Cozzene (May 8, 1980 – October 7, 2008) was an American
Champion
A champion (from the late Latin ''campio'') is the victor in a challenge, Competition, contest or competition. There can be a territorial pyramid of championships, e.g. local, regional/provincial/state, national, continental and world champi ...
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a list of horse breeds, horse breed developed for Thoroughbred racing, horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thorough ...
racehorse
Horse racing is an equestrian performance activity, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its bas ...
and outstanding
sire
Sire is an archaic respectful form of address to reigning kings in Europe. In French and other languages it is less archaic and relatively more current. In Belgium, the king is addressed as "Sire..." in both Dutch and French.
The words "sire" an ...
. He was bred and raced by
U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee
John A. Nerud and trained by his son,
Jan.
Cozzene began racing at age three, winning three of six starts. At age four he won three more races from ten starts and ran third in the
Breeders' Cup Mile
The Breeders' Cup Mile is a conditions races, Grade 1 Weight for Age stakes race for thoroughbred racehorses three years old and up, run on a sod, grass course. It has been conducted annually as part of the Breeders' Cup, Breeders' Cup World C ...
. In 1985, the then five-year-old Cozzene had his best year in racing with wins in won four of eight starts. The previous year, in the inaugural running of the
Breeders' Cup Mile
The Breeders' Cup Mile is a conditions races, Grade 1 Weight for Age stakes race for thoroughbred racehorses three years old and up, run on a sod, grass course. It has been conducted annually as part of the Breeders' Cup, Breeders' Cup World C ...
at
Hollywood Park Racetrack
Hollywood Park was a thoroughbred horse racing, race course located in Inglewood, California, about 3 miles (5 km) from Los Angeles International Airport and adjacent to The Forum (Inglewood, California), the Forum indoor arena. In 1994, t ...
, Cozzene had finished third but came back to win the November 2, 1985 edition at
Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack is a Thoroughbred horse racing facility and casino in the South Ozone Park, Queens, South Ozone Park and Jamaica, Queens, Jamaica neighborhoods of Queens, New York City, United States. Aqueduct is the only racetrack within ...
. His 1985 performances earned him the 1985
Eclipse Award
The Eclipse Award is an American Thoroughbred horse racing award named after the 18th-century British racehorse and sire, Eclipse.
An Eclipse Award Trophy is presented to the winner in each division. The trophy is made by a few small selected A ...
for
American Champion Male Turf Horse
The American Champion Male Turf Horse award is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor.
The award originated in 1953 when the ''Daily Racing Form'' (DRF) named Iceberg II their champion. The Thoroughbred Racing Association (TRA) added the cat ...
.
Stallion Career
Retired to
stud
Stud may refer to:
Animals
* Stud (animal), an animal retained for breeding
** Stud farm, a property where livestock are bred
Arts and entertainment
* Stud (band), a British progressive rock group
* The Stud (bar), a gay bar in San Francisco
* ...
duty, in 1996 Cozzene was the
Leading sire in North America
The list below shows the leading Father, sire of Thoroughbred Horse racing, racehorses in North America for each year since 1830. This is determined by the amount of prize money won by the sire's progeny during the year. It is restricted to Stallio ...
and in 2002 the Leading International Sire. He stands at
Gainesway Farm in
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is a Consolidated city-county, consolidated city coterminous with and the county seat of Fayette County, Kentucky, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census the city's population was 322,570, making it the List of ...
. During his career he has sired thirty-one graded stakes winners and fourteen millionaires including:
* Cozzene's Prince (b. 1987) - millionaire 1993
Canadian Champion Older Male Horse
* Fearless Revival (b. 1987) - Dam of
Pivotal
*
Star of Cozzene
Star of Cozzene (foaled 1988 in Kentucky - February 5, 2013) was a retired American Thoroughbred Horse racing, racehorse who won on both dirt and turf.
A descendant of Nearco through both his sire and his Mare, dam, he won the 1991 Kelso Stakes, ...
(b. 1988) - multiple Grade 1 winner and earner of more than $2.3 million
*
Environment Friend
Environment Friend (19 March 1988 – 28 February 2012) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire best known for his win in the 1991 running of the Eclipse Stakes, one of the United Kingdom's most important weight-for-age races. After winning ...
(b. 1988) - English Champion, winner of
Eclipse Stakes
The Eclipse Stakes is a Group races, Group 1 Flat racing, flat Horse racing, horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Sandown ...
