Columnist Ralph Siraco: Nick Zito loads up for the Kentucky Derby

Ralph Siraco

Monday, Jan. 19, 2004 | 9:16 a.m.

Ralph Siraco's horse racing column appears Monday and his Southern California selections run Tuesday-Sunday.

The new year is already 19 days old. And, it's less than 15 weeks until the 130th Kentucky Derby. And, there have already been seven races contested for the newly turned 3-year-olds with at least that many winning owners dreaming about Louisville on the first Saturday in May.

So, its time to talk DERBY!

On Saturday, two stakes races exclusively for this year's glamour group were run and both started a series of sophomore races leading up to each track's individual Derby on the way to the big Derby.

At Gulfstream Park, the Grade III Holy Bull stakes began the Florida Derby series culminating with the namesake race on March 13. The Holy Bull featured a Nick Zito trainee named El Prado Rob. This is one of at least five Derby hopefuls for the man who lives and breaths the Kentucky Derby. Zito is stacked plentiful for his attempt at a third Derby trophy, having won the it first in 1991 with Strike The Gold and three years later with Go For Gin in 1994.

Although El Prado Rob disappointed Zito with an unplaced finish, he is hopeful for turnaround in possibly the Fountain Of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 14. Certain to continue in the Florida Derby series is Holy Bull winner Second Of June. Named after his real birth date (all horses have a universal birthday of Jan. 1 in the United State), Second Of June beat Silver Wagon and Friends Lake to the wire.

If Zito is not suicidal about El Prado Rob's two recent dull efforts -- he was also beaten off in the Remsen -- it is because he has three Derby candidates that concluded their juvenile campaigns with solid Graded victories. Birdstone won the Champagne at Belmont Park, Eurosilver captured the Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland and The Cliff's Edge took the Kentucky Jockey Club at the home of the Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs. A promising late-starter in the bull pen is Royal Assault, who was a keen winner at Gulfstream Park recently.

Zito will try to keep his embarrassment of promising Derby candidates separated for as long as he can before a hopeful summit at Churchill Downs. While The Cliff's Edge is tabbed for a new bonus series of 3-year-old races at Oaklawn Park this winter, the others could be spaced across a variety of opportunities at Glufstream Park. The shorter Hutcheson Stakes goes the same day as the Fountain Of Youth, and, of course later, the Florida Derby. There are, however, other serious promising Derby contenders waiting in the Florida wings. They include Remsen winner Read The Footnotes, Laurel Futurity winner Tapit and Sir Oscar, who is unbeaten in six lifetime starts.

On the West Coast, the Grade II Santa Catalina Stakes began the Santa Anita Derby series. Trainer Bobby Frankel, who had last year's beaten Derby favorite Empire Maker, saddled Master David to take on a second-tier of sophomores trying to break into the Derby picture. The Remsen runner-up was a life-and-death third while St Averil outran long shot Lucky Pulpit to captured his first added-money event in just his third lifetime start. All three should at least return for a stiffer test in the March 13 San Felipe Stakes on the way to the April 3 Santa Anita Derby where they are likely to face Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Action This Day and Hollywood Futurity winner Lion Heart.

Others who have already won sophomore stakes this year include Tropical Park Derby winner Kitten's Joy, Count Fleet Stakes victor Smarty Jones, Spectacular Bid winner Wynn Dot Comma, Skipaslew who won the Golden Gate Derby and Hosco who took the San Miguel Stakes. Non of which is considered a major Derby threat, at least at this time.

In addition to The Cliff's Edge, others taking the Hot Springs route with the April 10 Arkansas Derby as a main Kentucky Derby objective are Delta Jackpot winner Mr. Jester, Smarty Jones and Tiger Hunt.

At the Fair Grounds in New Orleans, Fire Slam, who was second in the Delta Jackpot and Cuvee, who is currently recovering from arthroscopic surgery to repair an ankle injury, are pointing for the marquee Louisiana Derby, set for March 7.

All in all, there are thirteen more weekends filled with Kentucky Derby preps and hopes before the REAL Derby on May 1.

Wake up, it's time to smell (and talk) the roses.