Zenyatta's colt Cozmic One works toward career debut

ARCADIA, Calif.- Cozmic One, the first foal produced by 2010 Horse of the Year Zenyatta, may have his career debut at Santa Anita in January or February.

Sunday, Cozmic One had his first workout in California, going five furlongs in 1:04.20 at Santa Anita. Jockey Victor Espinoza was aboard Cozmic One, who was not urged while working alone.

The workout was the first for Cozmic One since September at Belmont Park. Cozmic One arrived at Santa Anita in early December, and is progressing steadily toward his debut, trainer John Shirreffs said. There is a possibility for a start in a maiden race at the end of January or in February.

“We’ll see when he is ready,” Shirreffs said.

The team behind Cozmic One is virtually the same as the people who made Zenyatta one of the most popular runners in recent decades. Shirreffs trained Zenyatta for Jerry and Ann Moss, the owners and breeders of Cozmic One. Jerry Moss attended Sunday’s workout.

Cozmic One is by Bernardini. He had two half-mile workouts at Belmont Park in September. Sunday’s workout was the longest of his career. With no racing experience, and with the Triple Crown approaching, Shirreffs said he is not concerned about making race goals for Cozmic One.

“I’m taking a very conservative approach,” he said.

Similar to Zenyatta, Cozmic One is a big horse, standing 16.2 hands, Shirreffs said. Shirreffs said Cozmic One has shown maturity for a young horse.

“He’s pretty good for a colt,” Shirreffs said.

Shirreffs has another well-bred unraced 2-year-old in Smart Transition, a Smart Strike colt out of Zardana, the winner of the Grade 2 Bayakoa Stakes at Hollywood Park in 2009 and seven other races in her career.

Smart Transition is owned by Arnold Zetcher, who raced Zardana. Zetcher was at Santa Anita on Sunday to watch Smart Transition work five furlongs in 1:00.40.