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Zanjero noses out Bwana Bull in West Virginia Derby Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC's ZANJERO (Cherokee Run) entered Saturday's $750,000 West Virginia Derby (G3) off a neck second in the Northern Dancer Breeders' Cup S. (G3) at Churchill Downs. The Steve Asmussen trainee lost a close decision on that day, but what goes around comes around, and the dark bay colt was on the winning end of a photo finish in this 1 1/8-mile event. Getting his nose down on the line, Zanjero stopped the clock in 1:53 over the fast dirt with jockey Shaun Bridgmohan along for the ride. Norjac (Peaks and Valleys) moved to the front when the gates opened, setting splits of :24 and :48 2/5 while tracked by Slew's Tizzy (Tiznow) and Dominican (El Corredor), but none of those rivals could sustain their run and began to fade. Zanjero and Bwana Bull (Holy Bull), who were not far behind, found themselves in front and hooked up entering the final turn, while the 2-1 favorite, Delightful Kiss (Kissin Kris), closed fast on the outside. The crowd's choice couldn't keep up with the top two, who battled all the way to the wire with Zanjero sticking his nose in front at just the right second. Sent off the 3-1 second choice, Zanjero paid $8, $4.60 and $2.80 while keying the $128 perfecta and $914.40 trifecta (9-10-3). Bwana Bull was worth $13.80 and $6.60 at 20-1 for his game effort, and it was another six lengths back to Moyer's Pond (Monarchos), who rallied to take third by a length over Sam P. (Cat Thief). Show gave back $5 at 10-1 Delightful Kiss followed in fifth, and next under the line were Dominican, Slew's Tizzy and Norjac. Dr Googles Boogles (Richter Scale) and Song of Navarone (Sultry Song) were both withdrawn. Zanjero has finished out of the top three only twice in his career, that coming in his debut at Saratoga last August and when 12th in the Kentucky Derby (G1). He's placed in such events as the Blue Grass S. (G1), Louisiana Derby (G2), Remsen S. (G2) and Risen Star S. (G3), but was never able to break through with a stakes win until this one. The dark bay colt more than doubled his earnings to $772,016 and improved his career mark to 11-3-3-3. Bred in Kentucky by Tony Holmes and Walter Zent, Zanjero is out of the unraced A.P. Indy mare Checkered Flag, making him a half-brother to multiple stakes winner and Grade 2-placed Victory Lap (Touch Gold) and an unnamed 2007 colt by Ghostzapper. He also has an unraced juvenile full sister named Acacia. Zanjero was purchased by his current connections for $700,000 as a Keeneland September yearling.
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