Horse Racing Royalty Unleashes $400,000 Brilliance, Dominating Grade 3 Stakes at Churchill Downs

The prestigious horse racing event of the end year, the Breeder’s Cup is scheduled for this coming November. As the race day approaches, the ‘Win and You’re In‘ are being conducted for direct entry of the winner to the Breeder’s Cup. In that connection, at Churchill Downs, last Sunday Grade 3 $400,000 Ack Ack Stakes race was conducted.

The races witnessed participation from well-acclaimed horses and a tough competition was anticipated from it. But, Zozos trained by famed trainer Brad Cox showed a brilliant performance to claim the race and the free entry pass to the popular Santa Anita race. It was quite hard to believe that this was the horse’s first stake win after watching the furious performance at the track.

Zozos wins the horse race at Churchill Downs

Zozos arrived at Churchill Downs after finishing four in his last race at Monmouth Park. His last race was also a Grade 3 race. But, the four-year-old colt ridden by Florent Geroux displayed a formidable form in the one-mile race on the dirt track. According to Paulick Report, starting from the fifth pole in a field of seven horses, Zozos took the lead from the start and set the pace of the race. He completed a quarter mile in 23.69 seconds, a half mile in 47.10 seconds, and a three-quarter mile in 1:11.41. Caddo River was chasing Zozos at the flank all the time but backed down at the home turn.

In the last stage, at the stretch Stage Raider and Three Technique charged to challenge the leader but Zozos had plenty of strength left and successfully overcame their obstacle. Zozos won the race by a length and completed at 1:35.32. The Jockey was happy with the performance of the colt observing “He relaxed well on the front end and we were able to not go too fast early“. The trainer was elated with Zozo’s run and considered that he finally broke the ice to claim the first graded stakes win after being an accomplished horse.

Zozos’s horse racing career

Zozos is owned and bred by Barry Butzow & Joni Butzow. He is the son of Munnings and Papa’s Forest. He had his first career win on his debut at Fair Grounds in January 2022. Later that year he claimed the second position in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby and qualified for the Kentucky Derby, where he finished in tenth place. This year he won two stakes races $175,000 Knicks Go at Churchill Downs in May and $275,000 Hanshin at Ellis Park in July. In his entire career, he had eleven starts to date of which he won seven and claimed second position in one. He has earned  $882,688 to date.

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Zozos displayed an epic performance at the Ack Ack Stakes race and truly deserved to win his first graded stakes. With this performance, the trainer got more confidence in him for the Breeder’s Cup.

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