Zozos Breezes Half-Mile in :48 Toward Kentucky Derby

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Zozos Breezes Half-Mile in :48 Toward Kentucky Derby
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Photo: Coady Photography
Zozos wins an allowance optional claiming race at Oaklawn Park

Just over four weeks away from the May 7 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) May 7 at Churchill Downs, on-site workouts from race prospects are underway.

Barry and Joni Butzow's TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) runner-up Zozos  went a half-mile in :48 at Churchill April 8. Clockers timed him covering his final quarter-mile in :23 and galloping out five furlongs in 1:00 4/5.

"It was a good first work back after the Louisiana Derby," trainer Brad Cox said. "He came out of the race in great shape and I think got a lot out of finishing second. He really finished up well in today's work." 

Zozos broke his maiden in January at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots and returned against first-level allowance competition at Oaklawn Park with a 10 1/4-length score. In his stakes debut in the Louisiana Derby, the Munnings   colt finished 2 1/2 lengths behind Epicenter after setting a pressured pace

Zozos is one of three Kentucky Derby contenders for Cox. He's also scheduled to run Gold Square's Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Cyberknife  and Peachtree Stable's Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) runner-up Tawny Port .

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Other top 3-year-olds now based at Churchill include Crown Pride  and  Epicenter , plus Smile Happy  and Rattle N Roll , who both run in the April 9 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland. Epicenter is scheduled to work Sunday, according to Churchill publicity.