9/5/11
Last updated: 9/4/11 4:23 PM
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Jackson Bend threw his hat
into the Breeders’ Cup picture with his Forego victory
(NYRA/Adam Coglianese Photography) |
Nick Zito was still aglow Sunday morning over JACKSON BEND’s (Hear No Evil)
victory in Saturday’s Forego S. (G1), which, coupled with his win in the James
Marvin S. on opening day, provided the Hall of Fame trainer a neat bookend for
the meet.
“This is, by far, the toughest meet anywhere,” said Zito, who through
Saturday was 4-1-4 from 41 starters. “That’s why it’s a cool thing to win the
Forego, and it’s big.
“It picked everyone’s heads up around the barn. This is the number one meet
in the country, and the whole nucleus is so competitive. There are so many good
trainers here, nothing else comes remotely close. Not everyone is blessed with a
horse like Jackson Bend.”
Jackson Bend, who is owned by Robert LaPenta, most likely will make his next
start in the one-mile Kelso (G2) at Belmont Park on Super Saturday, October 1,
as he targets the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) a month later at Churchill Downs.
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“If I’m thinking of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, I want to run in the Kelso,”
said Zito. “The Vosburgh (G1) is six furlongs, and he’d be at a disadvantage
going three-quarters, and then what? The Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1)? He’s not a
big horse. What is he going to do, weave through the field? We’re going to stick
with the original plan.”
