Private Zone romps in Churchill Downs Stakes

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Private Zone was as brilliant as Bayern was disappointing in a surprising 81st running of the Grade 2, $500,000 Churchill Downs Stakes on the Kentucky Derby undercard Saturday.

On the lead from the start of the seven-furlong Churchill Downs, Private Zone and jockey Martin Pedroza fought off a persistent challenge from Nates Mineshaft before pulling away in the final furlong to prevail by 4 1/4 lengths. Nates Mineshaft saved second by a head over a late-running Pants On Fire, with Gentlemen’s Bet finishing fourth.

All the while, Bayern had no spark or closing punch when making his first start since winning the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic last fall, as the colt faded steadily to finish last as the 4-5 favorite in a field of six.

Private Zone, a 6-year-old Macho Uno gelding trained by Jorge Navarro, returned $7.40 as second choice after finishing in 1:22.54 over a fast track. He is owned by the Good Friends Stable LLC, a Chicago-based group that includes former jockey Rene Douglas, who headed the private purchase of the Ontario-bred gelding in June 2012.

“I am so happy to win this race for my good friend Rene Douglas,” said Pedroza, the southern California-based jockey who was winning his first stakes at Churchill. “I am blessed that I am healthy and doing well, and I can win a race like this for him.”

Based in south Florida at Gulfstream Park West (formerly Calder), Private Zone now has eight wins and eight seconds from 27 starts, with the $306,900 winner’s share lifting his career earnings to $1,888,220. His record already included three Grade 1 victories in the 2013 and 2014 Vosburgh and the 2014 Cigar Mile.

“He’s been training really well coming into this,” said Navarro, the fifth trainer Private Zone has had. “I knew when the other horse [Nates Mineshaft] came, he would dig in.”

Bayern, a 4-year-old trained by Bob Baffert, was a finalist for 2014 Horse of the Year. Clearly, his return to action was subpar for a colt that has earned nearly $4.4 million. He was beaten 11 3/4 lengths by Private Zone.

“He felt really good,” said jockey Martin Garcia. “He broke really sharp. He didn’t have the kick he usually does. He was done at the half-mile.”

Nates Mineshaft, an 8-year-old ridgling dismissed as the longest shot in the field at 29-1, ran his best race in several years when breaking sharply from the outside post and giving closest chase to the winner throughout.

“He ran his heart out,” said jockey Florent Geroux.

The $2 exacta (4-7) paid $191, the $1 trifecta (4-7-5) returned $287.80, and the $1 superfecta (4-7-5-6) was worth $1,223.70.