C Z Rocket to take it easy after suffering first loss

C Z Rocket took the first loss of his career finishing a fading sixth in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita, but the colt at least came out of the race without injury, trainer Al Stall said.

“He’s back here at Fair Grounds,” Stall said. “He’s okay. I don’t know what happened. He just came up a little empty.”

C Z Rocket won his first three starts, including his Saratoga debut, by open lengths and was a well-backed 5-2 shot in the Malibu. He raced wide and close to the pace but had no spark in the homestretch.

“There’s no plan right now,” Stall said. “We’re not stopping on him per se. He’s going to get a little bit of a breather.”

Stall also reported nothing amiss with the talented Louisiana-bred 3-year-old filly Minit to Stardom, who was scratched last weekend from the fillies division of the Louisiana Futurity.

“She’s fine. Just didn’t like the one hole,” said Stall, who will point Minit to Stardom to Louisiana Premier Night at Delta Downs.

Closer to home, Stall said that Yockey’s Warrior is progressing nicely toward his start Jan. 13 in the Duncan Kenner Stakes. Yockey’s Warrior, who worked a half-mile in 49 seconds Dec. 30, won the Thanksgiving Handicap by five lengths in his most recent start.