Zozos

17) ZOZOS (c, Munnings–Papa's Forest, by Forestry) 'TDN Rising Star' O/B-Barry & Joni Butzow (KY). T-Brad H. Cox. Lifetime Record: GSP, 3-2-1-0, $291,200. Last Start: 2nd GII TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby. KY Derby Points: 40. Post 19, 20-1.

This 'TDN Rising Star' and homebred for Barry and Joni Butzow was on his left lead through the stretch of his MSW win, uncorked a powerful turn of foot at the quarter pole of his allowance victory, then led for as long as he could through the long Fair Grounds stretch in the Louisiana Derby before the much more experienced Epicenter reeled him in. That's a nice block of races to build on, but his overall grade is still “incomplete.” Zozos's sire, grandsire and damsire (Munnings, Speightstown and Forestry) all were crack sprinters, so there's not much Derby-distance promise in his immediate pedigree. Neither post 19 nor the historically non-productive six-week gap between starts will help.