SHOTT GUN PICKS UP THIRD WIN OF THE MEET IN AZURE THREE
Bobby Cox’s Shott Gun picked up his third stakes victory of the season after displaying impressive kick after the first 150 yards to win the $25,000 Azure Three Stakes at 220 yards on Saturday at Los Alamitos.
Ridden by Jose Nicasio for trainer Heath Taylor, Shott Gun was sixth in the 10-horse field shortly after the start. He began to accelerate shortly after the gap and then came flying late to win by a half-length as the 4-5 favorite. His winning time of :11.787 is the fastest of the meet at this distance.
Shott Gun, a dashing gray gelding by Valiant Hero, was bred by Cox. He has won four of six starts this season while improving his career record to 12 wins from 24 starts. He earned $13,750 for the win to take his lifetime earnings to $668,269. He also won the Moonist Stakes and Kaweah Bar Handicap this season and was third in the Grade 1 Vessels Maturity after a hard-fought win over Scoops Dynasty in the trials.
“When he won that race by a nose over Scoops Dynasty, that took a lot out of him,” Taylor said. “He ran hard in that race and then faced Empressum and some tough horses. He ran strong tonight. The Z. Wayne Griffin is next.”
The Z. Wayne Griffin in November are the trials to the Grade 1, $750,000 Champion of Champions. Shott Gun was followed by Ed Allred’s Up The Ladder, who hit the finish line a nose ahead of The Quarter Company’s Rocket Seventeen. One Racy Corona, J Perfect Deal, Teller Turim Mrl, Strawfinders Corona and Cattail Cove completed the field.
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