*
Tikkanen (b. 1991) - won
Breeders' Cup Turf
The Breeders' Cup Turf is a Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse race on turf for three-year-olds and up. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships. The race's current ...
, earner of more than $1.5 million
*
Alphabet Soup (b. 1991) - won 1996
Breeders' Cup Classic
The Breeders' Cup Classic is a Grade I Weight for Age thoroughbred horse race for 3-year-olds and older run at a distance of on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States as part of the Breeders' Cup World Champion ...
, earned more than $2.9 million
* Eishin Berlin (b. 1992) - earner of more than $3.5 million in
Japan
Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
* Chorwon (b. 1993) - millionaire, won three straight runnings of the
Louisville Handicap
* Admire Cozzene (b. 1996) - earner of more than $3.1 million and champion in Japan
* Zoftig (b.1997) - Winner of the
Selene Stakes
The Selene Stakes is a Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Held during the third week of May, the Grade III event is open to three-year-old fillies. Raced over a distance of miles on Polytra ...
*
Star Over The Bay (b. 1998) - multiple stakes winner of $917,353
* Mizzen Mast (b.1998) - winner of the
Malibu Stakes
The Malibu Stakes is a race for three-year-old thoroughbred horses of either gender held each December at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The race is at a distance of seven furlongs and is the first leg of Santa Anita Park's Strub Series. ...
,
Strub Stakes
The Strub Stakes is an American race for thoroughbred horses run at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, each year.
Currently a Grade II stakes race with a purse of $200,000, it is for four-year-olds, at one and one-eighth miles on Santa Ani ...
, and
Prix de Guiche
Sire Sons
Cozzene is the grandsire of several graded stakes winners via his sons. They include:
* Mizzen Mast (b.1998) is the sire of the following Grade I winners:
**
Mizdirection - Twice winner of the
Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint
** Caravel - Winner of the
Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint
** Mast Track - Winner of the
Hollywood Gold Cup Stakes
** Flotilla - Winner of the
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and
Poule d'Essai des Pouliches
The Poule d'Essai des Pouliches is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run over a distance of 1,600 metres (about 1 mile) ...
** Lighthouse - Winner of the
Coolmore Classic
The Coolmore Classic, registered as the TAD Kennedy Stakes is an Australian Turf Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares aged three years old and upwards under set weights conditions, run over a distance of 1500 metres at Roseh ...
** Sailor's Valentine - Winner of the
Ashland Stakes
The Ashland Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in early April at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky, United States. It and the Ashland Oaks, the Kentucky Association racetrack's predecessor race, were named fo ...
** Full Mast - Winner of the
Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère
The Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère, formerly the Grand Critérium, is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of ...
** Midships - Winner of the
Charles Whittingham Stakes
** Ultimate Eagle - Winner of the
Hollywood Derby
The Hollywood Derby is a Grade I American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in late November/early December. Now held at Del Mar racetrack in San Diego, California, until 2014 it was held at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, Californi ...
* Alphabet Soup (b.1991)
** Alphabet Kisses - Winner of the
La Brea Stakes
The La Brea Stakes is a Grade I American thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies over a distance of seven furlongs on the dirt track held annually in late December at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, USA. The event currently ...
** Egg Drop - Winner of the
Matriarch Stakes :'' This article is about an American horse race. For the Australian horse race, see Matriarch Stakes (Australia).''
The Matriarch Stakes is a Graded stakes race, Grade I American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares that are of age thre ...
** Our New Recruit - Winner of the
Dubai Golden Shaheen
** Alpha Bettor -
Canadian Champion Older Male Horse
** Phantom Light -
Canadian Champion Older Male Horse
* Admire Cozzene (b.1996)
** Snow Dragon - Winner of the
Sprinters Stakes
The is a Grade 1 flat horse race in Japan open to thoroughbreds which are three-years-old or above. It is run over a distance of 1,200 metres (approximately 6 furlongs) at Nakayama Racecourse, and it takes place annually in late September or ea ...
Death
Cozzene was euthanized on October 7, 2008 at Gainesway Farm in Kentucky. The stallion had had melanoma, a disease many gray horses get, for years but it had not caused him any pain until recently.
Pedigree
References
{{Reflist
Cozzene's pedigree and partial racing statsCozzene at Gainesway Farm
1980 racehorse births
Racehorses bred in Florida
Racehorses trained in the United States
Breeders' Cup Mile winners
Eclipse Award winners
United States Champion Thoroughbred Sires
Thoroughbred family 4-m
2008 racehorse deaths