GEORGETOWN, KY – March 1, 2024 – Old Friends, the Thoroughbred retirement farm in Georgetown, Ky., is pleased to announce the arrival of graded-stakes winning millionaire, C Z Rocket, for his retirement.

The 10-year old bay gelding arrived at the farm on Wednesday, Feb. 29, courtesy of his trainer, Peter Miller, and his owner, Tom Kagele.

“CZ Rocket has captured the affections of countless race fans throughout his many years on the track,” said John Nicholson, President and CEO of Old Friends. “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 LLC, C Z Rocket, who is by City Zip–Successful Sarah, by Successful Appeal, was foaled on Feb. 24, 2014 in Florida.

He began his eight-year racing career as a 3-year old in 2017 under the care of trainer Albert Stall Jr., and owner, Frank Fletcher Racing Operations LLC, and promptly won his first three starts that year: a maiden special weight race at Saratoga on Sept. 1, followed by an allowance race at Keeneland, and then an allowance optional claiming race at Churchill Downs.

In 2018, as a 4-year old, he won his first stakes race, the Kelly’s Landing Overnight Stakes (Black Type) at Churchill Downs.

Then, after a fifth-place finish in a claiming race at Oaklawn Park on April 30, 2020, the then 6-year-old gelding was claimed 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 a claiming race at Churchill Downs, followed by two allowance optional claiming races, the first at Churchill Downs, and the second at Keeneland. He then won his first two graded stakes races, the Pat O’Brien Stakes (G2) at Del Mar, and the Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita.

His other career graded-stakes win came in the Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3), while his other stakes win was in the Hot Springs Stakes (Listed). Both wins came in 2021 at Oaklawn Park when he was 7-years old.

In addition, C Z Rocket ran in three Breeders’ Cup Sprints (G1), finishing second in 2020 and 2022 at Keeneland, and seventh in 2022 at Del Mar. (Note: In 2021 and 2022, it was called the Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1))

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

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

C Z Rocket closed out his career with 13 wins, nine seconds, seven thirds, and $2,144,691 in earnings in 46 career starts.

Miller and Kagele then decided to retire C Z Rocket to Old Friends.

“CZ 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,” said Kagele. “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 CZ, it’s been a great ride ‘Old Friend.’”

Added Michael Blowen, founder of Old Friends, “We are very grateful to Peter Miller and Tom Kagele for donating C Z Rocket to Old Friends. “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.”