The Puma Brings Derby Winners Back to Big Stage

Bruce Zoldan knows a thing or two about explosive celebrations, and he and the remainder of the ownership involved in The Puma will be hoping for just that following the Kentucky Derby (G1) May 2 at Churchill Downs. Zoldan is the founder of Phantom Fireworks, the leading importer, distributor, and retailer of consumer fireworks in the United States. There is likely no better year to be a seller of fireworks as America's 250th anniversary is fast approaching July 4. Zoldan has always been one to think ahead on his investments, planning a decade ago to make sure his company was supplied for the increased demand of the milestone. "We've been buying products for two years out for this particular stockpiling," Zoldan said. "Americans are looking forward to celebrating the Fourth of July and this special birthday." That eye for a good investment also led him to a 3-year-old son of Essential Quality last month, buying a share in The Puma following a gutsy runner-up finish in the March 28 Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park. "I saw what looks like he's progressing, that he could progress on Derby Day," Zoldan said. "Being in the horse business, I know that Rich Strike was 80-1. Every horse in the race has a chance to win, but it's always good to have a horse who seems to be progressing and getting better in every race. Certainly The Puma looks that way." It was four decades ago that Zoldan first attended a Kentucky Derby and immediately fell in love. He hasn't missed one since. Over those years, he became friends with Barry Irwin and became a shareholder in horses through Team Valor International. In 2011, he got to live the ultimate dream of a Derby faithful when Animal Kingdom stormed home to win the Run for the Roses. "You can't describe winning the Derby," Zoldan said. "It's like winning a billion dollars in the lottery." Perhaps having that taste of Derby victory has given him an idea of what to look for when choosing The Puma, and it helps that he is surrounded by many other Derby winners. Also following the Florida Derby, Michael Iavarone, who won the Derby in 2008 with Big Brown as IEAH Stables, bought into The Puma alongside Jules Iavarone and Ira Rothblut as TCC Stables. The connections who picked out The Puma for $150,000 at the 2025 Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring 2-Year-olds in Training Sale are many of the same characters who won the 2023 Derby with Mage. Like Mage, The Puma is ridden by jockey Javier Castellano and trained by the father/son team of Gustavo Delgado Sr. and Jr., who also co-own as OGMA Investments. Ramiro Restrepo, another co-owner of Mage, signed the ticket as Marquee Bloodstock, working as a bloodstock agent for JR Ranch and High Step Racing. "It's a testament to the team in general, to the whole team," Restrepo said about returning to the Derby with many of Mage's connections. "Gustavo has been driving the bus. It's a big credit to him and the development of all these colts. "So many people have helped and supported along the way. It's just a testament to the support from everybody. They're the ones that give you the opportunities to come back to an event like this in such a short amount of time." With the same connections and both horses being chestnuts that entered the Derby off a runner-up finish in the Florida Derby, Mage and The Puma have drawn many comparisons. Gustavo Delgado Jr. said he doesn't think all the comparisons are fair, but that the one key similarity between the two is their determination to succeed. "They have grit, disposition to fight hard, especially when tested," Delgado Jr. said. "That's all you can ask for in a horse race." One of the key differences that entering the Derby as a Derby winner will have on the team is the relief of pressure. "It was a lot of pressure coming with Mage," Delgado Jr. said. "We already had horses coming to the Derby before but, honestly, we were just here for the race and didn't have the horse for it until Mage. Mage had a different feeling about him. We didn't want to waste the opportunity." That pressure turned into an unforgettable experience and now has given the team added confidence when at the sales or preparing young horses, such as The Puma, that they can turn them into something great. "Does it give you more confidence? Does it allow you more doors being open to participate in sales all around the world?" Restrepo said. "(Winning the Derby) is a life changer in that regard. But as far as your work ethic and trying to accomplish good things, it just makes you feel good and it's a blessing to have it." Now, they have an opportunity to win a second Derby, something they are more than happy to take a shot at. "It doesn't get old," Delgado Jr. said. "(We have) more confidence. It's not our first rodeo, but in a very humble way." It also will not be the first rodeo for High Step Racing even though the group is just three years old. The partners—Randy Guy, Joe Noble, Kevin Avera, Jim Ferreira, and Todd Perry—were all microshare owners in Mage through CMNWLTH. The thrill of a Kentucky Derby victory was so great, they formed their own ownership group later that year. According to Restrepo, the group now has more than a dozen horses with several different trainers, including the Delgados. "They saw the app, signed up, got involved, and had a wonderful experience," Restrepo said. "It's pretty cool to see their participation, how they've graduated from a microshare entry-level environment to where they are today. It's a pretty special thing." Microshare groups such as CMNWLTH have grown in popularity in recent years. The groups allow for racing fans to get involved in the sport for a much smaller entry price. "It piques their interest, it teaches them some early ABCs about the business and the game," Restrepo said. "If they have enough of a positive experience, it gives them the courage to keep going and fuel their passion. It's great to see them have a solid amount of horses in the game and them being back now as partners. It's really cool to see that." High Step Racing will be doing its best to share its excitement with others. Restrepo said the partners are bringing three buses full of around 130 people to the Derby and they have a section on the first turn. Zoldan also knows how important it is to share that Derby dream, but does so on a bigger scale. This year, he has 82 of "the best seats in Churchill Downs" that he uses to bring family and friends to the Derby every year. He also auctions several tickets for charities every year, recently selling a pair of tickets for $95,000 that was donated to the Cleveland Clinic. Many of those friends he brings to the Derby are celebrities. Recently, Zoldan made headlines by bringing three-time Super Bowl winner Travis Kelce to the Derby in 2024 and later convincing him to buy into a horse named Swift Delivery—whose name correlated to famous singer and songwriter and Kelce's now fiancé Taylor Swift. READ: NFL Superstar Kelce Joins Ownership of Swift Delivery "We do have some horses where we bring some special friends with us," Zoldan said. "It's rewarding for me. It's my favorite weekend of the year. Coming to Churchill Downs, bringing people and celebrities to show them what it's all about. Very few that I bring don't come back for a second, third, or fourth time. They all want to come back and many do." Zoldan says one of the key selling points when bringing anyone to the Derby is being able to relay the experience of winning a Kentucky Derby. "It's helped me a lot just to be able to talk about Animal Kingdom, just to say I was part of a horse that won the Derby. What do they say, '600 and some people have flown in outer space but only, at my time (in 2011), 137 won the Kentucky Derby.' You feel good about it."