There was a time when J J Zo Zo could flash dazzling speed. But that was as a 2-year-old in 2024 and on the dirt.

The 4-year-old gelding was able to reach into his past, and on the turf this time, surviving a seemingly-taxing speed duel before drawing off to a convincing 3¼-length victory in Sunday’s $75,000 Irish War Cry Handicap at Monmouth Park.

It marked the first career stakes win for Cesar Alcala, who took over the training from Jose Sanchez two starts ago.

“It’s a great feeling getting my first stakes win,” said Alcala, who oversees a five-horse stable at Monmouth Park. “I can’t say I was surprised. He has been training really well. He ran like he has been training. I thought he would show speed on the grass. I did not know it would be speed like the way he ran. Horses, when they are feeling good, they run good. He has been feeling good lately.”

It was Alcala’s first training win since June 24, 2023.

Ridden by Charlie Marquez, J J Zo Zo hooked up with Gold Trust through early fractions of :22.71 and :45.87 to the half of the one-mile turf feature. Even after reaching six furlongs in 1:10.17, the son of Sea Wizard had plenty in reserve.

He paid $24.40 to win in the field of nine Jersey-breds.

The winning time over the firm turf course was 1:36.61.

“He was coming from sprints so I knew he would have some early speed,” said Marquez, riding J J Zo Zo for the first time. “I didn’t anticipate being on the front, let alone going :22.71 and :45.87. I thought Gold Trust had speed, There Are No Words had speed and Happy Offering had speed. I thought it was going to be a fast tempo up front and that I would sit behind it and get what I could get.

“But he broke so sharply we went on with it and stole it. At first my intention was not to be on the lead. I wanted to get out of there and not go as fast as we did early. He was just so locked in and wanted to be there so I said `if that’s what you want we’re going to stay here.’ ”

There Are No Words, off at 3-2 in the wagering, rallied for second, three-quarters of a length ahead of longshot Spiritinthenight. Gold Trust, let go at 8-5, finished a tiring fourth.

The victory was the fourth in 13 career starts for J J Zo Zo, who won the Smoke Glacken Stakes sprinting on the dirt as a 2-year-old. It was his first race around two turns.

“I was not worried about the speed duel even though they were going fast,” said Alcala. “I know my horse. We gelded him after his 3-year-old season. I think that has helped him settled down.”

J J Zo Zo had made two previous grass starts, finishing second in the five-furlong Joey P. Handicap for state-breds in 2025. He was seventh in his only other grass try.

“When I asked him to run at the three-eighths he really took off,” said Marquez. “He never stopped running, which was surprising given how fast we were going.”