Frammento needs help to get into Derby

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Few people are going to be watching the results of the Arkansas Derby more closely than Nick Zito.

The Hall of Fame trainer is dead set on getting Frammento into the lineup for the 141st Kentucky Derby on May 2 but will need a little help in the points standings for that to happen.

“The bottom line is he’s a mile-and-a-quarter horse,” Zito said. “That’s what he’s going to be best at.”

Frammento finished a non-threatening fourth with a ground-saving trip at Keeneland in the April 4 Blue Grass Stakes, beaten 7 1/2 lengths by the victorious Carpe Diem. With the prospective Derby lineup seemingly overflowing with early speed types and given the longer distance of the Derby, Zito believes conditions could be ripe for an upset by a come-from-behind runner such as Frammento.

“I just want the chance to run,” Zito said.

Going into the Arkansas Derby on Saturday, Frammento stood at No. 22 on the Kentucky Derby list with 20 points, which under typical circumstances means he likely would make the 20-horse cutoff, given the normal defections. But several Arkansas Derby starters were right behind him on that list, including Bold Conquest (17 points) and Mr. Z (14). Hence Zito’s fervent interest in the Oaklawn Park showcase, which offers points on a scale of 100-40-20-10.

From his first three Kentucky Derby starters, Zito won in 1991 with Strike the Gold and in 1994 with Go for Gin, a pattern strongly suggesting he would win another one or more. But it hasn’t happened. Zito, now 67, has gone winless with his last 22 starters, and there is nothing more he would like to cap his career than another Derby victory.

Frammento, a chestnut colt by Midshipman, is owned by Nena Moss. He has just one career win from seven starts while developing a late kick that netted a third in the Fountain of Youth prior to his fourth in the Blue Grass. He returned to training this week at Keeneland.

“He came out of the race great,” Zito said. “We’re just going to train him like we’re in. What else can you do? We’ll just hang out here and see what happens and hope for the best.”