16 for 294.. tough Times for N.Zito

[Kash$]

Nick Zito

1 for 44 this year-2016
15 for 250-2015

East coast version of Neil Drysdale.

[Stillriledup]

I think if the passion still burns Inside him, he should keep working hard, it only takes one good horse to get back on the beam.

Everyone loves Nick, hope it will turn around for him.

[Ghostzapper04]

Nick Zito

1 for 44 this year-2016
15 for 250-2015

East coast version of Neil Drysdale.

Been pretty bad for a while now. Shocking to see someone, who had 5 derby starters just 12 years ago, fall off a cliff.

[Kash$]

I think if the passion still burns Inside him, he should keep working hard, it only takes one good horse to get back on the beam.

Everyone loves Nick, hope it will turn around for him.

The problem is hard work doesn't guarantee success..

[Mandrake]

Hard to bet anything he throws on the track.

[no breathalyzer]

He lost a lot of quality help over the past couple of yrs

[Tall One]

Can't take the HoF away from him, but unfortunately, lose that household recognition, and the clients start sending horses elsewhere. Always liked Mr Zito, and he was quick with a hello and a handshake to anybody out here at Keeneland.

Quick story..random Thursday in the spring meet, '97 i believe, he had Gallant Pelham entered in a 9F N1X, or N2L ALW. Zito who was with another gentlemen, and who both looked like they'd just finished shodding for the day, casually walk down and stood behind the winners circle quietly talking and laughing a bit. I'm thinking this is in the bag..quick glance at the tote, Pelham is at 3-1, dash to get a quick $10 win down, Willy Martinez sends him from the gate, and he wired them with room to spare.

Like SRU said, only takes one, and I hope things turns around for him. :ThmbUp:

[castaway01]

Been pretty bad for a while now. Shocking to see someone, who had 5 derby starters just 12 years ago, fall off a cliff.

It's been more like a slow, steady slide down a long slope:

2010: 17.5%
2011: 14.3%
2012: 13.4%
2013: 9.3%
2014: 10.6%
2015: 6.0%
2016: 2.3%

[Stillriledup]

NICK!!!!!

[chadk66]

that is extremely bizarre. I can't imagine what the deal is here. Does he not have the stock to be competing where he is and he refuses to move to another track? Did he have the right juice for a long time and now they test for it?

[Ghostzapper04]

It's been more like a slow, steady slide down a long slope:

2010: 17.5%
2011: 14.3%
2012: 13.4%
2013: 9.3%
2014: 10.6%
2015: 6.0%
2016: 2.3%

To expand on this, in graded stakes earnings:

2010: $3.4M 8th in country
2011: $1.6M 19th in country
2012: $960k 32nd in country
2013: $486k 64th in country
2014: $361k 90th in country
2015: $332k 87th in country
2016: $2k thus far

[Tall One]

that is extremely bizarre. I can't imagine what the deal is here. Does he not have the stock to be competing where he is and he refuses to move to another track? Did he have the right juice for a long time and now they test for it?


It's the stock, IMO.

He still has a few Whitney runners in the barn, but Ian Wilkes was getting the majority there.

Zito's string at KEE last spring included a few decent auction purchases--$100,000-$200,000--for Mossarosa, connections for his winner today at GP..$60k starter stake.

He may have had 2 winners that spring meet i mentioned. One paid nicely, and part of a tri that paid over $900 for a buck...

Of which I had none.

[chadk66]

his story is probably not far off from Jack Van Bergs.

[mountainman]

Impossible to get on phone. His help used to run interference and big-time people.

[the little guy]

Impossible to get on phone. His help used to run interference and big-time people.

I'm not big on the "hitting someone when they're down" thing, and I gotta tell you, it would be hard to find ANYONE in this industry that is more generous with their time than Nick. He gets besieged by people at the track, particularly at Saratoga, and always has time for them. I have been amazed at times at both how popular he is and how kind he is in return.

From a personal standpoint, he has always been a great supporter of mine, he always takes time to be spend with my Mom ( even stopping by her house to say hi ), and called me less than 30 minutes after winning the BC Juvenile with War Pass to offer condolences for my Dad, who died that morning.

