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

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 stats

Cozzene 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