C Z Rocket trying two turns at last

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – C Z Rocket will make his long-awaited two-turn debut Sunday in the eighth race at Oaklawn Park.

“We’ve wanted to run him around two turns ever since we bought him,” said trainer Al Stall Jr.

The eighth race Sunday is an allowance for 4-year-olds and up at a mile that drew Grade 3 winners Shotgun Kowboy, Colonelsdarktemper, and Limation. Adding further depth to the nine-horse field is High North, winner of last year’s Iowa Derby, and Exclamation Point, an undefeated half-brother to champion Classic Empire.

KEY CONTENDERS

C Z Rocket, by City Zip
Last 3 Beyers: 88-96-100

◗ C Z Rocket, 5, launched his career with three straight wins at one turn, including a maiden special weight at Saratoga with a Beyer Speed Figure of 94. His other victory came in June in the Kelly’s Landing, a seven-furlong overnight stakes at Churchill Downs, with a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 103.

“It’s taken longer than we thought to get to two turns,” Stall said.

“Physically, he’s a big horse. He’s got a big, long, steady stride and we’re hoping it will take him around two turns.”

◗ Stall said the Oaklawn race has been a target for a couple of reasons, one of them because owner Frank Fletcher is a resident of Arkansas. In addition, the configuration of the race – which ends at the sixteenth pole – was appealing.

“The short-stretch mile seemed like a good spot to get him started around two turns, see if he can handle it,” said Stall.

“We thought this race fit him perfectly, although it came up quite tough. It’s the only spot in his allowance conditions.”

◗ C Z Rocket has kept some top-flight company in his career, having faced City of Light and Whitmore. He also was a close fourth to winner Seeking the Soul in the Grade 3 Ack Ack, a one-turn mile Sept. 29 at Churchill Downs.

“He ran against a horse who’s going to be one of the favorites in the Dubai World Cup,” Stall said of Seeking the Soul, who last month was second in the $9 million Pegasus World Cup.

◗ Ricardo Santana Jr. has the mount on C Z Rocket from post 6.

Colonelsdarktemper, by Colonel John
Last 3 Beyers: 88-81-95

◗ The winner of the 2017 West Virginia Derby, he’s stretching back out in distance Sunday off a fourth-place finish in the six-furlong Duncan F. Kenner on Jan. 19 at Fair Grounds.

“I’m happy to go around two turns with him,” said trainer Jinks Fires.

◗ Fires noted that last week was a special one for owner A.J. Foyt Jr. The retired racecar driver was inducted into the Houston Sports Hall of Fame.