J J Zo Zo turns in dominant performance in Smoke Glacken Stakes

J J Zo Zo evidently is getting the hang of things. Coming off a third-start maiden win, he scored a blowout 8 1/2-length victory Saturday at Monmouth Park in the $100,000 Smoke Glacken Stakes, a six-furlong dirt race for 2-year-olds.

It's the second year in a row a New Jersey-bred won the open Smoke Glacken, J J Zo Zo following in the hoofprints of Book’em Danno.

J J Zo Zo was third in his debut and fifth in his second start before a narrow Aug. 26 victory in a New Jersey-bred maiden race.

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“He’s a big, heavy horse who needed some time, but the talent was always there,” trainer Jose L. Sanchez said. “I went into the race thinking he would run well, but I did not expect him to win like he did.”

Sanchez was about the only one who didn’t expect it. J J Zo Zo, 7-2 on the morning line, paid $3.60 to win under Jairo Rendon.

The Smoke Glacken marked the first stakes victory for Sanchez, who also owns J J Zo Zo.

Shootersgottashoot tried to stick with J J Zo Zo on the lead, failed, but held second, 1 3/4 lengths in front of first-time starter Antisocial. J J Zo Zo clocked 1:11.27 over a fast track.

J J Zo Zo is by New Jersey’s best stallion, Sea Wizard, and out of Lost Princess, by Stephen Got Even. Smoke Glacken was a very fast 2-year-old. So is the colt who won the race named after him.

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