Cozzene (May 8, 1980 – October 7, 2008) was an American

Champion A champion (from the late Latin ''campio'') is the victor in a challenge, contest or competition. There can be a territorial pyramid of championships, e.g. local, regional / provincial, state, national, continental and world championships, ...

Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are ...

racehorse Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport, 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 basic ...

and outstanding sire. 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 Grade 1 Weight for Age stakes race for thoroughbred racehorses three years old and up, run on a grass course. It has been conducted annually as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships since the event's incept ...

. 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 race course located in Inglewood, California, about 3 miles (5 km) from Los Angeles International Airport and adjacent to the Forum indoor arena. In 1994, the original Hollywood Park Casino was added to 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 and Jamaica neighborhoods of Queens, New York City, United States. Aqueduct is the only racetrack located within New York City limits. Its racing ...

. 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 that is made by a few small selected America ...

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 ca ...

Stallion Career

Retired to stud duty, in 1996 Cozzene was the

Leading sire in North America The list below shows the leading sire of Thoroughbred 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 stallions which are based i ...

and in 2002 the Leading International Sire. He stands at

Gainesway Farm Gainesway Farm is an American Thoroughbred horse breeding business in Lexington, Kentucky. It was originally called Greentree Farms. The 1,500 acre (6 km²) property has been home to stallions such as Youth and Exceller and numerous others w ...

Lexington, Kentucky Lexington is a city in Kentucky, United States that is the county seat of Fayette County. By population, it is the second-largest city in Kentucky and 57th-largest city in the United States. By land area, it is the country's 28th-largest ...

. 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) is a retired American Thoroughbred racehorse who won on both dirt and turf. A descendant of Nearco through both his sire and his dam, he won the 1991 Kelso Handicap at New York's Belmont Park then wi ...

(b. 1988) - multiple Grade 1 winner and earner of more than $2.3 million * Environment Friend (b. 1988) - English Champion, winner of

Eclipse Stakes The Eclipse Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of 1 mile, 1 furl ...

* 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 curre ...

, 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 Thoroughbred racing is a sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the s ...

, earned more than $2.9 million * Eishin Berlin (b. 1992) - earner of more than $3.5 million in Japan * Chorwon (b. 1993) - millionaire, won three straight runnings of the

Louisville Handicap The Louisville Stakes is Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for horses age four years and older run over a distance of one and one half miles (12 furlongs) on the Turf scheduled annually in late May or early June at Churchill Downs in ...

* Admire Cozzene (b. 1996) - earner of more than $3.1 million and champion in Japan * Zoftig (b.1997) - Winner of the Selene Stakes * 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 Seri ...

, Strub Stakes, 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 ** 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) at ...

** 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 Rose ...

** 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 1 ...

** Midships - Winner of the

Charles Whittingham Stakes The Charles Whittingham Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for horses age three years old and older over a distance of miles on the turf held annually in late May at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, USA. The event cu ...

** 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, California. T ...

* Alphabet Soup (b.1991) ** Alphabet Kisses - Winner of the La Brea Stakes ** Egg Drop - Winner of the Matriarch Stakes ** Our New Recruit - Winner of the

Dubai Golden Shaheen The Dubai Golden Shaheen is a Group 1 flat horse race in the United Arab Emirates for three-year-old and above thoroughbreds run over a distance of 1,200 metres (approximately 6 furlongs) on the dirt course at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai in late ...

** 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 ear ...

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