Zozos won his first career graded stakes race when he went wire-to-wire in the Grade 3 $400,000 Ack Ack Stakes at Churchill Downs on Sept. 30. The Ack Ack Stakes was a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series "win and you're in" race, so the Ack Ack victory at one-mile secured Zozos a spot in the starting gate for the Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile Nov. 4 at Santa Anita Park.

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It's a little difficult to believe the Ack Ack was the first graded stakes win for Barry and Joni Butzow's Zozos. The 4-year-old was a contender (finished 10th) in the 2022 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve and had won six of his ten starts, including two stakes, before the Ack Ack.

Trainer Brad Cox echoed the sentiment. "He was a very accomplished horse to not have a won a graded stakes, so this was a big breakthrough for him today."

Seizing command only a few strides from the gate, as is typical for the frontrunning Zozos, he raced flanked throughout the first six furlongs by Caddo River through comfortable early fractions of :23.69, :47.10, and 1:11.41. Turning for home, Caddo River gave way as Zozos surged into a fresh gear, opening up two lengths down the lane and fending off the late challenges of Stage Raider, who finished second by a length, and Three Technique who settled for third.

Under regular pilot Florent Geroux, Zozos ($3.54) stopped the timer at a mile on a fast track in 1:35.32.

"I was watching him train in Saratoga and I loved how he was training," Cox said. We were hoping to finally make him a graded stakes winner. I liked what I saw from him, I liked what I saw from his works."

According to Cox, Zozos may make his next start at Santa Anita Park in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.

"He's a good horse," Cox said. "We'll see how he bounces out of this and if he wants to be on a plane to California."  

Clapton Outbattles Trademark to Win Lukas Classic

Clapton scored a thrilling late running triumph in the Grade 2 $500,000 Lukas Classic Stakes Sept. 30 at Churchill Downs, defeating a game Trademark by a head.

Purchased with dreams of Middle Eastern riches in mind, team Clapton may now have an enticing detour in their future in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic.

"Look (the Breeders' Cup is) a $6 million race and I think he showed today distance isn't a problem," trainer Chad Summers said. "I think there will be pace in that race with some of those 3-year-olds. We'll take a look at it."

Clapton. (Coady Photography)

Clapton was secured by Summers on behalf of Sheikh Rashid Bin Humaid Alnuami's RRR Racing a month ago with the goal of racing the 4-year-old son of Brethren in the Dubai Carnival races this winter. A winner of the Grade 3 Ghostzapper Stakes at Gulfstream Park earlier this year for former owner and breeder Arindel and trainer Juan Alvarado, Clapton made his first start for his new connections in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga, where he finished fourth.

"He got hung out very wide in the Jockey Club Gold Cup and closed the fastest fractions of the day. He only got beat 2 1/4 lengths for the whole thing," Summers said. "We had a lot of confidence and we debated if we were going to stop on him and get him ready for the Dubai season and point for the Carnival races like the Maktoum Challenge races or to press on one more time in here. A lot of credit to the team from Sheikh Rashid Bin Humaid Alnuami to give us the confidence to push forward.

"Joel Rosario breezed him for us a few weeks ago (five furlongs in :59 1/5 at Belmont Park) and he worked absolutely awesome lights out. Unfortunately, Joel couldn't make it but (jockey) Cristian (Torres) certainly filled in admirably."

Seventh of eight down the backstretch, Clapton was unhurried through the early stages of the Lukas Classic as longshot Five Star General and Americanrevolution posted sizzling splits of :23.12 and :46.66. Swallowing up the distance between the pacesetters with a six-wide move around the final turn, Clapton ran down a stubborn Trademark to prevail.

Clapton ($18.32) raced the 1 1/8 miles on a fast main track in 1:48.79. The Florida-bred improved his career bankroll to $823,450.

Trademark was three-quarters of a length better than Blue Devil, who finished third. Favorite Rattle N Roll never factored and finished fourth.