Private Zone targeting ambitious schedule

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Private Zone worked a half-mile in 47.21 seconds and galloped out five-eighths in 59.73 on Wednesday at Gulfstream Park West with jockey Carlos H. Marquez Jr. aboard.

Private Zone galloped to the pole in company but worked solo and without blinkers, which he wears when racing. Private Zone posted splits of 11.52 and 23.12 to the quarter pole and was in hand finishing into a mild headwind before galloping out strongly into the turn over a loose and cuppy racetrack.

“He went excellent,” said trainer Jorge Navarro, who watched the work with former rider Rene Douglas at his side. Douglas manages Private Zone for the Good Friends Stable.

“He’s coming around really well now,” said Navarro. “Today was the first time I worked him without company.”

Douglas said Private Zone has always been a handful, both in the mornings and afternoons, but he sees a big difference since Private Zone has settled in with Navarro this winter at Gulfstream Park West.

“In the past, he’s always been hard to manage,” said Douglas. “At the Breeders’ Cup, he even started, stopped and then had to be brought back and start all over again before one of his works. He’s perfect now. But when that kind of stuff gets in their minds, you never know when they might do it again.”

Private Zone is a three-time Grade 1 winner. He is coming off a second-place effort, beaten a half-length by Honor Code, after contesting all the pace while making his 2015 debut in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Handicap. Douglas and Navarro opted to skip last Saturday’s Carter Handicap in New York in lieu of the seven-furlong Churchill Downs Stakes on May 2, with the Grade 1 Metropolitan Mile at Belmont on June 6 as their first major goal of the season.

“Eventually, we hope to get him around two turns this year, but we want to get there slowly,” said Douglas. “The timing of the race at Churchill Downs is perfect, and then if he runs well in the Met Mile, we’ll go to the Whitney. If it doesn’t work out, we can go back to seven furlongs in the Forego. Eventually, when he goes two turns, I want to take the blinkers off so he’ll relax more. We have a lot of options, but my main goal is to get him two turns where he doesn’t have to go 45 and change and 1:08. He’s got a big heart; he likes to be chased. I really think he can be very dangerous going two turns.”

Navarro said that although he was very happy with Marquez’s ride in the Gulfstream Park Handicap, Private Zone will have regular rider Martin Pedroza back aboard in the Churchill Downs Stakes. Pedroza was unable to ride Private Zone at Gulfstream due to licensing issues.

“Carlos rode him very well in his last start and is still a big part of this team,” said Navarro.

On Wednesday, trainer Bob Baffert said the Churchill Downs Stakes might be the next start for Bayern, who has not raced since winning the Breeders' Cup Classic. Douglas had a message for Baffert.

“Tell my friend Bob Baffert he’s making a mistake if he is thinking about ducking Shared Belief at Charles Town to go to the race at Churchill Downs,” Douglas said with a smile. “Bayern will really have to earn his money with Private Zone in there.”