King Kranz nears first start since summer

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – King Kranz became the first stakes winner on this circuit in 2016, winning the Lost in the Fog Stakes on New Year’s Day at Aqueduct. Away from the races for the last five months, King Kranz is working his way toward a return to action later this winter.

On Wednesday, King Kranz worked four furlongs in 49.71 seconds over the Belmont Park training track. He worked in company with Not Taken and got his final quarter in 24.07 seconds. It was his fourth work back since getting a break following a sixth-place finish in the Grade 2 Amsterdam at Saratoga on July 30.

“He’s coming along, getting stronger, fitter each week,” said trainer John Terranova. “Might be looking for him in February if things keep going like they’re going.”

King Kranz, owned by Zayat Stables, raced 10 times from August 2015 through last May. He won the Lost in the Fog and later finished second behind Unified in the Grade 3 Bay Shore before taking the Gold Fever at Belmont on May 6.

Via his Twitter account, Justin Zayat, racing manager Zayat Stables, mentioned the Grade 3, $250,000 General George on Feb. 18 at Laurel and the Grade 3, $200,000 Tom Fool at Aqueduct on March 11 as possible early 2017 targets for King Kranz.