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C Z Rocket Keeps Win Streak Alive in Santa Anita Sprint

City Zip gelding has won five in a row since being claimed in April.

C Z Rocket (outside) captures the Santa Anita Sprint Championship at Santa Anita Park

C Z Rocket (outside) captures the Santa Anita Sprint Championship at Santa Anita Park

Benoit Photo

Gary Barber, Tom Kagele, and Madaket Stables' C Z Rocket fought off Flagstaff to win the $200,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes (G2) Sept. 27 at Santa Anita Park, his fifth consecutive victory.

The 6-year-old City Zip gelding was claimed for $40,000 by Kagele and trainer Peter Miller in April at Oaklawn Park. Included in his win streak are two graded stakes victories and berths into two Breeders' Cup races Nov. 7 at Keeneland.

"There were a lot of things involved in this. We recently sold a part of him to Gary Barber and Sol Kumin, and I really wanted to win for those two gentlemen," Miller said. "Flavien (Prat) took off him, and I wanted to prove that he made the wrong move.

"It was the owner, Tom Kagele, who picked the horse," Miller added. "I wouldn't have picked him, his form was too bad to claim him, but I did like that he had run some fast races in the past. We thought if we could get him back into that form, he could be a very nice horse."

C Z Rocket earned a spot in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) with Sunday's win. In his previous start, he scored a spot in the Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) by taking the Aug. 29 Pat O'Brien Stakes (G2) at Del Mar.

C Z Rocket and jockey Luis Saez, left, overpower Flagstaff (Victor Espinoza), right, to win the Grade II, $200,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship, Sunday, September 27, 2020 at Santa Anita Park, Arcadia CA.<br>
© BENOIT PHOTO
Photo: Benoit Photo
C Z Rocket narrowly takes the Santa Anita Sprint Championship over a game Flagstaff

"We're definitely leaning toward the Sprint. He's won the last (five) going one turn," said Miller, noting the Dirt Mile at Keeneland is around two turns. "We're going to keep him one turn."

Though C Z Rocket and jockey Luis Saez were fastest out of the gate in the six-furlong Santa Anita Sprint Championship, it was Flagstaff and Victor Espinoza who took the lead. C Z Rocket stalked the pace only a half-length behind Flagstaff. Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) winner Collusion Illusion —ridden by Prat, who won the Pat O'Brien on C Z Rocket—followed in third. 

Following fractions of :22.33 and :45.27 through the first half-mile, Saez guided C Z Rocket three wide through the turn, and the gelding headed Flagstaff near the eighth pole. Despite drifting out in the stretch, C Z Rocket was able to hold strong late and eked out a head victory. He paid $4.80 as the favorite. 

"I didn't expect to be that close, but he broke so sharp and he took me there," Saez said. "I decided to let him settle and keep him happy. When I pulled the trigger turning for home, he took off. I love this horse. Now he's ready for the real deal."

Jockey Luis Saez guides C Z Rocket to the winner's circle after their victory in the Grade II, $200,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship, Sunday, September 27, 2020 at Santa Anita Park, Arcadia CA.<br>
© BENOIT PHOTO
Photo: Benoit Photo
Jockey Luis Saez guides C Z Rocket to the winner's circle after their victory

Flagstaff was second, 1 1/4 lengths over Collusion Illusion, who made an inside bid but could not catch the frontrunners. Desert Law and Giant Expectations completed the order of finish.

The final time on the fast track was 1:09.14.

C Z Rocket has earned $310,344 since being claimed. He has a 9-1-2 record in 22 starts with earnings of $551,641.

"I've owned horses since 1999, and we were with (trainer) Mike Machowsky. This is unreal, we're so happy," Kagele said. "The Breeders' Cup people contacted us after he won the Pat O' Brien, and they said we could come, so we're bringing a party. This is so great, to see what he's done with Pete. I was very lucky to be a part of Southern Image with Mike (Machowsky), and we won the (2004) Santa Anita Handicap (G1), and now to be in a position to run in our first Breeders' Cup … wow."

C Z Rocket was originally campaigned by Frank Fletcher Racing Operations after being purchased as a juvenile for $800,000 from the Stephens Thoroughbreds consignment to the 2016 Ocala Breeders' Sales June Sale of 2-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age. Farm III Enterprises bred the bay gelding in Florida out of the grade 3-placed Successful Appeal mare Successful Sarah, also the dam of stakes-placed Great Success (Verrazano). Successful Sarah's most recent foal is the unraced 2-year-old colt Successful One (Tale of the Cat).

Video: Santa Anita Sprint Championship S. (G2)