Kudos to Zito - re: his post-Derby & Preakness demeanor

[FOS]

hi guys

Hard to believe...what were the odds that of trainer Nick Zito's five Ky Derby starters (including favorite Bellamy Road) NONE would finish 1st...2nd...or 3rd (rather ALL up the track) ?

And moving-on to the Preakness...what were the odds that of his three starters there (one of which [High Fly] went off the second favorite at 5 to 1) NONE would finish in the top three in the fourteen horse field ?

It's clear that many (if not most...arguably including Zito) thought he had a HUGE chance to run big in the Ky Derby and the Preakness. It seemed he was loaded for bear.

I suggest it must have been a very difficult pill for him to swallow when NONE of his horses finished 1...2...or 3 in either race. I almost sensed post-race numbness in Nick.

Despite the disappointment though...Zito seemed to show (TV viewers) some qualities in defeat that I suggest should not go unmentioned. I sensed that both the Derby and Preakness results were very difficult for him (not to mention his owners)...but to my knowledge he has not expressed any excuses...he stayed cool in his interviews and never sounded off...or blamed...or pointed a finger...or expressed sour-grapes.

Kudos to Nick...I'm certain it's been a VERY difficult two weeks for him.

Respectfully

[Coquinerie]

I agree FOS, CLASS under pressure and i'm not his biggest fan but kudos to him.

[jim10366]

Quite frankly I am getting tired of the Zito saga and all the documentaries on TV about it.

His horses don't seem to have the class or else they were beating up no body in Florida. Either way they should be dropped down in company until they show at least some effort and more imortantly to save himself from his never ending misery.

It is sort of bizarre what happens to him sometimes. He sent out 2 highly regarded colts in last years Derby and BOTH are the only horses to lose shoes. What are the odds of that?

And then this year five horses and none hit the board in either race. Is someone sabotaging his horses?


I credit him for handling it with class. His quote was "I have no excuses, somebody better won today"

[Racerx]

Zito shoes his horses the day of the race which has never made any sense to me at all.

[LSB]

I agree that he was very graceful in defeat. It's nice to hear a trainer say, "no excuses, somebody else just did it better."

[siegy]

[quote="FOS"]hi guys

Hard to believe...what were the odds that of trainer Nick Zito's five Ky Derby starters (including favorite Bellamy Road) NONE would finish 1st...2nd...or 3rd (rather ALL up the track) ?

And moving-on to the Preakness...what were the odds that of his three starters there (one of which [High Fly] went off the second favorite at 5 to 1) NONE would finish in the top three in the fourteen horse field ?

It's clear that many (if not most...arguably including Zito) thought he had a HUGE chance to run big in the Ky Derby and the Preakness. It seemed he was loaded for bear.

I suggest it must have been a very difficult pill for him to swallow when NONE of his horses finished 1...2...or 3 in either race. I almost sensed post-race numbness in Nick.

Despite the disappointment though...Zito seemed to show (TV viewers) some qualities in defeat that I suggest should not go unmentioned. I sensed that both the Derby and Preakness results were very difficult for him (not to mention his owners)...but to my knowledge he has not expressed any excuses...he stayed cool in his interviews and never sounded off...or blamed...or pointed a finger...or expressed sour-grapes.

Kudos to Nick...I'm certain it's been a VERY difficult two weeks for him.

Respectfully[/quote
hi fos and all,

not to worry they say down under, Nick Mr. Zito has his hands on the likes of Birdcatcher, i, would be calm - cool and collected,

good luck bellamy,
Regard's Siegy,

[louis finochio]

When your Tb runs off the board and is an also ran, its time to go shake the hand of the winners and offer them congrats.

Then when your TB wins they will do the same, this is called sportsman ship.

[hdembski]

there is no doubt that Zito is a class guy. I respect him alot more than Pletcher who walks around in his Armani suits thinking he's better than everyone else. I'm just shocked that Noble causeway didn't do better based on that breeding. but in looking at his form he seems to be a plodder and will probly benefit from doing some minor stakes or even turf.

[Tucumcari]

I fully agree FOS, he has conducted himself in a classy manner from the get go. He has truly gained at least 10 lengths in my book.

[wilf]

Yes racing is a funny game, if you get beaten 4 times out of 5 you are considered to be doing well so you kind of spend a lot of time going over the defeats and reworking tactics and training. You can tell a lot about people when they seek you out to say "well done! " when they have just been kicked in the teeth themselves by fortune or lack of it. I have found in my time as an owner/trainer the the one thing worse than a bad loser is a bad winner!! Zito must be shellshocked but I honestly did not like anyone of his horses to beat Alex in either race. What he achieved in the Derby lead-up races was to put a lot of money in his owners pockets by astutely placing his charges to best advantage. Not too shabby!!!

[FOS]

hi wilf

Of all the Zito Ky Derby hopefuls...the one horse I felt might be special was Bellamy Road.

I hope he comes back 100%...I still sense he's a very good one.

Respectfully

[Pete]

Hi Racerx,

Curious why you feel Zito (or I presume anyone else) shouldn't shoe on race day?

Pete

[wilf]

Yes Fos, no doubt Bellamy is a rare talent but he may not have the nerves to do his best in the bustle of a busy high class race, at least not yet. I am sure he will be placed to advantage this year to quietly make big bucks perhaps via the back door Derbies, hopefully then his confidence will rise and eventually he can become Bellamus Maximus. Regards Wilf.

[Tucumcari]

Zito shoes his horses the day of the race which has never made any sense to me at all.

Although I do agree with you the tought behind shoeing on raceday is if you shoe let's say entry day the feet have time to get hot and sting some, but if it is done race day theoretically there should be no heat... does that make sense? I don't know...

[madelyn]

Hi Racerx,

Curious why you feel Zito (or I presume anyone else) shouldn't shoe on race day?

Pete

Dunno, Pete, would you wear new shoes the day you were running in a race? When I evented, we shod 2-3 days before the event, so any bit of soreness from trimming/minor angle change, etc., had time to work out.