Stall likes what he sees from C Z Rocket

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Al Stall Jr. has been around long enough not to get too excited when a horse wins its first two races. His father and grandfather were prominent owners and breeders in their home state of Louisiana, and Stall, now 56, was working with horses even before he left the oil business shortly after graduating from Louisiana State University.

So when a 3-year-old colt named C Z Rocket remained unbeaten in two starts with a flashy come-from-behind victory Wednesday at Keeneland, Stall didn’t go reaching for his national stakes schedule – although he did overhear folks making recommendations.

“I’ve heard ‘Malibu’ and some other stuff,” said Stall, referring to the Grade 1 Malibu on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita. “But I’m not about to get that far ahead. I definitely want another allowance race for him, whether it’s one turn or two.”

C Z Rocket, purchased by Frank Fletcher for $800,000 as an unraced 2-year-old, garnered immediate attention at Saratoga when overcoming a slow start to win his Sept. 1 debut, a 6 1/2-furlong maiden race that earned him an eye-popping 95 Beyer Speed Figure.

The bay son of City Zip validated that effort here this week when rallying from well back to win a first-level allowance at seven furlongs, earning an 88 Beyer.

“He’s had the one-hole both times,” Stall noted, “so he’s gotten some seasoning out of the two races. He’s a normal gate horse, but because of his size, he doesn’t leave there that fast, but then he gathers himself pretty quickly.”

Stall, who had his 1,500th career winner in early August at Saratoga, probably is best known as the trainer of Blame, who handed the great Zenyatta her only career defeat in the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Classic. Any attempt to compare C Z Rocket with Blame would be absurdly premature, but Stall does admit to liking what he has seen thus far.

“He’s taken on a lot of dirt in just two starts and handled it real well,” he said. “He’s already seen a lot for a horse who’s only run twice.”

Stall has taken a late-blooming 3-year-old to California for the seven-furlong Malibu before – Central Banker finished second to Shakin It Up in the 2013 Malibu some four months prior to winning the Grade 2 Churchill Downs on the 2014 Kentucky Derby undercard.