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Back in Zito back in Kentucky Derby picture with new prospects
Posted: Wednesday April 07, 1999 06:41 PM
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) -- Nick Zito appeared out of the Kentucky Derby picture in February. The Groom Is Red and Doneraile Court -- then the leading Derby prospects for the trainer who has won the race twice -- couldn't get their acts together as 3-year-olds. On Feb. 20, The Groom Is Red finished seventh and Doneraile Court was 10th in the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park. "Things looked bad," Zito said Wednesday, knowing things are looking good again with two new Derby prospects -- Wondertross and Stephen Got Even. Wondertross raced into the Derby picture by finishing a driving second in the Florida Derby on March 13, only a nose behind Vicar. He will prep for the Kentucky Derby in the $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass on Saturday at Keeneland. Stephen Got Even, who raced only once as a 2-year-old, won the Gallery Furniture.com Stakes on March 27 at Turfway Park and remained unbeaten in three starts as a 3-year-old. His next race is the Kentucky Derby on May 1. Wondertross, owned by William Condren and Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, won two of four starts as a 2-year-old and was third in the Remsen on Nov. 28. Condren bought an interest in the colt after the Remsen. He is the managing partner, and Wondertross races in his colors. After Condren became a partner, Zito replaced John Tammaro Jr. as trainer. Wondertross made his 3-year-old debut Feb. 15 when he won an allowance race at Gulfstream Park. Next came his impressive performance in the Florida Derby. "But after the Florida Derby the horse everyone was talking about was Wondertross, not Vicar," said Condren, who co-owned Zito's two Kentucky Derby winners -- Strike the Gold (1991) and Go for Gin (1994). "He continues to move up, I'd love to see him good enough to win Saturday," said Zito, who won the Blue Grass with Strike the Gold and with Halory Hunter last year. Halory Hunter, owned by Boston Celtics coach Rick Pitino, finished fourth in the Derby. Winning the 1 1/8-mile Blue Grass, however, is not an easy assignment, and just a good performance would be enough to send Wondertross to the Derby. Other leading contenders Saturday are: Vicar, also winner of the Fountain of Youth; Kimberlite Pipe, winner of the Louisiana Derby; and Cat Thief, third in the Florida Derby. Also in the $750,000 Blue Grass, when entries are taken Thursday: Lemon Drop Kid, winner of the Belmont Futurity, second in the Champagne last year and winner of his only start this year; Pineaff and Menifee, 1-2, respectively, in the Tampa Bay Derby; and Prado's Landing. Prado's Landing won one of three starts, none longer than 5 1/2 furlongs, at Laurel as a 2-year-old, then was purchased by the Godolphin Racing stable, managed by Sheik Mohammed al Maktoum of Dubai. He has not started in an official race this year, but did run a 1 1/8-mile trial in Dubai in which Worldly Manner and Aljabr ran 1-2. Those two colts are supposed to make their official 3-year-old debuts in the Kentucky Derby. Zito said Stephen Got Even won't start again until the 1 1/4-mile Derby because the colt has come on strong after having had only the one start as a 2-year-old (Aug. 28), and "he could peak too soon." About four weeks separated each of Stephen Got Even's first three starts this year. It will be five weeks between his last start and the Derby. Post time for the Blue Grass is 5:15 p.m. EDT, and it will precede the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct and the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park on an ABC telecast.
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