Mr. Z CH , C, foaled January 12, 2012 ( Malibu Moon - Stormy Bear, by Storm Cat) Jockey: Jon Kenton Court Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas Owner: Zayat Stables, LLC Breeder: Richard D. Maynard Career Record: 1-2-2-0-2-0-2-3 Possible Starts: G1- Kentucky Derby Churchill Downs |
The next horse to be featured in " The Horse Spotlight " series is Mr.Z. Owned by Zayat Stables, the chestnut colt born on January 12th 2012, had raced 8 times and has earned $499,726 just in his two year old season.
Two Year old Season:
Mr.Z started his career on June 28th 2014, in a Maiden Special Weight. He finished first breaking his maiden on the first try. He then went on to the Grade 3 Sanford. Mr.Z broke from the number 5 position to finish 2nd after being behind the leaders around the final turn. The chestnut colt then tried his luck in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special at Saratoga on August 10th 2014. Breaking from the number 3 spot in a 10 horse field, Mr.Z finished second behind I Spent It. His next race was the Grade 3 Iroquois. He broke from the number 2 spot in a 9 horse field. Mr.Z lead the pack most of the way before fading after the final turn into the back stretch. He finished 5th. On October 4th, Mr.Z entered the Grade 1 Breeder's Futurity. The chestnut colt finished second to Carpe Diem. His next start was the Grade 1 Breeder's Cup Juvenile. There was a strong field of 11 horse running. Mr.Z broke well from the gate and was in the pack. He pulled up to third and stayed in that position for most of the race before fading after the final turn into the backstretch. He finished 5th. Mr.Z next race would be the Grade 3 Delta Downs Jackpot on November 22nd 2014. After breaking well from post position number 3, Mr.Z went right for the lead but then settled in third right behind the leaders. He took the lead around the turn into the final stretch with Ocho Ocho Ocho. Mr.Z finished second by a head. His last start as a three year old would be the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Futurity. In a field of 5, he broke clean from the 4th post. He went right to the lead with Firing line and Dortmund. He kept a narrow lead over Firing Line. The first quarter was run in 21.98. Mr.Z kept the lead heading into the final stretch. He battled for a win with Dortmund and Firing Line as they came down to the wire. It was a photo finish and Mr.Z ended up third.
I talked with Mr.Z's owner Justin Zayat over email and asked him a few questions about his great chestnut colt.
Q: What is Mr.Z's running style?
A: Mr.Z is a very versatile horse. he can be close to the pace or sit a couple of lengths off.
Q: Are you happy with the way he is running?
A: Yes, he has been running with the best two year olds all year and has run extremely well. He got unlucky with a couple of nose defeats.
Q: What are you plans for the future?
A: We plan to race him in the Smarty Jones Stakes ( Today; 1/19/15 )
Q: What is Mr.Z like around the barn?
A: He is a very high energized colt. he does everything right. Knock on wood we haven't had a bad day with him.
Q: Do you think he has a good chance to make it to the Kentucky Derby?
A: Yes! I am hopeful he can make it. I know he has talent.
Q: How do you think he will do this season?
A: I think he is sitting on a very big season. He gained a lot of experience as a two year old and has a great foundation under him so I am hopeful he will progress nicely from 2 year old to a 3 year old.
Q: Does he like to run in the mud/slop?
A: He has trained well in it but he has never run a race over a track like that so it is still a question mark until he does it.
Q: Does he enjoy running?
A: He absolutely LOVES to train and run. He comes out of his races bucking and squealing. We tried to back off of him after the Los Alamitos Futurity but within 4 days of his break he was already tearing down the barn.
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My Opinion:
Mr.Z is a great colt with a lot of experience from his two year old season. I really like him and hope that he can get some more wins and make it to the Kentucky Derby in May. He has a lot of talent and has run against some of the best two now three year olds in the 2014 season.
Mr.Z is entered in the Smarty Jones stakes, today ( 1/19/15 ). It is Race 8 at Oaklawn Park. So good luck to him and all his connections today and for the rest of his 3 year old season.
- Madi Moran
@madimoran_ on instagram
Two Year old Season:
Mr.Z started his career on June 28th 2014, in a Maiden Special Weight. He finished first breaking his maiden on the first try. He then went on to the Grade 3 Sanford. Mr.Z broke from the number 5 position to finish 2nd after being behind the leaders around the final turn. The chestnut colt then tried his luck in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special at Saratoga on August 10th 2014. Breaking from the number 3 spot in a 10 horse field, Mr.Z finished second behind I Spent It. His next race was the Grade 3 Iroquois. He broke from the number 2 spot in a 9 horse field. Mr.Z lead the pack most of the way before fading after the final turn into the back stretch. He finished 5th. On October 4th, Mr.Z entered the Grade 1 Breeder's Futurity. The chestnut colt finished second to Carpe Diem. His next start was the Grade 1 Breeder's Cup Juvenile. There was a strong field of 11 horse running. Mr.Z broke well from the gate and was in the pack. He pulled up to third and stayed in that position for most of the race before fading after the final turn into the backstretch. He finished 5th. Mr.Z next race would be the Grade 3 Delta Downs Jackpot on November 22nd 2014. After breaking well from post position number 3, Mr.Z went right for the lead but then settled in third right behind the leaders. He took the lead around the turn into the final stretch with Ocho Ocho Ocho. Mr.Z finished second by a head. His last start as a three year old would be the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Futurity. In a field of 5, he broke clean from the 4th post. He went right to the lead with Firing line and Dortmund. He kept a narrow lead over Firing Line. The first quarter was run in 21.98. Mr.Z kept the lead heading into the final stretch. He battled for a win with Dortmund and Firing Line as they came down to the wire. It was a photo finish and Mr.Z ended up third.
I talked with Mr.Z's owner Justin Zayat over email and asked him a few questions about his great chestnut colt.
Q: What is Mr.Z's running style?
A: Mr.Z is a very versatile horse. he can be close to the pace or sit a couple of lengths off.
Q: Are you happy with the way he is running?
A: Yes, he has been running with the best two year olds all year and has run extremely well. He got unlucky with a couple of nose defeats.
Q: What are you plans for the future?
A: We plan to race him in the Smarty Jones Stakes ( Today; 1/19/15 )
Q: What is Mr.Z like around the barn?
A: He is a very high energized colt. he does everything right. Knock on wood we haven't had a bad day with him.
Q: Do you think he has a good chance to make it to the Kentucky Derby?
A: Yes! I am hopeful he can make it. I know he has talent.
Q: How do you think he will do this season?
A: I think he is sitting on a very big season. He gained a lot of experience as a two year old and has a great foundation under him so I am hopeful he will progress nicely from 2 year old to a 3 year old.
Q: Does he like to run in the mud/slop?
A: He has trained well in it but he has never run a race over a track like that so it is still a question mark until he does it.
Q: Does he enjoy running?
A: He absolutely LOVES to train and run. He comes out of his races bucking and squealing. We tried to back off of him after the Los Alamitos Futurity but within 4 days of his break he was already tearing down the barn.
-
My Opinion:
Mr.Z is a great colt with a lot of experience from his two year old season. I really like him and hope that he can get some more wins and make it to the Kentucky Derby in May. He has a lot of talent and has run against some of the best two now three year olds in the 2014 season.
Mr.Z is entered in the Smarty Jones stakes, today ( 1/19/15 ). It is Race 8 at Oaklawn Park. So good luck to him and all his connections today and for the rest of his 3 year old season.
- Madi Moran
@madimoran_ on instagram