend. He excelled when he won the race to claim the optional allowance at Oaklawn Parkthen entered the $1 million Louisiana Derby (G2), where he secured a place in the Kentucky Derby 148 after setting pace and holding second place behind. epicenter . With three wins in five starts, Zozos will retain the service of Corey Lanerie, who had a stellar game. Drawing lesson 8, Zozos received the nod as favorite on the morning of 3-1.

Cox has also entered the new-man barn Forza Di Oro in Louisiana. Don Alberto Stable’s 6-year-old light racing horse won the 2020 Share of Discovery (G3) while alongside Bill Mott. He ran once under the care of Jerry Hollendorfer before being transferred to the Cox warehouse before Tenacious, where he finished a reliable third.

Bret Calhoun has entered three in Louisiana, including Tom Durant’s Classic run Jon Lapczenski and JIL Stable’s Mr. Wireless and Martin Mueller, Don Ladd, Richard Reid, Joe Bowley, and Arvydas Cieminis’ Magnanimity who has been cross-entered and will “ideally be executive” in the Colonel’s ER Bradley Stock.

Run Classic, the giant 5 year old horse of Runhappy won two allowance races last fall at Churchill Downs and Keeneland. He then ran home 8 1/2 the way a little over 7 on the main track on October 16.

Last run in Oaklawn’s 1 1/8 mile Tinsel Stakes, he was cornered and weakened, finishing in a disappointing fourth as favorite.

“I don’t think he likes the track (at Oaklawn),” Calhoun said. “He’s never been himself and doesn’t feel comfortable and confident on that track. I don’t care. (Even) if that last race is seven eighths, I don’t think the distance is relevant. nothing to do with that. He’s doing very, very well. This time we’re going to kick him out of his own booth, and I think he’ll show up.”

If you’re going to be the older route champion then you have to beat the champion and that Fair Grounds title now goes to Lothenbach Stables’ happy americans . In beating school 11 in the $100,000 Tenacious Stakes on December 26, the 5-year-old Neil Pessin-trained horse made his signature late rally, but this time it fell far behind the game. play Mr. Wireless to win with a score of 2 3/4 length.

Earlier on the card, Wolfe Racing and Hugh Robertson’s two Emmy Awards , winner of last year’s Muniz Memorial Classic Stakes (G2T) on this field, making his debut in 2023 with a $100,000 prize for ER Colonel Bradley Stakes for kids 4 years and older who run approximately 1 1/16 miles on the grass. The two Emmys, 1st place winners at Arlington International in 2021, have not raced since landing Outbound Ike Stakes at Hawthorne Racecourse in June.

Also competing for black category glory on the seventh card is Susan Moulton of Manny Wah , who will be looking to return to form after two losses at the Richard R. Scherer Memorial Stakes on December 26 here and the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) in Keeneland. Intern Wayne Catalano, 2nd place winner in the Phoenix Stakes (G2) last fall, won the 2021 Duncan F. Kenner Stakes Prize $100,000. Runs at about 5 1/2 paces With a long run on the field for older horses, Duncan will mark Manny Wah’s return to the field after four consecutive starts on the field.

This press release has been edited by BloodHorse Staff for content and style.