C Z Rocket changes up in Steve Sexton Mile

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – C Z Rocket will be looking for his first two-turn win Monday, when the top sprinter takes on a number of route specialists in the Grade 3, $400,000 Steve Sexton Mile at Lone Star Park.

The race is one of five stakes on Lone Star Million Day, which is being run for the first time since 2011. It’s also the final leg of an all-stakes pick four on races 8-11 that has a minimum guaranteed pool of $100,000. The sequence includes the $300,000 Texas Derby, which drew Grade 1 winners Super Stock and Get Her Number.

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C Z Rocket, who was the runner-up in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint, is stretching out off back-to-back stakes wins at six furlongs. His rivals Monday were to include By My Standards, but the $2 million earner will be scratched and instead will target the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap on June 5 at Belmont Park, according to trainer Bret Calhoun.

“It looks like we’re changing gears,” Calhoun said Saturday.

By My Standards has a goal of winning a Grade 1 this year, and Chester Thomas, who races the horse with Spendthrift Farm, wanted to head instead to the Met Mile, said Calhoun.

“That’s mainly the reason, the grading,” said Calhoun.

C Z Rocket will go favored in the Sexton Mile off a 101 Beyer for his April 10 win over champion Whitmore in the Count Fleet at Oaklawn. Florent Geroux was aboard for trainer Peter Miller and has the mount again from post 8 in the eight-horse Sexton Mile.

C Z Rocket has made five two-turn starts, with his best finish a second in a 2019 allowance at Churchill Downs. Miller noted he earned a lifetime-best Beyer Figure of 104 in that 1 1/16-mile race. C Z Rocket won a one-turn mile race in 2017. Miller is hopeful he will handle the two-turn configuration Monday.

“I feel real good about it,” he said. “I think he relaxes very well for Florent and it looks like there’s some speed in the race. I think he’ll probably be sitting third or fourth, and hopefully he’s good enough.”

C Z Rocket is a candidate for the BC Sprint, but he runs two turns in the Sexton Mile because Lone Star allows the use of the diuretic Lasix in stakes. The Sexton Mile also gives Miller a chance to learn something new about the horse, whom he began training last April.

“If we were to win this, it certainly would open up the Dirt Mile, definitely give us some options,” he said.

C Z Rocket races for Tom Kagele, Madaket Stables and Gary Barber. The 7-year-old by City Zip is a multiple Grade 2 winner who has earned $1.3 million. He will carry top weight of 124 pounds Monday.

Grade 2 winner Silver Prospector is shortening up from 1 1/8 miles in the Oaklawn Handicap. He finished sixth, beaten three lengths by winner Silver State on April 17. One race prior, Silver Prospector was second to Mystic Guide in the Razorback over 1 1/16 miles at Oaklawn, earning a career-high Beyer of 98.

“I think a mile to a mile and a sixteenth is an excellent distance for him,” said trainer Steve Asmussen. “He’s kept as good a company as anybody in the country. I expect another solid run.”

Ricardo Santana, Jr., has the mount from the rail for Ed and Susie Orr.

Grade 3 winner Warrior’s Charge shortens up after a fifth-place finish in the Oaklawn.

“I think he’s best between a mile and a mile and a sixteenth, around two turns,” said trainer Brad Cox. “He ran well last time. He was able to get up front and was pressed a little. It was a good effort second off a layoff. He’s had plenty of time to recover, so hopefully he’ll put in a big performance.”

Joel Rosario has the mount from post 4 for Ten Strike Racing and Madaket Stables.

The field for the Sexton Mile, the meet’s richest race, is completed by stakes winners Sheriff Brown, Hunka Burning Love, Harvey Wallbanger, and Mo Mosa.

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Hunka Burning Love won last year’s Lone Star Mile over Sleepy Eyes Todd, who returned to win the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic.

Sheriff Brown is a winner of his last three starts and a half-brother to Grade 3 winner Runaway Ghost.

First post for the 11-race card is 2:20 p.m. Central.