Zito: Nevada Kid’s CC Jewel win was ‘good for everybody’

Nevada Kid’s CC Jewel win was “good for the barn” according to his trainer (Lauren King/Adam Coglinese Photography) It has been a slower than usual year for Nick Zito in 2013, but the Hall of Fame trainer was still in a jovial mood on Sunday morning following Nevada Kid’s upset of the Claiming Crown Jewel. Under jockey Luis Saez, Nevada Kid broke from the rail and went gate-to-wire to win by 2 1/4 lengths in the 1 1/8-mile Jewel, the richest of the eight Claiming Crown races on Gulfstream Park’s Saturday card. “That was actually an asset that he was on the fence, and it worked in our favor,” Zito said. “It was beneficial for him because he runs his best races on top. He certainly likes to be close. I was very impressed with the horse and very impressed with Luis. It worked out good.” It was the 28th win in 300 starts this year for the 65-year-old Zito. The winner’s purse boosted his earnings to $1,912,481; he has not finished under $2 million in purse earnings since 1989. “He was training well, but I haven’t been feeling that confident with anything lately,” Zito said. “This was good, to be honest with you. That’s the way racing is. It was terrific yesterday.”

Zito is one of only two trainers to win the Florida Derby in successive
years, taking it in 2010 with Ice Box and 2011 with Dialed In. Ice Box went on
to run second in the Kentucky Derby, while Dialed In was eighth in the Derby and
fourth in the Preakness.

In his career, Zito has won the Derby twice, the Preakness and the Belmont
Stakes twice, two Breeders’ Cup races, and trained a pair of year-end champions
in Storm Song and War Pass.

“We knew once we got to Gulfstream we’d turn the page and things would turn
around,” Zito said. “You get somewhat of a reputation that we’ve had over the
years, and if you’re not in the big show, the big races, there’s reasons for
that a lot of time. Look at one of my peers, Wayne Lukas. There’s your answer.
He went a long time.

“The last time I looked, I won two Florida Derbys in a row, and it was only
three years ago, not 33. In this business, they forget. This win was good for
the barn, it’s good for everybody. It’s something we can build on. I love coming
to Gulfstream every year. This is where we winter. It’s world-class racing.”

Zito said there are no immediate plans for Nevada Kid, who beat a field of 10,
including 9-5 favorite Bernie the Maestro, owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, who
are the leading money-winning owners in the country.

“I was even taken back when Ken Ramsey congratulated us,” Zito said. “I said,
‘That’s amazing. We even beat Ken Ramsey.’ It’s like winning the Derby. It’s
hard to do.”

Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com