Maybe he didn't respond to a call or two of yours over the years. Nobody's perfect. However, he hardly seems worthy of a cheap shot, especially while he's doing lousy.

[EMD4ME]

Hard to bet anything he throws on the track.

I was singled to Mr. Zito for $50,000 plus thousand in race 9 at AQU in early Jan to close a pick 6.

I have no problem betting his horses. It wasn't a stake but it was a horse race. If it wasn't for a long gate load, which might've caused his horse's stumble his horse would've won. Ran a tough luck 2nd.

I miss his days of Birdstone but I don't think it's him. I think it's "other factors".

If he trains a horse, I feel confident betting it back IF the horse has performed already under his care.

[EMD4ME]

I'm not big on the "hitting someone when they're down" thing, and I gotta tell you, it would be hard to find ANYONE in this industry that is more generous with their time than Nick. He gets besieged by people at the track, particularly at Saratoga, and always has time for them. I have been amazed at times at both how popular he is and how kind he is in return.

From a personal standpoint, he has always been a great supporter of mine, he always takes time to be spend with my Mom ( even stopping by her house to say hi ), and called me less than 30 minutes after winning the BC Juvenile with War Pass to offer condolences for my Dad, who died that morning.

Maybe he didn't respond to a call or two of yours over the years. Nobody's perfect. However, he hardly seems worthy of a cheap shot, especially while he's doing lousy.


Touching thoughts TLG. Glad someone is defending the legend & pointing out the positives.

[ReplayRandall]

Touching thoughts TLG. Glad someone is defending the legend & pointing out the positives.

Time flies so fast.....Hard to believe Zito's last Derby winner was in 1994 with Go For Gin.

[EMD4ME]

Time flies so fast.....Hard to believe Zito's last Derby winner was in 1994 with Go For Gin.

It does, that was the same fall that I discovered and fell in love with the pent up power of CIGAR. Seems like eons ago :(

Seems like just yesterday, Zito's 1sters were always dangerous at the SPA. Now, not so.

[Tall One]

Not trying to pour salt, EMD, but was that Mr Canada?

[EMD4ME]

Not trying to pour salt, EMD, but was that Mr Canada?

No wounds Tall One. Yes, it was. #7 race 9. 2 was the winner. A horse I chucked because I knew Sedlacek got caught juicing Bossman earlier in 2015.


I'm used to big score losses. Whiskey Eyes (and more importantly Gerard Mora) cost me $25,000 ($15,000 3 weeks ago and $10,000 this past week).

I'm somewhat densensitized to those things.

I've learned and try to focus on the near loss photos, wins etc. Stay positive.

[Tall One]

That horse had a bit of seconditis, but always gave you his best effort. Last fall, was glancing at the Aqu entries, and Mr Canada jumped off the page. Why? I noted he was a Preston Madden homebred. You just don't see those Hamburg Farm cherry and cream silks ofton on the track, and I immediately put him in the stable. Like before, Zito had him entered on the grass at 8.5, but it poured that day, and the race was switched to a mile over a sloppy main track. He ran him anyway, and Mr Canada TOOK Manny to the lead. On the front the whole way..except the last 100 yards, but still held on for third place money. I had him win/place of course.

Kinda wild how one horse can have two different meanings behind it. Your financial backing here sorta trumps my local nostalgia, and $5 w/p, but it just shows the diversity in our sport. The one part that's equal? Nick Zito... :ThmbUp:

[classhandicapper]

No matter what the reason for his downturn, eventually you get to a point where imo you have to drop your horses down in class to the level where they can be competitive.

[no breathalyzer]

Not your daddies Zito that's for sure... everyone can't be great forever.. don't think its a stock issue tho.. father time catches up with everyone.. like i said he dosn't have the great help he has had in the past.

That being said doesn't change the fact he is a stand up guy

[no breathalyzer]

*Spinner* a horse Zito trains is back working again.. this is a horse i been waiting to run back for ever!

[Kash$]

Same has happen to Neil Drysdale once considered the best trainer in the game hasn't won a race at Santa Anita this meet.Once a threat in major stake races no more..
Tough to compete against trainers who are chemist.

