Field of nine comes at right time for Roxy

By JOHN BASSETTI

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

YOUNGSTOWN — Of the thousands of colts born every year, only 20 or fewer enter a Triple Crown race when they are three-year-olds.

Therefore, to be a principal owner of a horse with such an opportunity is a special opportunity.

Bruce Zoldan is a person in that position this week as the Valley resident awaits Saturday’s 132nd running of the $1 million Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Track in Baltimore.

“It’s a rare occurrence when a horse gets into a Triple Crown race and has the potential to be among the top four or five finishers,” Zoldan said Tuesday from the downtown corporate office of his Phantom Fireworks business.

King of the Roxy, a colt of which Zoldan is one of three or four principal owners through Team Valor Stables.

Good signs

There were good signs at Belmont Park in New York, where King of the Roxy shaped up under trainer Todd Pletcher.

“We worked 6 furlongs on Monday in 1:14,” Zoldan said. “That’s about where we like him to be.

“Trainers know by a workout how their horse is doing compared to other horses and Todd was very happy with King of the Roxy.”

Jockey Garrett Gomez will be aboard Roxy, who was shipped to Pimlico Thursday.

Another bit of good news is that there’s only a field of nine for the Preakness.

Wednesday, King of the Roxy drew the No. 5 post position, although Zoldan was hoping for No. 6 or higher.

“Those would have been our desired positions,” Zoldan said, “but we had no control over the lottery.”

Still, he considers No. 5 very good. The Preakness post is not as important as it is in the Kentucky Derby, where the starting field numbered 20.

“Roxy loves to sit outside, stalk the leaders and close at the end. Hopefully, that’s where we’ll be at,” said Zoldan.

A post position too close to the inside rail would have put stress on the horse, whose inclination is to move outward.

Pace and placement

The pace is also important.

“We definitely don’t want to be out front, that’s not his style,” Zoldan said. “He likes second, third, even fourth and then make a move in the final turn.”

Team Valor, based in Lexington, Ky., is the syndicate that owns King of the Roxy, a Littleexpectations colt out of the Bold Forbes mare Marrakesh. Barry Irwin is Team Valor’s managing partner.

“It’s a reputable and very high-level organization that owns horses all over the world and races them all over the world,” Zoldan said.

King of the Roxy was purchased from an Ohio farm for $8,000, then ran some races as a 2-year-old and was very successful. That’s when Team Valor bought him and put shares up for sale.

“He was bred under the watchful eye of Irwin. He’s good at recognizing potential talent. He saw Roxy and we purchased him,” said Zoldan.

“Roxy’s blood line may not be on the level of Triple Crown horses, but his racing talent is. If he’d win the Preakness, he’d be one of the top breeding colts in the country.”

King of the Roxy won the Futurity Stakes at Belmont Park last September as a 2-year-old and the Hutcheson Stakes at Gulfstream Park in March. In his last start, Roxy was second in the Santa Anita Derby on April 7.

Fifth-best odds

Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense is the favorite Saturday, while King of the Roxy, at 12-1, has the fifth-best odds.

Hard Spun and Curlin, the 2-3 finishers in the Kentucky Derby, and Circular Quay are also in the field, but that’s a reason to give King of the Roxy an advantage.

Circular Quay was sixth at Churchill Downs.

“They just ran a difficult race two weeks ago and it takes a lot of effort to come back,” Zoldan said. “We’re hoping those horses are a little bit tired. We are the best-prepared and our horse is rested the longest. We feel we’re in good shape.”

One scenario that might work against King of the Roxy or any other horse is getting caught in a tight spot.

“Let’s hope we don’t get bumped or hemmed in early like we did early in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile when Roxy finished eighth,” Zoldan said.

In that race over six months ago when he was a 2-year-old, King of the Roxy ran against Street Sense, who won.

“It’s a world of difference,” Zoldan said of his horse’s progress since that time, using the analogy of a high school football player’s performance at age 18 compared to his maturity at 22.

Expectations

Come Saturday, Zoldan isn’t fooling himself about Street Sense.

“He’s a very good horse, no question, but we’d be thrilled to finish second to him or shock him and beat him.”

If everything goes well — or better, Zoldan will be in the winner’s circle, along with Gomez, Irwin and family members.

“I would hope that you’d see me there if you’re watching NBC.”

There’s another scenario that Zoldan doesn’t foresee.

“For me, horses are a hobby; I’m not in it for the betting. I have a fireworks business that makes money. If Roxy doesn’t win, you won’t see me at an ATM trying to find money to get home with.”

bassetti@vindy.com