Zydeceaux Rebounds to Take Ocala Breeders’ Sales Sophomore

Stud Carmen Cristina LLC’s Zydeceaux rebounded from a ninth-place finish in the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (Grade 2) to win the $110,000 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Sophomore. Six Florida-bred 3-year-olds went seven furlongs in the Sophomore, which also included a $10,000 bonus earned by Zydeceaux as a winner eligible for the Florida Sire Stakes.

Ridden by Samuel Marin for trainer Ramon Minguet, Zydeceaux was heads apart on the lead with Dangerous Ride and Lookin’ Super through the first quarter-mile in :21.96. Midway around the far turn, Zydeceaux began to apply pressure while threewide but could not shake free from his front-running rivals while finishing the half-mile in a still quick :44.59.

As they hit the top of the stretch, Lookin’ Super had a difficult time keeping up while Zydeceaux took a clear advantage at the final furlong marker. As Diamond Cool began to close in from the far outside while taking second, Marin looked under his right arm, gave Zydeceaux a few taps with the left hand and cruised under the wire with a length-and-a-quarter advantage in 1:23.29 on the fast track. Diamond Cool completed his rally to finish second, a length ahead of This Run’s for You in third. Dangerous Ride, Lookin’ Super and Awesome Rey completed the order of finish.

Zydeceaux returned $5.20 on a $2 win ticket as the 8-5 favorite.

SV Photography

“This guy has a lot of speed, you know, so I was holding him early and trying to get in the best spot to win that race,” Marin said. “When that happened, I was real sure of the win. I just tried to hold him until the last quarter and he did the rest.”

It was the second career stakes victory and second of the Tampa Bay meet for Zydeceaux, who won the $125,000 Pasco over seven furlongs there on Jan. 14. He then finished a solid fifth, less than four lengths behind winner Litigate while stepping onto the Road to the Kentucky Derby in the Grade 3 Sam Davis going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on Feb. 11. He could not muster any Kentucky Derby points in the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby won by Tapit Trice at a mile-and-a-sixteenth on March 11 but a return to one turn against fellow Florida-breds in the OBS Sophomore proved to be the formula for success.

“Before the Tampa Bay Derby, Ramon [Minguet] told me he was thinking about this race,” said Jose Carrillo Pujol, who owns Zydeceaux under his Stud Carmen Cristina banner based in Miami Shores. “We had some doubts, but this horse has a lot of class and we didn’t work him too hard, just galloped him up to the race.

“We took the chance today and it paid off. Maybe we can make something more with him now but he will definitely get some rest before he races again.”

Bred by Dee Ellen Cook and Suzette Parker, Zydeceaux has won half of his eight career starts with a second and a third while earning $229,540.

Zydeceaux is a graduate of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales October Sale where Pujol selected him out of the Summerfield consignment for $15,000. t