Zozos , a 5-year-old grade 1-placed, graded stakes winner by Munnings , has been bought by Equistar Coaching and Breeding Middle in Jap Pennsylvania and can enter stud subsequent yr 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 received twice at 1 1/16 miles, Zozos did his finest working 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 yr was third within the Churchill Downs Stakes (G1), through which he pursued Right here Mi Music by means of 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 palms, 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 observe,” mentioned Rodney Eckenrode, the proprietor of Equistar. “I informed him I liked Munnings, and we acquired the deal accomplished in a number of days.
“These sprinter-type milers work so properly round right here as a result of that’s 70% of the races they write round right here,” he continued. “If you’re going to enhance the regional mares, you want to make them sooner. 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 profitable Forestry mare Papa’s Forest. The mare has one different foal to race named Emerald Forest, who’s a profitable son of Gemologist and set a 1:21.07 seven-furlong observe 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 instant 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 beautiful 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 properly. He is simply an general very enticing horse. If he had received that grade 1 at Churchill Downs, he can be standing in Kentucky.”
Eckenrode additionally sees Munnings as a growing sire of sires. Ashford Stud, which stands Munnings, additionally stands his son Jack Christopher , whose first foals arrived this yr. Munnings can be the sire of Louisiana stallion El Deal , who’s the sire of Free Like a Lady , a 16-time stakes winner who was second on this yr’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 basic winner Smarty Jones .
