Zozos Returns to One-Turn Mile, Aims for Hanshin Repeat

An expected field of 11 will attempt to claim the final stakes of the Churchill Downs spring meet in the $300,000 Hanshin Stakes June 30.

Barry and Joni Butzow's Zozos  won this race when it was held at Ellis Park one year ago and is back to defend his title following a third in the seven-furlong Churchill Downs Stakes (G1) to kick off his 5-year-old campaign May 4.

The son of Munnings   is 3-for-4 when competing at a one-mile distance, with his only defeat a fifth in the 2023 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at two turns.

Among the Challengers Are:

• Winchell Thoroughbreds' Extra Anejo , who returned from a 10-month layoff with a scintillating 3 1/2-length score in Churchill Downs allowance company May 30.
• Whisper Hill Farm's multiple graded stakes winner Charge It , who was third in his 5-year-old debut in the Westchester Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack May 3.
• Wathnan Racing's Cagliostro , who skips Saturday's 1 1/8-mile Stephen Foster Stakes (G1) for the Hanshin following his runner-up effort in the June 1 Blame Stakes (G3).

Earlier in the Card

Three Chimneys Farm's Otto the Conqueror  returns to stakes company in the $175,000 Maxfield Overnight Stakes following a confidence-boosting allowance win at Churchill June 5. He will face WinStar Farm and Siena Farm's impressive maiden winner World Record .

Miacomet Farm's multiple graded stakes winner Heavenly Sunday  searches for victory in the $175,000 Anchorage Overnight Stakes following consecutive losses to kick off her 4-year-old campaign. She will need to turn the tables on Fast as Flight  who beat her in the May 3 Modesty Stakes (G3T).