Private Zone edges Justin Phillip in Vosburgh

Private Zone (inside) came back in the shadow of the Vosburgh wire to win after being headed by Justin Phillip (NYRA/Adam Coglianese Photography)

Private Zone will head back to his Southern California home base as one of
the favorites for the November 2 Breeders’ Cup Sprint after defeating the East
Coast’s best sprinters Saturday in the Grade 1, $400,000
Vosburgh
at Belmont Park.

Breaking on top from post 8 under Martin Pedroza, Private Zone took a
one-length lead into the stretch after setting a seemingly comfortable pace of
:22 3/5 and :44 4/5. The lone rival to emerge as a threat was 5-2 favorite
Justin Phillip, who poked his nose in front passing the sixteenth pole. However,
after trading bumps in the final yards, Private Zone re-rallied along the inside
to win by a neck.

A claim of foul by John Velazquez, aboard Justin Phillip, against the winner
was disallowed.

“I was wondering (about the inquiry),” said Jack Sisterson, assistant to
trainer Doug O’Neill. “Obviously, watching it live I didn’t see anything and
Martin didn’t mention anything coming back. I didn’t think that anything was too
dramatic to take the horse down.”

“I think it was enough to beat me by a head,” Velazquez said. “When he
touched my horse the first time, he lost his balance. The second time, he
knocked him completely off balance to beat me by a head. Otherwise, I thought he
ran a great race.”

Private Zone is headed to the BC Sprint off his Vosburgh score (Jessie Holmes/EquiSport Photos)

The leading imported juvenile of 2011 in Panama, Private Zone made his U.S.
debut in July 2012 at Del Mar. Fourth against allowance foes that day, the son
of Macho Uno was subsequently fifth in the one-mile El Cajon over the same track
and third in the Gallant Bob at Parx. He concluded his sophomore campaign with a
trio of second-place finishes in the Damascus at Santa Anita, Vernon O.
Underwood at Hollywood Park, and the Malibu back at Santa Anita.

The seconditis continued into this year when Private Zone occupied that spot
behind Sahara Sky in the January 19 Palos Verdes, which preceded a ninth-place
effort in the Dubai Golden Shaheen at Meydan. Off more than five months
following that trip to the Middle East, Private Zone earned his first North
American victory in the $105,000 Pirate’s Bounty at Del Mar on September 4.
Owned by Good Friends Stable, Private Zone’s 
career record now stands at 19-5-6-1, $513,820.

Bred in Ontario by Adena Springs, the $15,000 Keeneland September yearling is
the first foal produced by the unraced Siphon mare Auburn Beauty.