Zozos Newest Rising Star for Munnings
It was a new TDN Rising Star for Munnings on Friday when Zozos (3c Munnings x Papa’s Forest, by Forestry) stayed perfect at Oaklawn.
A homebred for Barry and Joni Butzow, Zozos kept pressure on the Grade II-placed Barossa throughout the early part of the 1 1/16 mile race. Zozos engaged Barossa in a duel as they neared the stretch and with a furlong left, he started to pull away.
When Florent Geroux asked the Brad Cox trainee for a little bit more, he shot off like a rocket to win by 10 ¼ lengths in the end.
Zozos is the second winner from two runners out of nine-time winner Papa’s Forest. That mare is a half-sister to stakes-placed Down With Dixie is one of seven winners for her own dam. The family also includes Grade I winner Celestine and Grade II winners Diamond On The Run and Law Professor.
Papa’s Forest is carrying a foal by Classic Empire this year.
The hottest sire in North America, Munnings has two Rising Stars in 2022 and nine overall.