C Z Rocket begins his retirement in Kentucky at Old Friends

Multiple graded-stakes-winning millionaire C Z Rocket arrived this week at Old Friends, the Thoroughbred retirement farm in Georgetown, Ky.

The 10-year old bay gelding got to the farm Wednesday courtesy of his trainer Peter Miller and his owner Tom Kagele.

“C Z Rocket has captured the affections of countless race fans throughout his many years on the track,” said John Nicholson, Old Friends president and CEO. “After such a successful career, this special gelding has earned the right to enjoy being pampered and celebrated here at Old Friends. We are grateful to his connections for seeking such a well-deserved happy retirement for him.”

Bred by Farm III Enterprises and sired by City Zip out of the Successful Appeal mare Successful Sarah, C Z Rocket was foaled on Feb. 24, 2014, in Florida. He began his eight-year racing career in 2017 under the care of trainer Albert Stall Jr. and owner Frank Fletcher. He promptly won his first three starts, including a maiden special weight at Saratoga, and then allowance races at Keeneland and Churchill Downs.

In 2018 as a 4-year old, C Z Rocket won his first stakes race, the Kelly’s Landing Overnight at Churchill.

After a fifth-place finish in a claiming race at Oaklawn on April 30, 2020, the then 6-year-old gelding was picked up for $40,000 by Miller and Kagele, who would race him for the rest of his career.

Following that claim, C Z Rocket won five straight races for his new connections. The first was another claiming race at Churchill followed by two allowance tests at Churchill and Keeneland. He then won his first two graded stakes, the Pat O’Brien (G2) at Del Mar and the Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G2).

C Z Rocket’s other career graded-stakes victory came in the Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3), and his other stakes win was in the Hot Springs. Both wins came in 2021 at Oaklawn Park when he was 7.

In addition, C Z Rocket ran in three Breeders’ Cup Sprints, finishing second in 2020 and 2022 at Keeneland and seventh in 2022 at Del Mar.

As a 10-year-old in 2024, he raced two times. He finished third in an allowance race at Santa Anita, and then he came in sixth in an allowance race at Oaklawn on Feb. 19. C Z Rocket was retired then by Miller and Kagele at the same track they had claimed him in 2020.

“Tom and I talked to each other after the race, and we both agreed,” Miller told Paulick Report. “We said, ‘It’s time. He’s done enough. He’s sound, healthy and happy. Let’s not push the envelope.’ ”

C Z Rocket finished his career with a record of 46: 13-9-7 and $2,144,691 in earnings.

“C Z was a special horse that took us to two great finishes in the Breeders’ Cup and became one of the best claims of all times,” said Miller, who also donated Stormy Liberal to Old Friends in 2019. “He was a pleasure to be around and train. ... We chose Old Friends for his retirement because of the care and love these horses receive and the chance for the public to visit and enjoy this magnificent animal as much as we did.”

“C Z Rocket meant the world to myself, my family and my friends,” Kagele said. “He gave us so many great experiences and a lifetime full of memories, bringing family and friends together on numerous occasions. I will miss watching him train and compete, but I am so grateful he is going to Old Friends Farm, which is one of the prestigious aftercare facilities for thoroughbred race horses. I look forward to visiting him with a bag full of peppermints the next time we make our way to Kentucky. Thanks again C Z, it’s been a great ride, old friend.’ ”

“We are very grateful to Peter Miller and Tom Kagele for donating C Z Rocket to Old Friends,” said Michael Blowen, the founder of the retirement farm. “When I saw that he was in a race, I always knew he would give everything he had every time he stepped on the track. He was a lot of fun to watch.”