Wet track no problem for Quest

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - The rainy conditions and sloppy racetrack that plagued Gulfstream Park on Friday and Saturday may have been a nuisance to most trainers and horseplayers, but they were like a ray of sunshine to Nick Zito and his horse Quest, who rallied to a three-length victory over Judiths Wild Rush in Saturday's $60,000 .

The wet conditions forced the 7 1/2-furlong Lure to be moved from the turf to the sloppy main track and allowed Quest ($8.80) into the field from off the also-eligible list after horses scratched. Quest has never won on grass but took readily to the off going, rallying from last and circling four wide into the stretch before drawing off through the final furlong.

Judiths Wild Rush set a contested pace and lost valuable ground leaving the final turn, but he continued gamely to outlast Gran Cesare by three-quarters of a length for second. Tap Day, the 3-1 favorite in the scratch-reduced field of eight, broke slowly and was never a factor while finishing fifth. quest was timed in 1:29.

Quest finished second behind champion Mineshaft in the 2003 Jockey Club Gold Cup but had not won a race since capturing a third-level allowance event at Saratoga in Aug. 2003.