(Zozos / Coady Photography)

From the Churchill Downs Media Team:

Barry and Joni Butzow’s Zozos returned to the work tab for the first time since his runner-up effort behind Epicenter in the $1 million TwinSpires.comLouisiana Derby (Grade II) on March 26 with an easy half-mile move in :48 early Friday morning at Churchill Downs.

With exercise rider Kelvin Perez in the saddle, Zozos began his 5:30 a.m. workout in a rather leisurely opening quarter-mile of :25. Zozos increased his speed to the wire and completed the final quarter in :23 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:00.80, according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols.

“It was a good first work back after the Louisiana Derby,” trainer Brad Cox said. “He came out of the race in great shape and I think got a lot out of finishing second. He really finished up well in today’s work.”

Named after a restaurant in the Virgin Islands, Zozos broke his maiden in January at Fair Grounds and returned against first-level allowance competition for an emphatic 10 ¼-length score. The sun of Munnings finished 2 ½ lengths back of Epicenter in the Louisiana Derby after getting pressured for much of the early pace.

Zozos is one of three Kentucky Derby contenders for Cox. He’s also scheduled to run Gold Square’s $1.25 million Arkansas Derby (GI) winner Cyberknife and Peachtree Stable’s $600,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (GIII) runner-up Tawny Port.

All three of Cox’s Derby contenders are stabled in Barn 22 at Churchill Downs.

DOWN THE STRETCH – Teruya Yoshida’s $1 million UAE Derby (GII) winner Crown Pride(JPN) jogged in the one-mile chute before galloping 1 ½ miles Friday at Churchill Downs with exercise rider Masafumi Matsuda in the saddle. He’ll remain stabled in Churchill Downs’ quarantine facility through the Kentucky Derby. … Louisiana Derby winner Epicenter galloped about 1 ½ miles at 6:15 a.m. with exercise rider Roberto Howell aboard. The Not This Time colt is scheduled to work Sunday. … $1 million Blue Grass (GI) contenders Smile Happy and Rattle N Roll returned to Churchill Downs on Wednesday and are stabled in Kenny McPeek’s Barn 6. … “Inside Churchill Downs” will begin its eighth season on ESPN Louisville’s ESPN 680/105.7 on Friday at 6 p.m. Those outside the Louisville radio market can listen live online at www.espnlouisville.com or via podcast on the station’s website.