C Z Rocket Carries Five-Win Streak Into Breeders' Cup

With five consecutive victories and a trainer with a penchant for winning the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1), West Coast invader C Z Rocket boasts plenty of fuel for an assault on the six-furlong contest Nov. 7 at Keeneland. But if the 6-year-old City Zip gelding is to prevail in the Sprint, he might have to defeat an old friend. Frank Fletcher, who paid $800,000 for C Z Rocket at the Ocala Breeders Sale June 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale in 2016 before losing him at the claim box, had cross-entered his flying filly Frank's Rockette in both the Sprint and the Filly & Mare Sprint (G1), with trainer Bill Mott giving first preference toward facing the boys.

C Z Rocket ascended early in his career, winning his first three starts and then contending in the Malibu Stakes (G1) in start number four before fading late. After a triumph in the Kelly's Landing Stakes at Churchill Downs in 2018, his form returned to Earth, and he dropped 11 straight decisions, although a few of those came in graded stakes company.

At the end of last year and the beginning of 2020, C Z Rocket turned in three desultory performances at a mile and 1 1/16 miles due to bleeding. When he showed up at Oaklawn Park April 30 for a $40,000 tag, he was claimed from a fifth-place finish by owner Tom Kagele, and transferred from Al Stall to the barn of Peter Miller.

The West Coast-based Miller won the Sprint in 2017 and 2018 with Roy H., and has three consecutive Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) victories in his column (two with Stormy Liberal and one with Belvoir Bay) as well. Miller said that back class had a lot to do with Kagele identifying C Z Rocket as a candidate for potential improvement.

"Tom is a sheets guy, and the horse had run some fast numbers earlier in his career," noted Miller. "We were thinking he was a sprinter who had shown evidence of talent through his speed and sheet figures. Anytime they have talent, you at least have a shot to get them back to that."

Before getting C Z Rocket, who was bred by Farm III Enterprises in Florida out of the Successful Appeal mare Successful Sarah, back to his best, Miller had to staunch the gelding's bleeding problem.

"Once we got that under control, everything turned around," he said. "The key was controlling the bleeding and getting his confidence back. We shortened him up and took it one step at a time."

In May 25 start at Churchill Downs, his new connections, which include Kagele and co-owners Madaket Stables and Gary Barber, risked losing C Z Rocket in a $50,000 claiming race, which he won by 4 3/4 lengths. Fortunately, there were no slips dropped for the gelding.

"The thinking was we didn't know what we had; didn't know if he was going to bleed in the race. He wasn't bleeding in the mornings, but you never know," said Miller. "And his form was off, so we didn't think anybody would reach in off his fifth-place effort and grab him."

C Z Rocket again ran for a tag—this time $62,500—on June 21 at Churchill, winning by 4 1/2 and again returning to the Miller barn. His next effort, at Keeneland, resulted in a new track record of 1:15.00 for 6 1/2 furlongs in an optional claimer in which he was not for sale. Shipped to California and moved up into graded stakes company, C Z Rocket prevailed in the Pat O'Brien Stakes (G2) at Del Mar Aug. 29, and again in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G2) Sept. 27.

"We took baby steps with him, and once he got the confidence and realized he wasn't going to bleed, everything went up from there," Miller noted.

Fletcher, who might have to go up against his old friend, said, "I'm happy for the horse and I'm glad he's doing well."

Pointing to C Z Rocket's five-race win streak and the fact he's unbeaten in two starts at Keeneland, Miller is feeling optimistic.

"The horse's confidence level is high, the timing of the race is good, and he's dead-fit. I wouldn't change places with anybody."