Private Zone Back in the Zone, Takes Vosburgh

Good Friend Stable's Private Zone, in his second start of the year, ran strongly to just pass Dads Caps at the wire to take the $400,000 Vosburgh Stakes (gr. I) Sept. 27 at Belmont Park .

Private Zone, who won the Vosburgh last year, prepped for this year's race with a fourth-place finish after a rough trip in the Turf Monster Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Parx Racing.

Ridden as usual by Martin Pedroza in the Vosburgh, the final time for six furlongs on dirt was 1:08.95 on a fast track. Dads Caps was second and 13-10 favorite Palace was third.

Saddled by trainer Alfredo Velazquez for trainer Doug O'Neill, Private Zone won for the sixth time in 23 starts. The Vosburgh is a "Win and You're In" race for the Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) at Santa Anita Park.

A 5-year-old gelding by Macho Uno   out of the Siphon mare Auburn Beauty, Private Zone was bred in Kentucky by Adena Springs. 

Private Zone rated in second behind Happy My Way through an opening quarter-mile in :22.42 and a half-mile in :44.81. Dads Caps took over from the leader heading into the stretch as Private Zone loomed on the outside.

Private Zone and Dads Caps dueled through the lane, but Private Zone got the better of his rival by a neck. Palace, who attempted to rally from off the pace, finished third, 1 1/2 lengths behind Dads Caps. Salutos Amigos finished fourth, followed by Coup de Grace, Happy My Way, Ribo Bobo, and Zee Bros.

Private Zone paid $13.80, $8.10, and $4.50 across the board. Dads Caps returned $17.60 and $7.40. Palace was worth $2.50 to show. The $2 exacta paid $225 and the $2 trifecta $517.

"He's a warrior," Pedroza said. "He's a great competitor. He doesn't like to get beat. Once he looks a horse in the eyeball he just gains confidence. I haven't been on a horse as game as this horse in 30 years."

With his Vosburgh score, Private Zone gave trainer Velazquez his first grade I victory in a 31-year career. Private Zone will now target the Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint, with a decision on whether he'll remain with Velazquez or be returned to O'Neill to be made later.

"They didn't want to ship (Private Zone) back to California (after he ran at Parx Racing)," Velazquez said. "I've trained for some of (the owners) before, and Rene Douglas is the best friend I've got. They decided to leave the horse with me to run in this race.

"If he ran good, they were going to go back to the Breeders' Cup. I don't know if I'm going to keep him or if they're going to send him back to (Doug O'Neill). He did a good job with the horse."