Zen Papa, King Kranz Meet in Lost In The Fog

Former claimer Zen Papa will face graded stakes-placed King Kranz in the $125,000 Lost In The Fog Stakes for 3-year-olds when Aqueduct Racetrack begins the new year Jan. 1. The six-furlong Lost In The Fog, scheduled as race eight, attracted a field of seven.

Michael Dubb's Zen Papa broke his maiden in his career debut Nov. 8 and was claimed by Dubb for $40,000. Sent to trainer Rudy Rodriguez, the Zensational colt returned Dec. 9 to easy win a starter/optional claiming event for which he wasn't entered for a tag.

Zen Papa, bred in Kentucky by Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings, was an $80,000 Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. 2-year-olds in training sale purchase earlier in 2015. He drew post 1 and will be ridden again by Irad Ortiz Jr.

Zayat Stables' King Kranz, trained by John Terranova, has run too well to still be a maiden after five starts. In his third outing he was second in the Futurity Stakes (gr. II) behind Annual Report, and then finished third in the James F. Lewis III Stakes at Laurel Park.

When he returned to maiden special weight company for his last start Dec. 5, King Kranz, by Munnings  , pressured Condo King throughout but couldn't past and fell a neck short. King Kranz, a $95,000 OBS March 2-year-olds in training sale purchase bred in Kentucky by Bob and Alice Austin, will be fitted with blinkers for the first time and drew post 7 with Cornelio Velasquez named.

Condo King, a Tiz Wonderful colt owned by Dubb, Bethlehem Stables, and The Elkstone Group, drew post 2 in the Lost In The Fog with Angel Arroyo named to ride. Also trained by Rodriguez, Condo King, a $75,000 Keeneland September sale yearling purchase bred in Kentucky by Brian Kahn, Bedouin Bloodstock, and Red Diamond Bloodstock, has the one win in three starts.