C Z Rocket defeats Whitmore again, wins Count Fleet

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - C Z Rocket and champion Whitmore have been familiar foes since the Breeders’ Cup last November and, for the second straight race Saturday at Oaklawn, the Southern California invader C Z Rocket got the better of hometown hero Whitmore.

The battle came in the Grade 3, $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap, which Whitmore was seeking to win for the fourth time. He was the highweight and favorite and had defeated C Z Rocket in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint, when the latter finished second. The horses renewed their rivalry in March, starting their seasons in the Hot Springs Stakes at Oaklawn. C Z Rocket won by a neck over Whitmore.

The margin of victory Saturday was two lengths. Empire of Gold, who was fourth in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint, finished another 1 1/2 lengths back in third in what was his first start at 4 and first since November.

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C Z Rocket ($6) had one horse beat early, as No Parole took the field through an opening quarter in 21.92 seconds with the opposing speed in hot pursuit. No Parole faced more pressure coming to the quarter pole, with Strike Power setting the half-mile mark of 45.35. C Z Rocket advanced outside of horses on the turn as Whitmore continued to race along the inside after breaking from post 2. The eventual winner came six wide into the stretch and went on to cover six furlongs on a fast track in 1:09.62 and getting a 101 Beyer Speed Figure.

Florent Geroux was aboard the winner for trainer Peter Miller.

“It was a great ride,” Miller said in a post-race interview broadcast by Oaklawn. “Kept him out of trouble. We did lose a lot of ground, but it’s better than getting stopped. Just a great horse. Whitmore is a great horse. Sorry one of them had to lose.”

C Z Rocket has now won 11 of 25 starts and has earned $1,311,641. The son of City Zip races for the partnership of Tom Kagele, Madaket Stables, and Gary Barber.

Sol Kumin of Madaket, and three of his partners, also are co-owners of Whitmore.