Horse: Cozzetti
Trainer: Dale Romans
Pedigree: By Cozzene out of a Lemon Drop Kid mare (Lemon Drop Ceilo)
Career Record: 7-1-0-1
Career Earnings: $121,650
Notable Races: G1-Arkansas Derby (4th); G2-Tampa Bay Derby (3rd); G1-CashCall Futurity (8th)
2012 Preakness Contenders: Cozzetti
Can He Win The Preakness?
Cozzetti ran evenly in both the Tampa Bay Derby and the Arkansas Derby, but the best race of his career wouldn’t get him within sniffing distance of the top contenders in the Preakness. His chances of winning will depend greatly on whether he can improve immensely from his last start, or the rest of the field regresses significantly from the Derby. That’s not a recipe for success in a Grade 1 race.
Cozzetti has raced against graded stakes company three times in his career - G1-CashCall Futurity, G2-Tampa Bay Derby and G1-Arkansas Derby - and has finished 8th, 3rd and 4th, receptively. On a positive note, the Preakness will be the longest race of Cozzetti’s career to date and he’s got plenty of stamina on both the top and bottom of his pedigree. Both his sire (Cozzene) and damsire (Lemon Drop Kid) produce offspring with an average winning distance of a little over a mile; you won’t find too many horses in this year’s Triple Crown that can match that kind of stamina in their bloodlines.
One thing to keep in mind with Cozzetti is that his lone victory came over a sloppy and sealed track last November. If it rains at Pimlico, the surface might increase his chances for success.
See More:
