Miller Barn Tour: C Z Rocket, Get Her Number and more

With more than $2.5 million in purse earnings so far this year, trainer Peter Miller ranks No. 15 on the national leaderboard in that category. Aiding in that production for the longtime Southern California-based conditioner has been a continued expansion outside of the Golden State. 

In recent years, Miller has kept horses in the Midwest, and now he is planting his flag in New York as well. Miller told Horse Racing Nation this week that 15 horses, mostly from Southern California, are now bedded down at Belmont Park under the care of assistant Felipe Sousa.

“We’re looking to expand,” Miller explained. “We sent a few from the Midwest, but for the most part it is California-based horses. We’re looking to claim some horses and hopefully pick up new horses. Really, it’s a trial. We’ll see how we do and how we like it.”

Miller’s two top stakes horses – C Z Rocket and Get Her Number – are in Southern California, but both could join their former stablemates in New York for potential starts during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival the first weekend in June.

Get Her Number. The Grade 1 winner, who bypassed the first two races of the Triple Crown, could contest the third jewel in the June 5 Belmont Stakes or head to Lone Star Park for the $300,000 Texas Derby on May 31. Miller said a decision will be made on a next start after a scheduled workout on Tuesday.

Winner of last year’s American Pharoah (G1) at Santa Anita, Get Her Number returned from a 5 1/2-month layoff to finish off the board in the March 13 Rebel (G2) in his sophomore bow. He made a return trip to Oaklawn less than a month later to be a solid fourth in the Arkansas Derby (G1). Although he was qualified to start in the Kentucky Derby, Miller elected to bypass both the Derby and the Preakness with Get Her Number. He explained the rationale on Wednesday.

“He shipped across to Arkansas twice in a month off a layoff, and I didn’t want to squeeze the lemon dry, so to speak,” Miller said. “It was just too much, and we thought it was prudent to skip those two and think about some other races.”

Owned by Gary Barber, Get Her Number has won 2-of-5 starts with earnings of $275,667.

C Z Rocket. The 7-year-old gelding has been nearly unbeatable since being claimed for $40,000 by Miller and cutting back to one turn. In eight starts for the current connections, C Z Rocket has lost only once – a second-place finish to eventual champion Whitmore in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. That defeat has since been avenged twice, as C Z Rocket beat Whitmore in both the Hot Springs Stakes and Count Fleet Stakes (G3) during the Oaklawn Park meet.

Miller said three races are under consideration for C Z Rocket: the $1 million Metropolitan Handicap (G1) on the Belmont Stakes undercard June 5; the $400,000 Steve Sexton Mile (G3) at Lone Star on May 31; or the $100,000 Mr. Prospector at Monmouth Park on May 29. Among the variables being considered for which race to contest are the Lasix and crop rules in each jurisdiction, as well as the competition.

“We got Lasix in Texas and New Jersey, so that is definitely part of the equation,” Miller said. “But, of course, there are a lot of things, including the competition. He’s won seven of eight for us, and we’d like to keep that streak going.

"But if Knicks Go goes to New York, then we would consider the (Sexton Mile). It’s $400,000. I think (C Z Rocket) would be the favorite at Monmouth. He’s also not a horse that needs a whip really, so there’s that,” Miller added, citing the fact the Monmouth meet will not allow use of the riding crop other than for “safety” purposes.

Mo Forza. The Grade 1 winner recently returned to Miller’s barn in Southern California after a lengthy layoff. Mo Forza was poised to be one of the betting favorites in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Mile after wins in the Del Mar Mile (G2) and City of Hope Mile (G2) at Santa Anita, but a “setback” after the City of Hope sent him to the sidelines for an extended break.

“He’s back in training and we’re looking for a start hopefully in July, with the Breeders’ Cup the goal,” Miller said.

Laura’s Light. The multiple graded-stakes winner received class relief most recently and responded with a sharp 1 1/2-length allowance win going a flat mile at Santa Anita on May 2. Miller said it will be back to stakes company for the 4-year-old daughter of Constitution. Under consideration are the $200,000 Ouija Board Distaff at Lone Star Park on May 31 or a trip to New York for either the $200,000 Intercontinental (G3) going seven furlong on June 3 or the $500,000 Just A Game (G1) going a mile on June 5.

“We’re looking at three races, with the Just A Game being an outside chance,” Miller said. “I think we’re leaning the Texas race because of the (geographic) proximity and it keeps her around two turns.”

2-year-olds. The juveniles are starting to filter in to the Miller barn. Although it is still too early to mention any names of note, Miller said he expects to have about 30 babies under his care this year. 

"We've got a good group of 2-year-olds shaping up," Miller said. "We like to mix it up with some Cal-breds, homebreds, cheaper horses, a few high-dollar horses, turf horses. Things are looking good, we'll just have to see how it goes."