Zivo comes from last to win Suburban Handicap

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Elmont, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Zivo, ridden by Jose Lezcano, came from last to win Saturday's $500,000 Suburban Handicap at Belmont Park.

Trained by Chad Brown in the 1 1/4-mile stakes, Zivo was sent off as a 13-1 longshot in the 11-horse field. Romansh was the 2-1 favorite and Last Gunfighter, also trained by Brown, the 3-1 second pick.

Setting the pace was Moreno, who broke from the far outside post, with Prayer for Relief, Stormin Monarcho and Vyjack across the track stalking the leader. Zivo, owned by Thomas Coleman, was last as the field went up the backstretch.

On the far turn, Zivo began to edge closer to the frontrunners as the 5-year- old ran along the rail. He moved into fifth coming into the stretch and continued to gain while running on the inside.

Moreno, ridden by Junior Alvarado, still had the lead down the stretch as Zivo moved into second. The longshot caught Moreno with about 100 yards to run and registered a three-length victory over last year's Travers runner-up.

"He told me to let him break and sit and make one run. He gave me what I needed to win the race. I had plenty of horse. (Moreno) kept going, but my horse came running," related Lezcano on the trainer's instructions.

Prayer for Relief, 25-1 on the board, finished third followed by Ever Rider, Romansh, Mylute, Micromanage, Norumbega, Last Gunfighter, Stormin Monarcho and Vyjack, who was eased through the stretch.

The time for the Suburban on a fast track was 2:00.43.

Although sent off as a longshot, Zivo notched his sixth straight win, dating back to last December. The win Saturday was worth $275,000 to bring the 5- year-old's earnings to $782,300. The horse has won nine of 15 lifetime starts.

"This horse has really come around well and it was time to step out of New York-bred company and try him in an open company race with a big purse," said Brown,

Zivo was coming off another last-to-first victory at Belmont Park in the Commentator Handicap on May 31. During his current win streak he also won the Whodam and Kings Point Stakes, both at Aqueduct.

Zivo paid $29.40, $12.60 and $8.10. Moreno returned $10.40 and $7.90, and Prayer for Relief paid $11.80 to show.