Delivering a smooth three-wide move under Florent Geroux in the far turn, C Z Rocket seized the lead in early stretch and scampered to a two-length victory over local favorite Whitmore in the $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) April 10 at Oaklawn Park.
It marked the third straight race that the talented sprinters finished one-two in a race as Whitmore posted a clear victory in last year's Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) at Keeneland, but in the first two starts this season for each horse, C Z Rocket has prevailed: edging champion sprinter Whitmore by a neck in the March 13 Hot Springs Stakes ahead of Saturday's score.
Video: Count Fleet Sprint H. (G3)
Geroux kept C Z Rocket off the pace early, while Whitmore rated a close fourth or fifth inside as No Parole and Strike Power dueled through a half-mile in :45.35. In the turn C Z Rocket was able to get the jump on his rival who eventually would find room and punch through in early stretch. While 123-pound highweight Whitmore was as tough as ever—unleashing his trademark kick as he loaded in Post 2 before the race and powering through deep stretch—C Z Rocket held sway and pulled away in the final yards.
"It was a very similar race (to the Hot Springs). We were behind Whitmore again and we had to give up a lot of ground, but we didn't get stopped, either. You trade one for the other," said winning trainer Peter Miller. "Whitmore's a great horse and ran a great race, as always. He's a champion. I think that the (Hot Springs) tightened (C Z Rocket) up good. I think that definitely set him up good for this."
C Z Rocket completed the six furlongs on a fast track in 1:09.62. Empire of Gold finished third.
"I tried to find a nice rhythm with him and when he was ready to go, I just tipped him out and tried to run everyone down," Geroux said. "These are two nice horses. My horse was a little bit unlucky with the trip in the Breeders' Cup. Whitmore had a great trip that day. They are very similar. Looks like my horse was a little bit better today."
C Z Rocket, a 7-year-old gelded son of City Zip, was bred in Florida by Farm III Enterprises. He is out of the graded stakes-placed Successful Appeal mare Successful Sarah, also dam of black-type earner Great Success. The mare's last reported foal is Successful One, an unraced Tale of the Cat 3-year-old colt. C Z Rocket's record now stands at 11-2-2 from 25 starts, with earnings of $1,311,641. He races for Madaket Stables, Gary Barber, and Tom Kagele.
Edgeway Secures First Stakes Score
Earlier on the card, top female sprinters met in the $250,000 Carousel Stakes and Edgeway secured her first stakes win by holding off a charge from favored Frank's Rockette.
Campaigned by Hronis Racing, Edgeway secured her second win in as many starts this season after opening the year with a victory in a Feb. 7 allowance optional claiming race at Santa Anita Park. On Saturday, Frank's Rockette opted to not seize her usual spot on the lead—racing fifth at first call—and Edgeway would stay close early before taking the lead under Joel Rosario through a half-mile in :46.12.
Trained by John Sadler, Edgeway opened a clear advantage in midstretch and have enough to hold off a closing run from Frank's Rockette. The 4-year-old daughter of Competitive Edge completed the six-furlong test in 1:10.13 on a fast track. Casual closed well to finish third.
"She's stakes-placed several times. For her to win a really good stake like that, is very important," Sadler said. "She's a nice, quality filly, there's no doubt about that."
Bred in Kentucky by Pope McLean, Valerie Blethen, and David Blethen out of the Stormin Fever mare Magical Solution, Edgeway was a $275,000 purchase by Martin Anthony from Mayberry Farm's consignment to the 2019 Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. She also went through the ring at the 2017 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale when consigned by McLean, where she was a $35,000 purchase by Erich Brehm. Her record stands at 4-1-1 from six starts, with earnings of $307,200. Her dam's last reported foal is Tiz the Rocket, an unraced 3-year-old son of Tiznow.
