Mr. Z in the Arkansas Derby?
Apr 7, 2015 23:03:47 GMT -5
Post by racinggal on Apr 7, 2015 23:03:47 GMT -5
Oh my! I was relaxing and browsing websites as I am not teaching tomorrow and I came across this! I know horses ran a lot more years ago but in this case, much as I like Coach, I'm not sure this is the right thing to do! Mr. Z has to be tired and the Zayats have a KY entrant! Does Mr. Z have a chance? Yes - I'd probably play him - but not a lot!
Zayats' Mr. Z will enter Arkansas Derby
Jennie Rees
Louisville Courier Journal
Heavy favorite American Pharoah and Mr. Z both will be entered Wednesday for Saturday's $1 million Arkansas Derby, said Justin Zayat, whose family owns both horses.
D. Wayne Lukas, who trains Mr. Z, said Monday that it would be up to Ahmed Zayat whether to run Mr. Z back in the Arkansas Derby after he finished last two weeks earlier in the Louisiana Derby. Lukas said it would be his recommendation to run and that he thought the Louisiana Derby was a "throw out."
Justin Zayat, Ahmed's son who manages the racing and breeding stock for his family, said on a teleconference Tuesday that Mr. Z will be entered but there is no commitment to run, though it seems highly likely he will.
Asked about the decision to run Mr. Z, he said it completely down to the recommendation of a four-time Kentucky Derby winner in Lukas.
Justin Zayat was asked if he would be surprised if Mr. Z, who has four seconds and three thirds but no stakes victories, defeated the Bob Baffert-trained American Pharoah. "To be honest, I'd be shocked," he said, calling American Pharoah "a horse of a lifetime."
Justin Zayat said no decision has been made on whether to retain C.C. Lopez for the Kentucky Derby on El Kabeir, who finished third in Aqueduct's Wood Memorial after winning the Gotham, though he made it sound like a change is more likely than not in an effort to get a jockey with experience in America's greatest race.
Zayats' Mr. Z will enter Arkansas Derby
Jennie Rees
Louisville Courier Journal
Heavy favorite American Pharoah and Mr. Z both will be entered Wednesday for Saturday's $1 million Arkansas Derby, said Justin Zayat, whose family owns both horses.
D. Wayne Lukas, who trains Mr. Z, said Monday that it would be up to Ahmed Zayat whether to run Mr. Z back in the Arkansas Derby after he finished last two weeks earlier in the Louisiana Derby. Lukas said it would be his recommendation to run and that he thought the Louisiana Derby was a "throw out."
Justin Zayat, Ahmed's son who manages the racing and breeding stock for his family, said on a teleconference Tuesday that Mr. Z will be entered but there is no commitment to run, though it seems highly likely he will.
Asked about the decision to run Mr. Z, he said it completely down to the recommendation of a four-time Kentucky Derby winner in Lukas.
Justin Zayat was asked if he would be surprised if Mr. Z, who has four seconds and three thirds but no stakes victories, defeated the Bob Baffert-trained American Pharoah. "To be honest, I'd be shocked," he said, calling American Pharoah "a horse of a lifetime."
Justin Zayat said no decision has been made on whether to retain C.C. Lopez for the Kentucky Derby on El Kabeir, who finished third in Aqueduct's Wood Memorial after winning the Gotham, though he made it sound like a change is more likely than not in an effort to get a jockey with experience in America's greatest race.