Nick Zito : Derby History
Zito, a New York City native, started in racing as a teenager as a hotwalker and groom for trainer Buddy Jacobson. He later worked as an assistant to trainers LeRoy Jolley and John Campo. He saddled his first winner in 1972 and is one of only 17 trainers in history to saddle two or more Kentucky Derby winners (Strike The Gold and Go For Gin), as well as the 2003 Kentucky Oaks winner Bird Town, and Birdstone to upset Smarty Jones in last year's Belmont Stakes (GI). His principal clients include George Steinbrenner, Tracy Farmer and Marylou Whitney. He and his wife, Kim, son Alexander and daughter Sara live in Garden City, N.Y.
Jerry Bailey : Derby History
A member of Thoroughbred racing's Hall of Fame 1995 class, Texas-native Bailey began riding at Sunland Park in New Mexico and won with his first mount. Since those humble beginnings, he has become one of the premiere riders in the game. In 2003, Bailey broke his own record for North American earnings, as his mounts earned over $23 million; he also had a record 70 North American stakes wins. Last year, Bailey continued his success, though he was hampered statisically after suffering a wrist injury at his home, which caused him to miss a few months of riding time during the lucrative fall racing season. Nevertheless, he wound up in fifth spot on the 2004 earnings list when his mounts netted over $14.5 million. Last year saw him win Grade One stakes on Pleasantly Perfect, Sightseek, Peace Rules, and Kitten's Joy. He has won six Eclipse Awards and has ridden the major stakes winners Cigar, Skip Away, Hansel and Black Tie Affair, and Derby winners Sea Hero (1993) and Grindstone (1996). He makes his home in Davie, Florida, with his wife Suzee and son Justin.
Live Oak Plantation : Derby History
Live Oak is the namesake of Charlotte C. Weber, who is the granddaughter of Campbell's Soup founder John Dorrance, and her family is still a primary stockholder in the company. Weber is on the board of trustees for the Metropolitan Museum of Art who also collects Impressionist and ancient Chinese works. She is a major arts benefactor for both museums and to North Carolina University. Live Oak is located in Ocala, Florida, on 4,500 acres, where Eltish and Hesabull stand stud. Her current stable consists of greater than 30 horses spread out among several trainers. She has had only one Derby starter, Laser Light, who was second behind Gato Del Sol in 1982.
Live Oak Plantation (KY)
Live Oak is the namesake of Charlotte C. Weber, who is the granddaughter of Campbell's Soup founder John Dorrance; her family is still a primary stockholder in the company. Weber is on the board of trustees for the Metropolitan Museum of Art who also collects Impressionist and ancient Chinese works. She is a major arts benefactor for both museums and to North Carolina University. Live Oak is located in Ocala, Florida, on 4,500 acres, where Eltish and Hesabull stand stud. Her current stable consists of greater than 30 horses spread out among several trainers. She has had only one Derby starter, Laser Light, who was second behind Gato Del Sol in 1982.
Atticus - Verbasle (Slewpy)
Chestnut colt - Born On: 3.20.2002 Graded Earnings: $796,500 - Race Record: 5-5-0-1
05.06.05 - Spanish Chestnut Due In Saturday Morning 05.01.05 - Sunday Barn Notes 04.30.05 - Saturday Barn Notes 04.29.05 - Friday Barn Notes 04.28.05 - Thursday Barn Notes 04.07.05 - Zito Stars High Fly, Noble Causeway Arrive At Churchill 04.02.05 - Nick Zito Tallies Florida Derby Exacta 03.05.05 - High Fly Scores Fountain of Youth Victory In First Start For Zito 03.04.05 - High Fly, Bandini Head Field For Fountain Of Youth Stakes 02.05.05 - Closing Argument Convinces Foes In Holy Bull
Live Oak Plantation's homebred son of Atticus is one of the most accomplished members of the Derby 131 field with five wins in six races that include the Florida Derby (GI) and Fountain of Youth (GII). He came to the barn of trainer Nick Zito after the only loss of his career, a troubled third-place finish in the Holy Bull (GIII) at Gulfstream Park, and has not lost since. Both Zito and jockey Jerry Bailey are seeking their third victories in the Kentucky Derby, while Charlotte Weber's Live Oak Plantation finished second with Laser Light in its only previous Derby run in 1982. High Fly has a career record of 5-0-1 in six races with earnings of $897,300.
High Fly is a son of mile world record setter Atticus, who stands stud at Magali Farms in Santa Ynez, California. Atticus raced in Europe at two and three, and then shipped to the States for his final two campaigns. He was a Group Three winner in France during his sophmore year and in America the following year, winning the Kentucky Cup Classic at Turfway. He had his best year as a five-year-old, winning the Oaklawn Handicap (GI), as well as the Arcadia Handicap (GII), the race in which he set the 1:31.80 mile record. He retired with just over $1.2 million in earnings and seven wins from 18 starts.
As of this writing, Atticus has produced four crops of racing age, with two graded stakes winners to his name; our subject horse being the most prominent and his leading lifetime earner. With his ability to stretch his speed on the racetrack, he should be able to sire a horse that gets a route of ground. Additionally, he has Northern Dancer and Secretariat, two of the fastest three Kentucky Derby winners, in his second generation.
High Fly is the third stakes winner from his dam, Verbasle. Every one of her eight foals have made it to the races, with five of them being winners. Verbasle was fairly versatile on track, running second in the Matron (GI) at two, then winning the Nijana (GIII) and Boiling Springs Handicap (GIII) on the turf at three. Note that she never did win in six tries going long on the dirt. She is a daughter of Slewpy, the first of Seattle Slew's offspring to win. He was a very good sprinter, but was the broodmare sire of two champions, 1996 Arc de Triomphe (GI) winner Helissio, and 2002 Italian Horse of the Year Falbrav.
Dosage Index: 2.00
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