Zito still knows where to find winner's circle

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Nick Zito may be absent from the Florida Derby and Triple Crown trail again this winter, but the Hall of Fame horseman is having a strong winter meet while remaining confident that there still will be plenty more top 3-year-olds in his future.

Zito sent out a pair of winners here on Super Bowl Sunday, including Frammento, who rallied to upset optional-claiming company and register his first victory since he won a maiden race in 2014. Frammento, 5, was Zito’s last Kentucky Derby starter, finishing 11th behind American Pharoah two years ago. His win Sunday came in his fourth start since returning from a 14-month hiatus last fall.

“He was on the Derby trail a couple of years ago, and he was legitimate,” Zito said. “He ran a wonderful race in the Fountain of Youth, finishing third. He loves Gulfstream Park – we kept that in mind – and I think putting the blinkers back on him a couple of starts back really made a big difference.”

Zito was also excited about Lenstar, a 3-year-old son of Shackleford who cruised to a wire-to-wire 6 1/2-length maiden win Sunday while earning far and away a career-best 85 Beyer Speed Figure.

“We found out the start before when trying to rate him that he absolutely needs to be on the lead,” said Zito. “He’s a very fast horse, and if we handle him the right way, he could turn out to be a really good sprinter.”

Zito has sent out nine winners here this winter, putting him in the top 10 in the standings. He scored the 2,000th victory of his career earlier in the session.

“I give a lot of credit to my staff, my owners, and also to jockey Nik Juarez, who has really been a huge help to us this winter,” said Zito. “Not only is the kid a very good rider, but people don’t realize how important it is to have a jockey willing to come out and breeze horses for you in the morning, which he’s been doing since before the meet began.”

Zito, 69, won the Florida Derby here in 2005 (High Fly), 2010 (Ice Box), and 2011 (Dialed In). Zito said he realizes he doesn’t have the quality of horses in his barn that he once had but is content to make the most of what he does have.

“A smart guy once told me you have to play the hand you’re dealt, and that’s what we’re doing at the moment,” said Zito. “If I can keep winning races with these types of horses, I’ll be happy. But like any good coach, you don’t want to be on the sidelines, you always want to be in the big game, and I’m confident, for our barn, that time will come again.”