Cozzene (USA)
May 8, 1980 – October 7, 2008
Caro (IRE) x Ride the Trails (USA), by Prince John (USA)
Family 4-m
May 8, 1980 – October 7, 2008
Caro (IRE) x Ride the Trails (USA), by Prince John (USA)
Family 4-m
Like his sire, Caro, Cozzene was rather slow to find his best form. Fortunately, he was in the patient hands of owner/breeder John Nerud and his trainer son, Jan Nerud, who were willing to let him develop at his own pace. Their patience was rewarded when Cozzene earned championship honors as a 5-year-old after switching to the turf at 4. The horse went on to become a champion sire as well, leading the American general sire list in 1996, but none of his sons have been able to reach the same level although some have been useful stallions.
Race record
24 starts, 10 wins, 5 seconds, 5 thirds, US$978,152
1983:
1984:
1985:
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion turf male (1985)
Assessments
Rated at 118 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American turf males of 1984, 12 pounds below divisional champion and Horse of the Year John Henry.
Rated at 123 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American turf males of 1985, 2 pounds below highweighted Win and 1 pound below Arlington Million (USA-G1) winner Teleprompter and American champion older male Vanlandingham.
As an individual
A gray horse, Cozzene stood 16.0 hands. He was lengthy and somewhat short-legged for his height with a good shoulder, short cannons, and a strong, sloping hindquarter. He was described by bloodstock expert John Sparkman as "elegant." He had an excellent temperament. He raced throughout his career with a chipped sesamoid in one hind leg, but it never seemed to affect him.
As a stallion
The Jockey Club credits Cozzene with 609 winners (61.0%) and 84 stakes winners (8.4%) from 998 named foals of racing age, while The Blood-Horse credits him with 93 stakes winners (9.5% of his named foals). Most of his runners excelled on turf and improved with maturity, but he also got some top dirt runners.
Sire rankings
Per The Blood-Horse:
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
Per Thoroughbred Times (formerly Thoroughbred Record):
Notable progeny
Admire Cozzene (JPN), Alphabet Soup (USA), Cozzene's Prince (CAN), Environment Friend (GB), Gaviola (USA), Grey Way (USA), Hasten to Add (USA), Mizzen Mast (USA), Santa Amelia (CAN), Star of Cozzene (USA), Tikkanen (USA), Zoftig (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Iscreamuscream (USA), Jackson (SAF), Kimari (USA), Mach Glory (ARG), Pivotal (GB), Toccet (USA), Zaftig (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Florida, Cozzene was bred and owned by Hall of Fame trainer John Nerud, whose son Jan Nerud was the horse's trainer. He was ridden to his Breeders' Cup Mile win by Walter Guerra. Prior to Cozzene's win in the 1985 Breeders' Cup Mile, the elder Nerud sold 10 shares in the horse for US$40,000 each; following that victory, he sold another 20 shares for US$60,000 each, retaining a quarter-interest for himself. Cozzene stood at Gainesway Farm in Kentucky throughout his stud career. He was humanely destroyed on October 7, 2008, due to increasing loss of coordination and range of motion. He remained active at stud through the final year of his life.
Pedigree notes
Cozzene is outcrossed through five generations. He is one of four stakes winners produced from Ride the Trails, a mare Nerud purchased for just US$5,000. The others are Ivy Road (by Dr. Fager; third dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Mi Narrow), 1980 Del Mar Oaks (USA-G2) winner Movin' Money (by Dr. Fager; second dam of Italian Group 2 winner Brave Indigo and multiple Italian Group 3 winner Beat of Drums and third dam of Premio Presidente della Repubblica, ITY-G1, winner Selmis and multiple Australian Group 3 winner Swift Alliance) and multiple Grade 1-placed Mochila (by In Reality; dam of 1992 Ballerina Stakes, USA-G1, winner Serape, by Fappiano, and second dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Batique and Grade 3 winner Sue's Good News). Ride the Trails is also the dam of Mesabi (by Minnesota Mac), dam of 1986 Fall Heightweight Handicap (USA-G2) winner Funistrada (by Mr. Prospector; dam of Grade G2 winner Krisada, by Kris S.) and listed stakes winner Wakonda (by Fappiano) and third dam of Grade 2 winner Boardroom.
