Private Zone transferred to trainer Lynch

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. – Breeders’ Cup Sprint runner-up Private Zone has been transferred to the barn of trainer Brian Lynch at Palm Meadows. A four-time Grade 1 winner, Private Zone was beaten three parts of a length by the favored Runhappy after opening up a clear lead at midstretch of the Sprint on Oct. 31 at Keeneland. He was trained by Jorge Navarro at the time.

“I received a call from Rene Douglas while I was in Jamaica racing horses this past weekend,” said Lynch, referring to the former jockey who is the stable manager for Private Zone. “The horse was moved to my barn on Saturday. Rene and I have been good friends for years. I rode him first call when I was in California and have trained some horses for him in the past. We have a very good rapport with one another. I just hope to do as good a job with this horse as the guys who have had him before me.”

Prior to joining Navarro’s barn in 2015, Private Zone was trained by both Alfredo Velasquez and Doug O’Neill. His most recent Grade 1 win came in the Forego at Saratoga as a final prep for the Sprint. He also is the defending champion in the Grade 1 Cigar Mile.

“At this stage, he’s nominated to the Cigar Mile,” said Lynch. “I’ll play around with him between now and then, get a feel for him training over the next few days and probably work him this weekend at Palm Meadows. I suggested to Rene that since I’ve only had him a short time, we should bring in Martin Pedroza to work him since nobody knows the horse better than he does.”

Pedroza has been Private Zone’s regular rider throughout his U.S. career.

Lynch said this was the second time Douglas had offered to send him Private Zone.

“Rene talked to me about it over a year ago,” said Lynch. “But at the time, I had already gone to Canada, and with the Polytrack up there, I suggested he’d be better off staying down here. With my top sprinter, Clearly Now, having recently been sold, the addition of Private Zone fills that bracket pretty well. He’s certainly quite a replacement and one that couldn’t have come at a better time for me.”