by Jeff Lowe

Ahmed Zayat’s Zayat Stables was finalizing a private sale on Friday afternoon of the breeding rights to undefeated three-year-old E Z Warrior to Coolmore Stud.

Zayat said he would retain 100% ownership of the three-year-old colt by Exploit out of Carson Jen, by Carson City, for the duration of his racing career. Zayat plans to retain a partial interest when E Z Warrior retires to stud. Financial terms were not announced.

“I’m excited that this is my first sire,” said Zayat, who began building his stable in 2005 and was among the leading buyers at public auction in ‘06. “I have the whole family—I have his two-year-old half sister, his yearling half brother, and his mommy—and [Coolmore] knows how to build a sire.”

Zayat purchased E Z Warrior for $1.2-million in the 2006 Barretts March sale of two-year-olds in training from consignor Murray Smith.

The colt has raced three times for trainer Bob Baffert. He won a five-furlong maiden race in his debut at Hollywood Park on June 18 and followed with a 2 3/4-length victory in the Hollywood Juvenile Championship Stakes (G3) on July 4.

After receiving some time off to rest sore shins, E Z Warrior returned with a dazzling win in the San Miguel Stakes on January 7 at Santa Anita Park, completing the six furlongs in 1:08.82.

Zayat withdrew E Z Warrior from consideration for the San Vicente Stakes (G2) on February 11 at Santa Anita amidst negotiations for the stud deal. No decision has been made on his next race.

Jeff Lowe is a Thoroughbred Times staff writer