Issue link: http://nytbreeders.epubxp.com/i/127475
May 2013 ❙ nytbreeders.org ❙ New York Breeder 19 AdAM CogliANese at auction, he prefers to put his own many more, and he got his first win Make that a six-race winning imprint on the horses he races. as a trainer in 2004. Before long, he streak: the homebred won by a half"I don't like to buy 2-year-olds in purchased a breeding farm in Midlength, but Kazamias hadn't taken training," he explained. "I think that dletown, N.Y., naming it Kaz Hill victory for granted. they get pushed too hard. I'm more Farm, along with a training farm, "I was very nervous," he admitted apt to buy yearlings and break them Rising Sun, in New Egypt, N.J. a few days later, sitting near Aquemyself, to do it gradually, in the way If Kazamias got his love of horses duct's racing office before belatedly that I want." from his father, his own children expressing confidence in his horse. Flying Zealous is an example of haven't caught the racing bug. He "He seems to have just enough to alKazamias' patient approach. The and his wife have three children, a ways get there." chestnut made his first start in Nodaughter in college and two sons Flying Zealous is one of about vember of his 4-year-old year. He won who work in Kazamias' non-racing "50 or 60" horses that Kazamias eshis debut, a 51⁄2-furlong race at Parx, business interests. He said that one timates he has in training, from the son, Michael, bought some horses 2-year-olds on his New Jersey training by 103⁄4 lengths, but came out of the and raced them for a couple of years, farm to his 3-year-old racing homerace with an injury. then ended his involvement. breds, to the horses he's claimed. The "He had issues before we got him "He realized it cost a lot of money," New York-bred Flying Zealous, a son to the races, and we ran him for a said Kazamias with a laugh. of Kazamias' Here's Zealous—Star$12,500 claiming price, but we figThough he has assistants on each ship Smokester, by Smokester, didn't ured that because he was a 4-year-old, of his farms, Kazamias is pretty much have the easiest start to his racing canobody was going to take him. So we a one-man operation, breeding, trainreer, and he's far exceeded his owner's took a shot," Kazamias recounted. ing, and racing the horses he owns. early expectations. "He won the race pretty easy, but he He breeds about 20 of his approxi"I remember him very distinctly ripped part of his foot off and it took mately 50 mares each year, and while when he was born," Kazamias said, a long time to bring him back." he does claim horses and buys some "because his back end was kind of Off for nearly a year, Flying Zealcurved to one side, and I thought, 'Wow, is he ever goI'm more apt to buy yearlings and break ing to make it (to the races)?' them myself, to do it gradually, He turned out to be a great horse with a lot of heart." in the way that I want." A native of Cyprus who — Peter Kazamias came to the United States with his family when he was 7 years old, Kazamias first got involved in racing as an owner a decade ago, getting his first win in 2003. He had been involved in various other endeavors—he listed jewelry stores, restaurants, and real estate among his business interests— but in his early 40s, he decided to buy Thoroughbreds. "My dad had some horses overseas, and I've always been in love with horses," he said, noting his family's horses were for riding, not racing. "I figured that if I wanted to get involved I had to start someplace, to just learn the game a little bit, so I bought a couple of horses." "A couple of horses" led to Peter Kazamias with Flying Zealous after his victory April 10 at Aqueduct