Zito maiden formidable

It may seem strange to favor a maiden facing winners in a stakes, but based on Beyers and his trainer's reputation for stretching out sprinters, Superfly sure looks like a lock in the $55,000 Whirling Ash at Delaware Park.

Although 0 for 2 in his brief career for trainer Nick Zito, Superfly comes out of an extremely fast maiden race at Saratoga in which Discreet Cat was awarded a 106 Beyer. Superfly, beaten 3 1/2 lengths as the 2-1 favorite, got a 97.

That number is 23 points higher than any other 2-year-old in the one-mile Whirling Ash has ever run.

Zito does some of his best work getting sprinters to go long. And as a son of Fusaichi Pegasus, Superfly should be capable of going a mile.

Kid Lemonade and Dixiewink, an uncoupled entry for trainer Tim Ritchey, have the advantage of already having won a two-turn race over Delaware's main track. Jeremy Rose is listed as the rider for both horses.

Kid Lemonade, a $225,000 purchase at a Fasig-Tipton sale in February, is 2 for 2 at a mile, winning his maiden easily and coming back two weeks later to get up by a head in an allowance.

Dixiewink was able to win his maiden despite acting fractious at the gate in his first route attempt a week ago. His sire, Dixie Union, was a solid performer at 2, winning the Norfolk, the Best Pal, and the Hollywood Juvenile Championship.