[Mandrake]

Cornachia died in 2011. Mary Lou Whitney is 90 years old. LaPenta seems to have taken his horses to all trainers. When you lose owners like this, it's easy to see the bubble bursting.

[Dahoss9698]

Kind of funny on the day the thread started both Zito and Drysdale won. Maybe he can start a thread about how bad my powerball number picking is :D :D :D

[johnhannibalsmith]

Kind of funny on the day the thread started both Zito and Drysdale won. Maybe he can start a thread about how bad my powerball number picking is :D :D :D

Holy shit! DaHoss90210 sighting!

[Kash$]

D'Amato streak down hill on the turf at 11-1 :lol:Ill have me some

[Dahoss9698]

D'Amato streak down hill on the turf at 11-1 :lol:Ill have me some
I thought we were talking about Nick Zito?

[Kash$]

I thought we were talking about Nick Zito?

Zito is irrelevant in todays game..$4.60 life and death winner yesterday...Good luck 17 wins in two years.

[Dahoss9698]

Zito is irrelevant in todays game..$4.60 life and death winner yesterday...Good luck 17 wins in two years.

theres the venom I was hoping for. I see nothing has changed. Come on Edgar show everyone a picture of your hall of fame participation ring

[Kash$]

theres the venom I was hoping for. I see nothing has changed. Come on Edgar show everyone a picture of your hall of fame participation ring


Venom where?Go to the Mets thread take a look at the pics..Or better yet go on twitter and whine about how your horses get stiff and how you call out trainers with your "hay and Oats"...

[SG4]

Not trying to pour salt, EMD, but was that Mr Canada?

Mr. Canada coming back in AQU's finale tomorrow, claimed from Zito & 1st time for Nevin. Successful single to end the pick 6 on this time around?

[Tall One]

It appears i forgot to mention that..

[Tall One]

3-1 m/l...my omission doesnt seem to matter.

[EMD4ME]

Mr. Canada coming back in AQU's finale tomorrow, claimed from Zito & 1st time for Nevin. Successful single to end the pick 6 on this time around?

Quite possibly but I didn't handicap the pick 6, so I am out of it.

[Stillriledup]

That horse had a bit of seconditis, but always gave you his best effort. Last fall, was glancing at the Aqu entries, and Mr Canada jumped off the page. Why? I noted he was a Preston Madden homebred. You just don't see those Hamburg Farm cherry and cream silks ofton on the track, and I immediately put him in the stable. Like before, Zito had him entered on the grass at 8.5, but it poured that day, and the race was switched to a mile over a sloppy main track. He ran him anyway, and Mr Canada TOOK Manny to the lead. On the front the whole way..except the last 100 yards, but still held on for third place money. I had him win/place of course.

Kinda wild how one horse can have two different meanings behind it. Your financial backing here sorta trumps my local nostalgia, and $5 w/p, but it just shows the diversity in our sport. The one part that's equal? Nick Zito... :ThmbUp:

meLpuF9UMvk

[Tall One]

Well played, SRU. :)

Went off the big time favorite, didn't disappoint his backers

[EMD4ME]

Well played, SRU. :)

Went off the big time favorite, didn't disappoint his backers


Any horse I need for big bucks, that somehow loses (bad trip, gets blanked, bias, stumble etc) is 90% a winner next time (assuming similar distance, class etc.)

I'm sure Dutrow coaching helped but this horse was running well for Nick as well

[Tara73]

Today, Michelle Nevin won first time off a claim from Zito with Mr. Canada. Perhap, it's more than just tough times for Zito. Perhaps the game has passed him by.

[Dahoss9698]

Today, Michelle Nevin won first time off a claim from Zito with Mr. Canada. Perhap, it's more than just tough times for Zito. Perhaps the game has passed him by.
Considering she's able to win off the claim from pretty much any trainer I'm not sure your post makes much sense

[ReplayRandall]

Considering she's able to win off the claim from pretty much any trainer I'm not sure your post makes much sense

I guess a 25% win rate, 1st off the claim, ain't too shabby. I just can't make any consistent money off her, but it's better than losing all the time with Zito in the win hole......

Trnr: Nevin Michelle (64 13-12-9 20%)
+1st after clm 97 25% 56% -0.09