LOUISVILLE, Ky. – When nominations were released for Saturday’s $1 million Churchill Downs Stakes, one horse one horse in particular was not on the list – trainer Brad Cox’s Zozos. But when entries were drawn for the race, not only was Zozos’s name called out, he was ultimately made the 3-1 morning-line favorite for the prestigious, seven-furlong Grade 1 dash for older horses. Zozos, who was supplemented to the Churchill Downs Stakes at a cost of $10,000, has not started since finishing a distant fifth behind Cody’s Wish in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. That race brought down the curtain on an otherwise successful 2023 campaign during which Zozos won 4 of 7 starts, the most notable of those victories a gate-to-wire, one-length decision in the Grade 3 Ack Ack going a mile here Sept. 30. Zozos, who finished 10th, 15 3/4 lengths behind upset winner Rich Strike, in the 2022 Kentucky Derby, will turn back in distance to seven furlongs for the first time Saturday. All but one of his dozen career starts have come at a mile or longer. “He didn’t break as well as we were hoping in the Dirt Mile, we wanted to be involved early in the race, and he wasn’t. It was just one of those things,” Cox recalled. “He had been running all year up to that point. He was tired, so we decided to give him the time off. I didn’t nominate him to this race, but his last two works were so good. And based on that, the noms, and who we were told might be going in the race, I just felt he should be in there.” :: DRF Kentucky Derby Package: Save on PPs, Clocker Reports, Betting Strategies, and more. Zozos has worked five times since returning to training following his winter break, including five furlongs in 59.60 seconds here last Saturday. “I’ve always kind of questioned whether he was a two-turn horse, he’s built more like a horse who’d prefer one turn,” Cox said. “He’s gotten really quick, and he looks unbelievable. It’s the right spot. And if he can win a Grade 1, he can stand stud somewhere.” Zozos will face 10 rivals in the Churchill Downs, including Three Technique for a third time. Three Technique was third by two lengths in the Ack Ack. Zozos may ultimately vie for favoritism with multiple Grade 2 winner Hoist the Gold, who closed out his 2023 campaign by dominating Aqueduct’s Grade 2 Cigar Mile by 4 1/2 lengths. Runner-up Senor Buscador flattered the Cigar Mile result by returning to finish second in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup as a prelude to his victory in the $20 million Saudi Cup. Trainer Dallas Stewart tried stretching Hoist the Gold out following the Cigar Mile, but after finishing fourth, 11 lengths behind National Treasure, in the Pegasus World Cup and a distant 14th in the Saudi Cup, Hoist the Gold will go back to what he does best in the Churchill Downs. :: Subscribe to the DRF Post Time Email Newsletter: Get the news you need to play today's races!  “He had a great year last year. We took a shot in his last two starts, it didn’t work out, but he’s come back well and going back to seven-eighths on Saturday, that’s him,” Stewart said. “He came home [from the Saudi Cup] good and has been consistent in his workouts. I feel like he’s right on for this race. It should fit us well. “He’s a warrior and he loves it here. Don’t forget the last time he ran here, he finished second to Cody’s Wish in this race a year ago.” Hoist the Gold will break from the extreme outside, in post 11, and if he leaves alertly may prove the one to catch, with Zozos and Bo Cruz, who prompted all the pace en route to a 2 1/2-length victory in the Grade 3 Commonwealth last month at Keeneland, likely to be in close pursuit. Tejano Twist, who finished third, just a half-length behind Hoist the Gold, in the 2023 Churchill Downs, will look to snap a frustrating streak of three straight runner-up finishes, all at Oaklawn Park and the last two in Grade 3 races. The late-striding Tejano Twist returns locally for the first time since rallying from last to a 1 1/2-length triumph in the six-furlong Bet On Sunshine Stakes on Nov. 4. Raise Cain, multiple graded stakes-placed Mr. Wireless, Here Mi Song, Track Mate, Minnesota Ready, and Gun Pilot complete the field. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.