Knicks Go Winner Zozos Arrives Hot in Hanshin

The day after the $1 million Stephen Foster Stakes (G1) July 1, the Churchill Downs spring meet that was shifted to Ellis Park concludes July 2 with five stakes, topped by the $275,000 Hanshin Stakes.

Then after a four-day break, the long-scheduled Ellis Park summer meet follows, beginning July 7 and continuing through Sept. 7, with lesser purses and without such lucrative stakes on a regular basis.

The Hanshin lured a horse that competed in last year's Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs—Barry and Joni Butzow's Zozos . The now 4-year-old Munnings   colt is 2-for-4 since his 10th-place finish in the 2022 Run for the Roses, having won an allowance optional claimer at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in December and the restricted Knicks Go Overnight Stakes most recently in quick time at Churchill Downs on the undercard of the Kentucky Derby.

The Knicks Go, like the Hanshin, is at a mile, though around one turn, beginning at the end of Churchill Downs' long backstretch chute. One-mile races at Ellis Park also are out of a chute, though mile races there begin near the clubhouse turn, leaving its competitors making a half-turn before arriving on the backstretch. The competitors essentially race around a turn and a half.

Florent Geroux is aboard the rail-drawn Zozos for trainer Brad Cox.

Three Technique , third to Zozos in the Knicks Go and that race's winner in 2022 for owners David E. Miller, Eric Grindley, and John Werner, appears the main danger to Zozos in the nine-horse field, having won an allowance optional claimer May 27 at Churchill Downs in his start following the 2023 Knicks Go.

The field also includes Godolphin's class-dropping Santin , a multiple grade 1 winner on the Churchill Downs grass course, who ran fifth in the June 3 Blame Stakes (G3) in his first attempt on dirt.

Churchill Downs last ran June 4, the day after the Blame, after which racing moved to Ellis following a spate of equine fatalities at Churchill Downs for a period of weeks led track and regulatory officials to transfer the meet.

Other stakes on the Sunday card include the $175,000 Anchorage Overnight Stakes for older fillies and mares on at a mile on turf; the $175,000 Maxfield Overnight Stakes for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs on dirt; and the $225,000 Debutante Stakes for 2-year-old fillies and $225,000 Bashford Manor Stakes for 2-year-olds—both at six furlongs.

The Maxfield drew 11 competitors, some of graded stakes quality, such as Chick Lang Stakes (G3) winner Ryvit . He goes for his fifth consecutive victory against first-time dirt runner New York Thunder , who is 2-for-3 on turf and synthetic tracks.

Also in the field is Damon's Mound , last year's Saratoga Special Stakes (G2) winner whose form has improved in three defeats this year.

White Frost  and Sweet Dani Girl , 2-3 in the Mint Julep Stakes (G3T) at Churchill Downs June 4, lead an eight-horse lineup in the Anchorage that counts Princess Theorem  and Contempory Art among its other contenders.