Zandon

Zandon made his debut in a maiden special weight race at Belmont Park on Oct. 9, 2021. He rallied wide in the stretch and drew off to win by 1 1/2 lengths, covering six furlongs in 1:10.61.

In his next start, Zandon stretched out to 1 1/8 miles in the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct on Dec. 4. He battled back gamely on the inside and finished second behind Mo Donegal, earning 4 points on the road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve in the process. 

The Chad Brown-trained son of Upstart made his 3-year-old debut in the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford at Fair Grounds on Feb. 19, 2022. He recovered from an awkward break and finished third. With that effort, he earned 10 more Derby qualifying points. 

Zandon then shipped to Kentucky for his final prep for the 2022 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve. He dropped well off the pace in the $1 million Toyota Blue Grass Stakes April 9 at Keeneland but closed with a powerful rush under Flavien Prat to reel in Smile Happy in deep stretch. He completed 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.35 on a muddy track to earn 100 points toward qualifying for the first jewel of the Triple Crown May 7 at Churchill Downs.

In the Derby, Zandon made a strong move in the stretch and battled with favored Epicenter down the stretch. Zandon ended up third, beaten 1 1/2 lengths, behind victorious longshot Rich Strike and Epicenter.

After a short freshening following the Triple Crown trail, Zandon returned in the $558,000 Jim Dandy Stakes July 30 at Saratoga Race Course, where he engaged in a rematch with Kentucky Derby runner-up Epicenter. Zandon again finished behind his familiar rival in a second-place finish to Epicenter in the Jim Dandy.

Zandon exited the Jim Dandy and headed for Saratoga's signature race for 3-year-olds in his next start in the Grade 1 Travers Stakes, where he settled for third behind winner Epicenter and runner-up Cyberknife. 

Zandon finished second in his following race in the Grade 1 $1 million Pennsylvania Derby at Parx on Sept. 24. He finished ahead of Cyberknife, who was third, but was three lengths behind the winner, Taiba.

Zandon was bought by owner Jeff Drown via bloodstock agent Mike Ryan for $170,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale in 2020. The dark bay or brown colt is out of the unraced Creative Cause mare Memories Prevail.