Breakthrough Win for Mr. Z in Ohio Derby

Mr. Z returns to the winner's circle after winning the Ohio Derby on Saturday at Thistledown. (Photo courtesy of Thistledown)
After finishing in the top three in eight previous stakes races, Mr. Z finally earned a breakthrough stakes victory on Saturday at Thistledown in the $500,000 Ohio Derby.
The Kentucky-bred Malibu Moon colt was owned and named after American Pharoah’s owner Ahmed Zayat. He raced for Zayat Stables until his private sale just before the Preakness Stakes.
Mr. Z stalked American Pharoah from second on the sloppy track at Pimlico in the Preakness but faded to finish fifth. American Pharoah went on to become the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years with a tour de force Belmont Stakes, while Mr. Z targeted a lesser prize in the Ohio Derby.
The drop in class was just what the talented and perhaps unlucky Mr. Z needed as he set a solid pace through a half-mile in :48.08 in the Ohio Derby and then gamely fought off challenges from Preakness third-place finisher Divining Rod and Tencendur for a hard-fought victory under Joe Bravo.
“This is a horse that I’ve followed all along and I was just happy to be sitting on him today,” Bravo said. “Mr. Z is a fighter.”
Tencendur rallied powerfully in the closing strides but Mr. Z held on by a nose to halt a 13-race winless stretch since a debut victory in June 2014 at Churchill Downs.
In between the two wins, Mr. Z finished second in the Grade 1 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity, Grade 2 Saratoga Special Stakes and Grade 3 Delta Downs Jackpot and Sanford Stakes during his 2-year-old season. He was third in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby and two other stakes races at three before the Ohio Derby.
Mr. Z completed the 1 1/16-mile Ohio Derby in 1:43.60 to prevail for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas and owner Calumet Farm.
“I love when a plan comes together,” Bravo said. “When D. Wayne Lukas sends a horse for this race, you have to have faith.”
For an Equibase chart, click here.