Munnings’ Zozos Impressive in Hanshin Victory
It was a third stakes winner of the weekend for Munnings on Sunday when Zozos (4c Munnings x Papa’s Forest, by Forestry) won his third straight race in the Listed Hanshin Stakes.
Having to contend with a sloppy track in the one-mile race, Zozos went straight to the lead with Strava taking up position on his hip and another horse right behind them. Those two kept the pressure on around the far turn and Zozos looked like he may have a true challenge on his hands turning into the stretch.
That turned out to be false concern with Zozos easily pulling away in the stretch to win by three lengths as the heavy favorite.
A homebred for Bary and Joni Butzow, Zozos has won six of his nine starts in his career.
Zozos is out of the nine-time winner Papa’s Forest, who has two winners from two to race. She is a half-sister to stakes placed Down With Dixie with the pair out of a half-sister to Grade 2 winner and multiple Grade I placed Diamond On The Run. The family also includes Grade I winner Celestine and Grade III winners Law Professor, Buddy’s Humor, and Papaw Bodie.
Munnings scored his 70th career stakes winner on Saturday when My Beautiful Belle won the Regret Stakes before Prince of Jericho won the Listed Concern Stakes.