Z Rockstar brings sharp form into Cherokee Nation Classic Cup

With horses like Moonshine Mullin and Donoharm in his recent running lines, Z Rockstar should start as a solid favorite Tuesday in the $55,000 Cherokee Nation Classic Cup at Will Rogers Downs near Tulsa. He is part of an 11-horse field for the one-mile and 70-yard race restricted to 3-year-olds and up bred in Oklahoma.

The field also includes Ted’s Folly, a multiple stakes winner of more than $450,000; Big Sugarush, winner of the $50,000 Jim Thorpe at Remington Park in December; and Johnny Whip, a stakes winner who is 5 for 9 at Will Rogers.

But the horse to beat is Z Rockstar for his company lines, sharp form, and strong Beyer Speed Figures. He won the $55,000 TRAO Classic Sprint at Will Rogers in his most recent start April 15, with a Beyer of 88. Before that start, Z Rockstar was third to Donoharm in a $100,000 optional claimer at Oaklawn, and second to Moonshine Mullin in an $80,000 claiming race, also at Oaklawn.

Since the Oaklawn races, Moonshine Mullin has won the Grade 2 Alysheba at Churchill Downs, and Donoharm, a three-time stakes winner, has been preparing for a start in the Grade 3, $200,000 Lone Star Park Handicap on May 26. As for Z Rockstar, he has been working toward the Cherokee Nation Classic Cup at his base of Churchill, breezing five furlongs in 1:04.20 at the Louisville, Ky., track on May 7.

Donnie Von Hemel trains the 5-year-old son of Rockport Harbor for his breeder, Robert Zoellner. Luis Quinonez will be in to ride Z Rockstar, a horse he was aboard for the TRAO Classic Sprint as well as Z Rockstar’s starts at Oaklawn.

Ted’s Folly finished a neck in front of Z Rockstar in last fall’s $158,000 Oklahoma Classics Cup, when second in the race run at Remington Park. He enters the Cherokee Nation Classic Cup off a fifth-place finish in an open-company allowance at Will Rogers on April 22. The race was run on a muddy track, and from five starts on a wet surface Ted’s Folly has finished no better than third. Erik McNeil has the mount for Harmony Stable and trainer Boyd Caster.

Johnny Whip finished a neck behind Z Rockstar in second in the TRAO Classic Sprint, and on Tuesday will be making his third start since November. Lindey Wade has the mount for trainer Jody Pruitt.

Big Sugarush won a $10,000 starter allowance against open company at Will Rogers in his most recent out April 29.