Homebred Za Approval annexes $100K Real Courage S.

Live Oak Plantation’s homebred Za Approval is now a four-time stakes winner following a front-running victory in the inaugural running of the $100,000 Real Courage S. over the turf at Belmont Park.

Za Approval, already a three-time graded stakes winner before Sunday’s seven furlong contest, turned back all his challengers after setting very quick fractions of :46.87 for the half-mile and 1:09.44 for the six furlongs. The 6-year-old prevailed by 1 ¾-lengths in 1:20.93, just a second off the track record.

Trained by Christophe Clement, Za Approval has amassed $1,165,071 in his 22 starts, with a slate of 8-6-1. The winner, by Ghostzapper, is out of the top-class producer Win Approval, also the dam of Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) winner Miesque’s Approval and Revved Up, winner of a remarkable 14 stakes and $1.5 million.