Trainer: Nick Zito

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. Zito saddled 2005 Kentucky Derby favorite Bellamy Road to a seventh place finish. This year his stable is stocked full of Derby contenders including War Pass, Anak Nakal, Cool Coal Man, Paint, Stevil and Web Gem.

Jockey: Rafael Bejarano

Bejarano, born June 23, 1982, in Peru, currently lives in Louisville. He went to the races as child in his home country, eventually attending that nation's riding school. Began riding in Peru in 1999, winning an apprentice title the same year. Came to the United States in May of 2002, beginning his U.S. riding career at River Downs in Cincinnati. While it took him about five months to win his first race, he's been a top rider on the Kentucky circuit ever since. He won the Churchill Downs 2004 Spring Meet title, as well as winning titles at Turfway Park, Kentucky Downs and Ellis Park. He capped his success in 2004, when he led the nation in wins with 455, 72 more than his closest pursuer. He currently is riding in New York, Florida and on the Kentucky circuit. 2005 was another banner year for the young Peruvian; he finished fourth nationally in earnings, with $14.4 million, capped by a victory in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (GI) aboard Intercontinental. Bejarano rode in his third Derby last year; he finished eighth in 2005 aboard Andromeda's Hero, ninth in 2006 aboard Point Determined, and eleventh in 2007 with Dominican.

Owner: Four Roses Thoroughbreds LLC

Kassem Masri raced under the name Three Roses Thoroughbreds prior to acquiring the assets of Buckram Oak in a private transaction following Fustok’s death in February 2006 … Top horse raced by Three Roses was Last Song, winner of the 2004 G2 Bonnie Miss Stakes at Gulfstream … Three Roses owned about 17 horses prior to Masri’s acquiring Buckram Oak’s assets and renaming the company Four Roses Thoroughbreds … Now owns more than 100 horses, including about 40 in training and about 28 horses at the farm … A 200-acre facility named Four Roses Training Center in Citra, Fla., and about 45 broodmares based in Kentucky under the supervision of Four Roses Kentucky manager Hanzly Albina. The broodmare band includes most of Buckram Oak’s top producers, including Russian Tango, the dam of graded winner Eurosilver … The majority of the broodmares were dispersed at Keeneland in November 2006 ... Most of his horses in training are based with Nick Zito, Richard Dutrow and Helen Pitts, although Four Roses uses Tom Albertrani and Larry Pilotti as well …Top horses in 2007 have been Silver Wagon and Diamond Stripes ... Silver Wagon won the G2 General George Breeders' Cup Handicap and the G1 Carter Handicap prior to finishing sixth in the G1 Met Mile, his final career start. Silver Wagon was offered as a stallion prospect at the 2007 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November breeding stock sale, but he was listed as reserve not attained on final bid of $1 million. The multiple Grade 1 winner and millionaire will stand at Hurricane Hall in Lexington for $5,000 during the 2008 breeding season ... Diamond Stripes, a Classic contender, stamped his ticket to Monmouth with a breakthrough performance in the G2 Meadowlands Cup on Oct. 5. In his previous two races, he had finished third in the G1 Whitney and G1 Woodward at Saratoga ... Diamond Stripes, the first Breeders' Cup starter for Four Roses Thoroughbreds, finished eighth in the Classic ... Through Dec. 31, 2007, the stable was ranked 13th in North America with earnings of $2,969,978. In 2007, their runners won 46 of 255 starts.

Breeder: Buckram Oak Farm

Buckram Oak Farm was owned by Mahmoud Fustok, who died after being struck by an automobile during a jog. His affiliation with thoroughbred racing began in Chicago during his college years; he had horse operations in Saudi Arabia prior to that. Notable horses to race in the Buckram Oak colors include Eurosilver, Last Song, Mint, Silver Train and Silver Wagon. Buckram Oak was sold in 2005 to Jess Jackson and renamed Stonestreet Farm.