New Trainer for Private Zone

Brian Lynch has taken over training duties on popular four-time Grade I winner Private Zone (Macho Uno).

The Good Friends Stable LLC colorbearer was previously campaigned by conditioner Jorge Navarro in 2015, highlighted by a powerful win in the GI Forego S. at Saratoga this summer and a game runner-up finish behind Runhappy (Super Saver) in the GI Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Keeneland most recently Oct. 31. A four-furlong breeze this weekend at Palm Meadows will likely determine whether or not Private Zone defends his title in the upcoming GI Cigar Mile H. at Aqueduct Nov. 28.

“I’m getting to know him myself,” Lynch admitted. “I haven’t done anything drastic with him yet. We’re thinking about maybe letting him have an easy half this weekend just to give us a feel whether we go forward with the Cigar Mile or reevaluate. As you can imagine, I’ve chased him around there enough times with [three-time graded winner] Clearly Now.”

Lynch continued, “It looks like he’s in good order. We’ll get [regular jockey Martin] Pedroza to come in on the weekend to breeze him. I think he knows him better than anyone.”

Private Zone was also trained by Doug O’Neill and Alfredo Velazquez earlier in his career. Stable manager Rene Douglas discussed transferring Private Zone to Lynch’s care about a year ago while he was based in Canada, but the move made more sense now with Lynch recently expanding his operation to New York and Florida. Lynch’s relationship with Douglas goes back to the former jockey’s riding days. Lynch also trained Good Friends Stable’s 2010 Prince of Wales S. winner Golden Moka (Golden Missile).

“Obviously, you’re always thrilled to get a horse like this in your care and hope that you have as much luck with him and do as good of a job as the previous trainers,” Lynch concluded.