Zozos , a 5-year-old grade 1-placed, graded stakes winner by Munnings , has been bought by Equistar Coaching and Breeding Heart in Japanese Pennsylvania and can enter stud subsequent 12 months at $2,500.
Barry and Joni Butzow bred and raced Zozos, watching him win seven of 15 careers begins from 3 to five and seize three black-type stakes with coach Brad Cox. Whereas he gained twice at 1 1/16 miles, Zozos did his greatest operating at a mile with wins at this distance within the Ack Ack Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs, Hanshin Stakes at Ellis Park, and Knicks Go In a single day Stakes at Churchill, all in 2023.
Zozos additionally attracted the highlight on the Highway to the Kentucky Derby in 2022 with a second within the Louisiana Derby (G2). He can be unplaced within the Kentucky Derby (G1) however this 12 months was third within the Churchill Downs Stakes (G1), through which he pursued Right here Mi Track via opening fractions of :22.56, :44.87, and 1:09.04. On the finish, each challengers gave up floor to Gun Pilot , who went on to complete second within the Forego Stakes (G1).
Zozos, a darkish brown or bay horse that stands barely above 16.2 arms, retired with a 7-1-1 document in 15 begins and earned $1,011,463.
“I occurred to name the agent the day Zozos got here off the monitor,” mentioned Rodney Eckenrode, the proprietor of Equistar. “I instructed him I cherished Munnings, and we acquired the deal carried out in just a few days.Join BloodHorse Each day
“These sprinter-type milers work so nicely round right here as a result of that’s 70% of the races they write round right here,” he continued. “If you will enhance the regional mares, you have to make them quicker. This horse proved he was a front-runner and ran some good numbers.”
The Butzows, who’ve retained a minor curiosity within the stallion, bred Zozos out of the successful Forestry mare Papa’s Forest. The mare has one different foal to race named Emerald Forest, who’s a successful son of Gemologist and set a 1:21.07 seven-furlong monitor document in 2021 at Louisiana Downs.
Papa’s Forest’s dam, Dixie Sue (Dixieland Band), is a half sister to 1998 Davona Dale Stakes (G2) winner Diamond On the Run, grade 1-placed stakes winner Tropical Blossom, and a number of stakes winner Barbette. The rapid household additionally has produced grade 1 winner Celestine and graded stakes winners Buddy’s Humor, Dreamfyre , and Legislation Professor .
Eckenrode mentioned regional breeders will discover Zozos a lovely choice.
“The horse has good leg beneath him for a sprinter. He has a very good shoulder and a really deep hip with shorter cannon bones that contribute to sturdiness. He has a really deep coronary heart girth as nicely. He is simply an general very enticing horse. If he had gained that grade 1 at Churchill Downs, he can be standing in Kentucky.”
Eckenrode additionally sees Munnings as a creating sire of sires. Ashford Stud, which stands Munnings, additionally stands his son Jack Christopher , whose first foals arrived this 12 months. Munnings can be the sire of Louisiana stallion El Deal , who’s the sire of Free Like a Woman , a 16-time stakes winner who was second on this 12 months’s La Troienne Stakes (G1) and third within the Apple Blossom Handicap (G1).
Equistar, close to Annville, Pa., east of Harrisburg, additionally stands a number of grade 1 winner Brody’s Trigger and twin traditional winner Smarty Jones .
