C Z Rocket Goes Last to First, Sets Record at Keeneland

Tom Kagele's C Z Rocket overcame an awkward start to go from last to first in a $68,000 allowance optional claiming event July 12 at Keeneland. The 6-year-old City Zip gelding split rivals and rallied past Copper Town to win the 6 1/2-furlong sprint by three-quarters of a length.

C Z Rocket was claimed April 30 for $40,000 at Oaklawn Park and moved to the barn of Peter Miller. From four starts for his new connections, he has won the past three.

Ridden by Florent Geroux, C Z Rocket hopped at the start and was away last of nine as the 2-1 favorite. Copper Town took the lead and set fractions of :22.10 and :44.80 through a half-mile. C Z Rocket advanced along the inside, shifted off the rail into the three path turning for home, then ran down Copper Town. The final time on a fast track was 1:15, a course record.

Copper Town was second and True Timber was third throughout.

Grade 1 winner Whitmore was scratched from the race with the possibility of rain in the forecast, trainer Ron Moquett said. The conditioner also announced Sunday on Twitter that Whitmore will point to the July 25 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.

C Z Rocket, bred in Florida by Farm III Enterprises, is out of the graded stakes-placed Successful Appeal mare Successful Sarah. He won the 2018 Kelly's Landing Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs for previous owner Frank Fletcher Racing Operations, which purchased him for $800,000 from the Stephens Thoroughbreds consignment to the 2016 Ocala Breeders' Sales June 2-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age Sale.

From a 7-1-2 record in 20 starts, C Z Rocket has earned $341,641.