Zozos takes advantage of fast start to wire field in Knicks Go Stakes
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Zozos was nowhere to be found when finishing 10th in the 2022 Kentucky Derby. A year later, the colt made his presence felt every step of a Derby Day stakes by leading gate to wire in the $175,000 Knicks Go at Churchill Downs.
Ridden by Florent Geroux, Zozos turned back a sustained challenge in the final quarter-mile from Kupuna in what became a symbolic victory for trainer Brad Cox, who guided Knicks Go to the 2021 Horse of the Year title.
Zozos is “a great horse, but I did tell Florent before the race ‘break very aggressive with intent’ because there were a lot of horses that looked like they wanted to do the same thing,” said Cox. “Fortunately he showed up and ran a great race.”
Away swiftly from post 5 in a field of 10 older horses, Zozos went in splits of 22.66 and 45.15, holding Kupuna at bay by three-quarters of a length at the end of the one-turn mile and finishing in 1:34.42 over a fast track, getting a 100 Beyer Speed Figure. He returned $9.42 as second choice.
“He broke sharp and went right to the lead and I was able to hold off all the other horses,” said Geroux. “Pretty simple. Not much technique there.”
Kupuna, ridden by Reylu Gutierrez, was another 4 3/4 lengths ahead of third-finisher Three Technique, who last year won the inaugural Knicks Go at 36-1. Baby Yoda was fourth, while the 3-1 favorite Masqueparade was never a factor when sixth.
Zozos, a 4-year-old son of Munnings, was bred in Kentucky by his owners, Barry and Joni Butzow. He now has won five of eight starts, with this being his first stakes win.
The Knicks Go was restricted to horses that had not won a graded race in 2022-23.
The $2 exacta (6-11) paid $51.06, the $1 trifecta (6-11-7) returned $177.88, and the $1 superfecta (6-11-7-3) was worth $1,031.65.
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