Ride the Trails, who never raced, is a half sister to 1975 Gotham Stakes (USA-G2) winner Laramie Trail (by Swaps), a horse who had some success as a sire in Argentina. She is also a half sister to My Wild Flower (by Topsider), dam of Mile Championship (JPN-G1) winner Blumenblatt (by Admire Vega) and Japanese stakes winner Joyful Heart (by Sajura Bakushin O); to Gustavia (by Lyphard), dam of listed stakes winner White Corners (by Caro); and to Heecha (by Gallant Man), third dam of Argentine Group 2 winner Sage Apple.
Ride the Trails' dam Wildwook (by Sir Gaylord) won the 1967 Adirondack Stakes and is a half sister to stakes winner Blue Tepee (by Sir Gaylord's champion son Sir Ivor), dam of multiple Peruvian champion Tia Gigi (by Assert), and to several producers of some importance. The family traces back to Joseph M. Roebling's foundation mare Portage (by War Admiral), also the ancestress of 2000 Japanese Horse of the Year T. M. Opera O, leading Mid-Atlantic sire Allen's Prospect and the great broodmare Fall Aspen, whose descendants include champions or highweights Dubai Millennium, Timber Country, Elnadim, Mehthaaf, Charnwood Forest, and Bianconi.
Books and media
Fun facts
Photo credit
Portrait photo taken by Jessica Morgan at Gainesway in 2007. Used by permission.
Last updated: August 18, 2024
Race record
24 starts, 10 wins, 5 seconds, 5 thirds, US$978,152
1983:
- 2nd Palisades Handicap (USA-L, 8.5FD, The Meadowlands)
1984:
- Won Cliff Hanger Stakes (second division) (USA-L, 8.5FT, The Meadowlands; equaled course record 1:40-2/5)
- 2nd United Nations Handicap (USA-G1, 9.5FT, Atlantic City)
- 3rd Breeders' Cup Mile (USA-G1, 8FT, Hollywood)
- 3rd Man o' War Stakes (USA-G1, 11FT, Belmont)
- 3rd Bernard Baruch Handicap (USA-G2, 9FT, Saratoga)
1985:
- Won Breeders' Cup Mile Stakes (USA-G1, 8FT, Aqueduct)
- Won Longfellow Handicap (USA-G2, 9FT, Monmouth; new course record 1:48-2/5)
- Won Oceanport Handicap (USA-G3, 8.5FT, Monmouth)
- 2nd Bernard Baruch Handicap (USA-G2, 9FT, Saratoga)
- 3rd Jaipur Stakes (USA-L, 7FT, Belmont)
- 3rd Wise Ship Stakes (USA-L, 7FT, Belmont)
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion turf male (1985)
Assessments
Rated at 118 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American turf males of 1984, 12 pounds below divisional champion and Horse of the Year John Henry.
Rated at 123 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American turf males of 1985, 2 pounds below highweighted Win and 1 pound below Arlington Million (USA-G1) winner Teleprompter and American champion older male Vanlandingham.
As an individual
A gray horse, Cozzene stood 16.0 hands. He was lengthy and somewhat short-legged for his height with a good shoulder, short cannons, and a strong, sloping hindquarter. He was described by bloodstock expert John Sparkman as "elegant." He had an excellent temperament. He raced throughout his career with a chipped sesamoid in one hind leg, but it never seemed to affect him.
As a stallion
The Jockey Club credits Cozzene with 609 winners (61.0%) and 84 stakes winners (8.4%) from 998 named foals of racing age, while The Blood-Horse credits him with 93 stakes winners (9.5% of his named foals). Most of his runners excelled on turf and improved with maturity, but he also got some top dirt runners.
Sire rankings
Per The Blood-Horse:
- Led the American general sire list in 1996.
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- 2nd on the American general sire list in 1996; 7th in 1993 and 1994; 8th in 2000.
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
- Led the American general sire list in 1996.
Per Thoroughbred Times (formerly Thoroughbred Record):
- 2nd on the American general sire list in 1996; 7th in 1993 and 1994; 8th in 2000.
