NEWS STORY 19 - Zito Zito Zito.....Wood and SA Derby both shockers....
Both the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct and the Santa Anita Derby were shockers this past Saturday. Each race gave us something special. The Wood was a runaway romp for yet another Nick Zito trainee. Will we see a 4 horse Zito challenge going into the Kentucky Derby ?

Story by MC_Excelsior "The Stick"

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4/14/05-Wood Memorial and Santa Anita Derby wrap.

*THE WOOD MEMORIAL* Aqueduct - Do you ever remember a Wood Memorial which had a 17 1/2 length margin of victory ? Well, trainer Nick Zito has done it again and come out with another powerful Kentucky Derby prospect. Bellamy Road turned a Grade 1, $750,000 race into a walkover. Is it possible Nick Zito will sweep the top three positions at Churchill Downs on the first saturday in May ?

Javiar Castellano has been the silent, but deadly jockey this year at Gulfstream. Javiar is starting to find his niche, and while many will focus on the numerous stars in the Gulfstream colony this year, Javiar was very competitive. It looks like all that hard work has paid off for him, as he landed the mount on Bellamy Road.

Jumping on a early, fast, open lead, Bellamy Road flew through early fraction of :46 flat for 4F, and 1:09 4/5 for 6F. Those are sprint times for stakes level 6 furlong horses ! This race was 1 1/8 Mile ! Final time of 1:47 flat was extremely competitive and almost meaningless in light of the enormous victory margin.

Survivalist(Migliore, $6.10 place) was 2nd almost an eighth of a mile behind the leader at the finish. Third place went to Scrappy T(Bejarano, $5.90).

Former hopeful's, Naughty New Yorker, and Galloping Grocer were never in contention and finished 4th and 5th respectively. Troubled Trip Pavo, from the Gotham Stakes, finished a disappointing 6th.

This race should stamp Bellamy Road as a major player in the Kentucky Derby, and you can make many comparisons of his racing style and Derby Champion, War Emblem. This is very strong speed that can hold over distance.

*SANTA ANITA DERBY* Santa Anita - This race was a shocker not due to the length of victory for the winner. This race was a shocker due to the powerful finsh of the longshot's in this field. Very heavy favorite, Sweetcatomine finished out of the money.

I love that little girl, but there was no way I was going to pick her against the boys at Santa Anita this past Saturday. When you see a girl take on the boys and win, its a racing oddity. I loved Winning Colors in the Derby when she won, but she was an Amazon. Sweetcatomine is a beautiful little girl, she was out gunned and out muscled in this race.

Willko caught my attention, especially with Frankie Dettori flying in to ride him. This one is a son of Kentucky Derby winner, Fusaichi Pegasus, and he did win the Breeders Cup Juvenile. Giacomo looked interesting, but was a disappointment. "The Blaze" was going crazy for Buzzards Bay, and yet again, she was right on target with a longshot.

This race set up as a 1-2 speed number. The horses that went to the front, stayed there. 30-1 Buzzards Bay took the lead at the half and never looked back. 64-1 General John B finished 2nd after leading early. Willko finished third, and Giacomo came in fourth. Favorite Sweetcatomine finished 5th after running an even race.

The Exacta paid $751.40 for a $1 ticket. The Tri returned a huge $6,635.50. The Superfecta was really Super with a $27,460.20 return which has to be a record for the Santa Anita Derby.

Final time of 1:49 flat was NOT a top time for horses racing in Southern California.

In looking for KY Derby horses, you might want to study Willko, and Giacomo. Buzzards Bay would need a miracle to get the same unpressured trip he got here in the Kentucky Derby. We are not putting him down, he should go on to be a great stakes horse, but how on earth could he run with Bellamy Road, or Sun King, much less High Fly ?

This past Saturday did not help us resolve the Kentucky Derby puzzle. If anything, the races gave us more questions then answers. Which horse is the best in Zito's barn ? Can anyone new step into the spotlight this late in the season to honestly challenge the Zito barn ? All of our questions have to revolve around Zito. He is pearched to dominate this years run for the roses. Even if we say he is going to win the Derby with one of his horses, we then have to ask.....which one ?

Which one indeed Stick Fans ?

Best Regards and Racing, MC_Excelsior

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