C Z Rocket retired at age 10 after sixth-place finish

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - C Z Rocket has hung up his racing plates.

The earner of $2.1 million who twice ran second in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint has been retired at the age of 10, according to trainer Peter Miller.

C Z Rocket ran Monday at Oaklawn Park, and finished sixth at 7-2, beaten 5 1/2 lengths in a $62,500 starter allowance. He came into the race off a pair of recent starts in Southern California. C Z Rocket was third in a Santa Anita allowance in January and had won a November allowance at Del Mar.

“He retired sound and healthy and happy and that was always our goal,” Miller said Tuesday. “We sent out a press release through Robert Yates of Oaklawn after the race yesterday that we decided to call it a day with him. He had done enough. So we’re going to find him a good home and it might just be with me.”

Miller said plans going forward are to be determined, as he has not yet contacted any retirement facilities about the gelding who has been racing for Tom Kagele, who claimed him at Oaklawn for $40,000 in 2020, and Altamira Racing Stable and Madaket Stables.

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C Z Rocket shipped in to run at Oaklawn from his base at the San Luis Rey Downs training center in Southern California.

“We’ll leave him at Oaklawn for the time being until we get that sorted out,” Miller said. “I sent Roy H over to the Kentucky Horse Park and I really liked the way they do things. The people come and they parade them and they do a show.”

C Z Rocket had many high points during his career, said Miller.

“So many of them,” he said. “But of course, the two Breeders’ Cup seconds. For a split second there at Keeneland, it looked like he was going to win it. The Count Fleet was big - just so many. He won four, five in a row when we claimed him. He just brought all of us so much joy and happiness.”

C Z Rocket was a multiple Grade 2 winner on the track. He retires with a record of 13 wins from 46 starts for earnings of $2,144,691. The son of City Zip and the Successful Appeal mare Successful Sarah was bred in Florida by Farm III Enterprises.

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