GOMEZ OPTS FOR PIONEER OF THE NILE

Article taken from Daily Racing Form

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Ahmed Zayat has not campaigned horses regularly in California since summer 2007, but the owner's West Coast return this fall already has created a welcome disturbance in an otherwise sleepy 2-year-old division.

Pioneerof the Nile (empire maker), the Zayat colt who finished a close fifth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, is returning to California. Even before touching down, he has knocked Chocolate Candy off his perch as favorite for the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity on Dec. 20 at Hollywood Park, and forced Chocolate Candy to find a new jockey.

In a move that might reveal the perceived ability of Chocolate Candy, jockey Garrett Gomez will relinquish the Futurity mount on the horse he rode to victory in the Real Quiet, and will switch to Pioneerof the Nile for the first time.

Ron Anderson, agent for Gomez, confirmed the move Tuesday. Gomez rode Chocolate Candy to victory Nov. 8 at Hollywood in the Real Quiet Stakes, winning by 1 1/2 lengths with an ordinary 79 Beyer. Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, Chocolate Candy has won 2 of 5.

"The other colt is okay, but I think [Pioneerof the Nile] might be a Derby horse," Anderson said. "The upside is anything.

"After the Breeders' Cup, my focus is trying to find a Triple Crown-type horse."

Pioneerof the Nile has won 1 of 4, and is likely to start favored in the 1 1/16-mile Futurity. He finished third in the Grade 1 Breeders' Futurity on Oct. 4 at Keeneland, and was fifth, beaten 2 3/4 lengths, in the BC Juvenile. Sired by Empire Maker, Pioneerof the Nile earned an 86 Beyer last out.

Date: 19 November 2008