E Z Warrior wins Hollywood Juvenile Championship

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Two races into his career, E Z Warrior is showing the diversity of an older horse.

The 2-year-old led throughout a maiden race on June 18. Tuesday, he rallied from fifth to win his stakes debut in the $100,000 at Hollywood Park.

Ridden by David Flores, E Z Warrior ran six furlongs in 1:09.96, scoring by 2 3-4 lengths over Great Hunter. Tom Rickey, a 15-1 outsider, finished third in the field of nine.

Winning trainer Bob Baffert said he considered scratching E Z Warrior when the colt drew the rail.

"We were gambling with David riding him the way he wanted by taking him back," Baffert said. "He could have gotten beat."

Sent off favored, E Z Warrior ($4) was fifth on the backstretch. After being steadied on the backstretch, E Z Warrior rallied between horses in early stretch to reach the front.

By Exploit, E Z Warrior is owned by Ahmed Zayat, who has been actively acquiring horses in the last two years.