Notable progeny
Admire Cozzene (JPN), Alphabet Soup (USA), Cozzene's Prince (CAN), Environment Friend (GB), Gaviola (USA), Grey Way (USA), Hasten to Add (USA), Mizzen Mast (USA), Santa Amelia (CAN), Star of Cozzene (USA), Tikkanen (USA), Zoftig (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Iscreamuscream (USA), Jackson (SAF), Kimari (USA), Mach Glory (ARG), Pivotal (GB), Toccet (USA), Zaftig (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Florida, Cozzene was bred and owned by Hall of Fame trainer John Nerud, whose son Jan Nerud was the horse's trainer. He was ridden to his Breeders' Cup Mile win by Walter Guerra. Prior to Cozzene's win in the 1985 Breeders' Cup Mile, the elder Nerud sold 10 shares in the horse for US$40,000 each; following that victory, he sold another 20 shares for US$60,000 each, retaining a quarter-interest for himself. Cozzene stood at Gainesway Farm in Kentucky throughout his stud career. He was humanely destroyed on October 7, 2008, due to increasing loss of coordination and range of motion. He remained active at stud through the final year of his life.
Pedigree notes
Cozzene is outcrossed through five generations. He is one of four stakes winners produced from Ride the Trails, a mare Nerud purchased for just US$5,000. The others are Ivy Road (by Dr. Fager; third dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Mi Narrow), 1980 Del Mar Oaks (USA-G2) winner Movin' Money (by Dr. Fager; second dam of Italian Group 2 winner Brave Indigo and multiple Italian Group 3 winner Beat of Drums and third dam of Premio Presidente della Repubblica, ITY-G1, winner Selmis and multiple Australian Group 3 winner Swift Alliance) and multiple Grade 1-placed Mochila (by In Reality; dam of 1992 Ballerina Stakes, USA-G1, winner Serape, by Fappiano, and second dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Batique and Grade 3 winner Sue's Good News). Ride the Trails is also the dam of Mesabi (by Minnesota Mac), dam of 1986 Fall Heightweight Handicap (USA-G2) winner Funistrada (by Mr. Prospector; dam of Grade G2 winner Krisada, by Kris S.) and listed stakes winner Wakonda (by Fappiano) and third dam of Grade 2 winner Boardroom.
Ride the Trails, who never raced, is a half sister to 1975 Gotham Stakes (USA-G2) winner Laramie Trail (by Swaps), a horse who had some success as a sire in Argentina. She is also a half sister to My Wild Flower (by Topsider), dam of Mile Championship (JPN-G1) winner Blumenblatt (by Admire Vega) and Japanese stakes winner Joyful Heart (by Sajura Bakushin O); to Gustavia (by Lyphard), dam of listed stakes winner White Corners (by Caro); and to Heecha (by Gallant Man), third dam of Argentine Group 2 winner Sage Apple.
Ride the Trails' dam Wildwook (by Sir Gaylord) won the 1967 Adirondack Stakes and is a half sister to stakes winner Blue Tepee (by Sir Gaylord's champion son Sir Ivor), dam of multiple Peruvian champion Tia Gigi (by Assert), and to several producers of some importance. The family traces back to Joseph M. Roebling's foundation mare Portage (by War Admiral), also the ancestress of 2000 Japanese Horse of the Year T. M. Opera O, leading Mid-Atlantic sire Allen's Prospect and the great broodmare Fall Aspen, whose descendants include champions or highweights Dubai Millennium, Timber Country, Elnadim, Mehthaaf, Charnwood Forest, and Bianconi.
Books and media
- Cozzene is one of the older Thoroughbreds profiled in essays and photos in Barbara Livingston's Old Friends: Visits With My Favorite Thoroughbreds (2002, The Blood-Horse, Inc.).
- Footage of Cozzene's victory in the 1985 Breeders' Cup Mile can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiBr5uVDsnI.
Fun facts
- Cozzene's name came from John Nerud's recollection of an Italian-American groom at Tartan Farms. The man had a habit of hitting up other staff members for loans and typically began his requests with “Cousin...” which because of his accent came out sounding like “cozzene.”
- Cozzene was the first horse to sire winners of Breeders' Cup races on both the main track and turf.
- Cozzene's 1985 Eclipse Award trophy is part of the collection of racing memorabilia donated to the National Museum of Racing by John Nerud in 2009.
Photo credit
Portrait photo taken by Jessica Morgan at Gainesway in 2007. Used by permission.
Last updated: August 18, 2024