Multi-Millionaire C Z Rocket Retired at Age 10

Ten-year-old City Zip  gelding C Z Rocket , who was claimed for $40,000 and became one of America's top sprinters, has been retired.

Trainer and co-owner Peter Miller announced the move following his sixth-place finish in a starter allowance race at Oaklawn Park Feb. 19.

"He was a prince of a horse—very kind and gentle, but he wanted to train every day," Miller said. "He was a pleasure to be around and a real ham. He loves attention. This is bittersweet because I am gonna miss seeing him every day."

C Z Rocket retires a multiple grade 2 winner, having captured the Pat O'Brien Stakes (G2) and the Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes (G2) in 2020. He won 13 of 45 starts and hit the board in 14 black type races. His $2,124,691 career earnings makes him one of City Zip's top all-time horses.

Miller claimed C Z Rocket for owner Tom Kagele and himself April 30, 2020, at Oaklawn. In his first start for Miller, C Z Rocket was in for a $50,000 tag at Churchill Downs, and he won by 4 3/4 lengths. Two horses were claimed from that race, but not C Z Rocket.

That was the start of an incredible five-race win streak for the new connections. On July 12, 2020, C Z Rocket set a track record at Keeneland, winning a 6 1/2-furlong allowance optional claimer in 1:15 on dirt.

Gary Barber and Madaket Stables bought into C Z Rocket following his win in the 2020 Pat O'Brien, with Altamira Racing Stable joining the ownership later. C Z Rocket finished 2020 with a 2nd-place finish behind Whitmore in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) at Keeneland. It was the first of three appearances in the year-end sprint championship.

Miller attributed the claim's success to getting a bleeding problem under control and helping C Z Rocket rediscover his confidence.

C Z Rocket won the Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) at Oaklawn in 2021 and was seventh in the Breeders' Cup that year behind Aloha West   at Del Mar. He notched another second-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Sprint in 2022 at Keeneland, where he was runner-up to two-time Champion Sprinter Elite Power.

C Z Rocket was bred in Florida by Farm III Enterprises. He is out of G3-placed Successful Sarah , by Successful Appeal . C Z Rocket did not sell at auction as a yearling, but he topped the 2016 Ocala Breeders Sales' Co. June Two-year-olds in Training Sale, where Frank Fletcher Racing Operations bought him for $800,000. C Z Rocket worked two furlongs in :21 1/5 for consignor Stephens Thoroughbreds, agent, at OBS.

He made his debut in September 2017 and won his first three starts for Fletcher and original trainer Al Stall Jr. He won his first stake in 2018 when he captured the $75,000 Kelly's Landing Overnight Stakes at Oaklawn.

Graded stakes success eluded C Z Rocket for his initial owners, although he finished fourth three times in graded company, including the Forego Stakes (G1) in 2018.

Following a trio of poor finishes in late 2019 and early 2020, C Z Rocket was offered for the $40,000 tag. Miller dropped the claim on the gelding after receiving a phone call from Kagele.

Miller said C Z Rocket retired "happy and sound," and that he would like to send him to the Kentucky Horse Park or Old Friends retirement farm in Georgetown, Ky.

"If he doesn't go to Kentucky, he will retire in California," Miller said. "There is no shortage of people who want him, including me. I'm grateful and thankful we were part of each other's lives."