C Z Rocket extends win streak to five in Santa Anita Sprint Championship

ARCADIA, Calif. – C Z Rocket has won five consecutive races since being claimed for $40,000 at Oaklawn Park in April.

The fourth win of the streak was the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien Stakes at seven furlongs on Aug. 29 at Del Mar. The fifth win was Sunday’s Grade 2 Santa Anita Sprint Championship. The sixth could be the Breeders’ Cup Sprint on Nov. 7 at Keeneland.

C Z Rocket earned a fees-paid berth to the BC Sprint with his victory in Sunday’s $200,000 race.

Ridden for the first time by Luis Saez, C Z Rocket stalked pacesetter Flagstaff to the final furlong before edging that rival by a head. Sent off favored, C Z Rocket ($4.80) ran six furlongs in 1:09.14 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 97.

“His style is [for me] to sit quiet and make one move,” Saez said. “I let him roll, and he took off. I had a lot of horse.”

Flagstaff, second in the Pat O’Brien, set early fractions of 22.33 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 45.27 for a half-mile, relatively modest for a Southern California sprint. Ridden by Victor Espinoza, Flagstff led by a half-length with a furlong remaining.

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“I thought I was home free,” Espinoza said. “The other horse just beat me. Flagstaff ran an awesome race. He’s always an honest horse.”

Collusion Illusion, winner of the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at six furlongs in his stakes debut against older horses, finished third and was followed by Desert Law and Giant Expectations. Collusion Illusion earned a fees-paid berth to the BC Sprint from his win in the Bing Crosby.

C Z Rocket races for Tom Kagele, Gary Barber, and Madaket Stable and trainer Peter Miller. Madaket Stable was added to the ownership team in the days before Sunday’s race.

A 6-year-old gelding by City Zip, C Z Rocket has won 9 of 22 starts and earned $551,641. C Z Rocket has earned $310,344 since being claimed.