Gulfstream: Zito taking it easy with Dialed In

Trainer Nick Zito call Dialed In "a horse worth waiting for."

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Reigning Florida Derby winner Dialed In is back on familiar grounds at Palm Meadows with trainer Nick Zito, who said he is not going rush his star back into action this winter.

Dialed In rallied to a head decision over Shackleford in the 2011 Florida Derby but has not started since finishing fourth behind Shackleford two months later in the Preakness. Dialed In, who finished eighth as the tepid 5-1 favorite in this year’s Kentucky Derby, had his 3-year-old campaign come to a premature end after having a chip removed from his right knee early this summer. Dialed In returned to training during the fall at Churchill Downs, and Zito reported he is just about ready to begin working again.

“He’ll breeze for the first time next week,” Zito said on Thursday. “He looks unbelievable. We took our time with him and don’t want to rush him back too quickly. With a horse like this you’ve got to start backwards – look at the big races in the fall and plan your schedule from there. If all goes well I hope to run him here near the end of the meet, maybe something on Florida Derby day. I’m in no hurry. This is a horse worth waiting for.”

Zito also reported that his top 2-year-old prospect, Casual Trick, could make his 3-year-old debut here New Year’s day in the inaugural edition of the Gulfstream Park Derby. Casual Trick was an impressive maiden winner at second asking going one mile last month at Churchill Downs.

“He’s a very talented horse, like Dialed In, but a very different type of horse,” said Zito. “He’ll stretch out, I promise you that, but right now he’s still inexperienced and the kind of horse who just wants to go in his races. Dialed In, you could rate him right from the start. I’d love to get a mile allowance race for him and then go in the Holy Bull, but we’ll see what happens after he works again next week.”

The Grade 3 Holy Bull will be decided at a mile on Jan. 14.