Zozos Holds Key to Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile

The 4-year-old Zozos  has been an odds-on favorite in three straight races but won't fill that role in Saturday's Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) in part because superstar Cody's Wish   will deservedly be the focus of attention and wagering dollars. Barring a historic dead heat, though, one of those two will suffer their first defeat at eight furlongs.

Zozos gave most of his 3-year-old season to chasing the Kentucky Derby (G1) dream. He was second to champion 3-year-old colt Epicenter   in the Louisiana Derby (G2) before splitting the field 10th of 19 in the Run for the Roses. Trainer Brad Cox gave the Munnings   colt a long break from the rigors of that pursuit before he came back this season as a speedy miler. 

The perfect record Zozos boasts at one mile have all come in stakes—the Knicks Go Overnight Stakes (named for a Cox-trained Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner) at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day, the Hanshin Stakes at Ellis Park, and last month's Ack Ack Stakes (G3) at Churchill. Those races, though, were all one turn and allowed Zozos to run the competition off their feet. Can he be as effective in a more tactical two-turn race?

"I do love him around one turn but just based on what I've seen in the Form, I think he can probably break and establish the front, as long as he breaks well," Cox says.

If Zozos can, in fact, control the pace, two turns could work in his favor, as jockey Florent Geroux will aim to give him a breather. None of his six rivals appear on paper like they will be eager to contest the pace. 

"This could be a track where he could get two turns," Cox said. "He obviously did not like Monmouth two back; Florent immediately came back and said he just didn't take to the track that well that day. I'm hoping that if he likes this Santa Anita strip, and I think he will, that he'll be a factor."

Cody's Wish would prefer a stiff pace so Geroux slowing down that pace is not only good for Zozos but detrimental to the competition. 

While Zozos is technically 3-for-3 at a mile, he also boasts a comeback allowance win at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots going the unusual distance of one mile and 70 yards. That race is worth considering because it is two turns and is the closest Fair Grounds runs to one mile on the main track, due to the finish line's close proximity to the first turn. That race has a short run-up of 17 yards from the gate to the pole, whereas the one-mile races from the chute at Churchill Downs have 40 yards of run up. All of which is to say that less than 50 yards separate the actual distances covered in those efforts. Zozos has essentially won at a mile going two turns, and was able to do it from off the pace. 

If Geroux and Zozos have their way, Cody's Wish could be left with not enough pace and too much to do.