Zverev aces Boone County (OK, he won by half-length)
Turfway Park stakes recap by publicist Kevin Kerstein (Coady Media/Renee Torbit photo of #5 Zverev edging Common Defense to win the Boone County
FLORENCE, Ky. (Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025) – Paradise Farms Corp. and David Staudacher’s Zverev was able to find his best stride in deep stretch and ran down favored Common Defense to win the first running of the $125,000 Boone County Stakes at Turfway Park Racing & Gaming.
Ridden by Luan Machado for trainer Mike Maker, Zverev covered 1 ¼ miles in 2:01.11 over the Tapeta surface.
It was a scramble for the early lead of the Boone County between Funtastic Again at the rail, Strong Quality in the two path and Wakan, who advanced three wide into the first turn. The three leaders continued to duel up the backside through a sharp opening quarter mile in :22.43 and half-mile in :45.74. As the field of 11 entered the far turn, 2-1 favorite Common Defense ranged up to the tiring pacesetters and went to the front but had to hold off the late charge of Machado and Zverev. In deep stretch, Zverev was able to find his best stride to win by a half-length.
Safe Trip Home completed the trifecta. He was followed by Tapit Shoes, Honor Marie, Genius Jimmy, Prince of Power, Swift Delivery, Strong Quality, Wakan and Funtastic Again.
For those who backed Zverev at odds of 7-1, they were rewarded with a $2 win mutuel of $16.34.
The victory in the Boone County improved Zverev’s career mark to 15-5-1-1 with purse earnings of $379,019. It was Zverev’s third straight victory since the gelding was claimed for $40,000 last July at Saratoga. He came into the Turfway stakes off victory in a $134,000 allowance-optional claiming race at Churchill Downs. Zverev was in for the $80,000 claiming price.
Zverev is a 4-year-old gelded son of Oscar Performance out of the Thunder Gulch mare Balance. He was bred in Kentucky by Andrew Warren. Whether his namesake or not, the best-known human Zverev is Germany’s tennis star Alexander “Sascha” Zverev, currently ranked No. 3 in the world.
Live racing will resume Wednesday-Saturday at Turfway Park with daily first posts of 5:55 p.m. For more information, visit www.turfway.com.
