Believe it or not...I think "Zito" USED the Kentucky Derby

[sammy the sage]

as a f'g prep race ....SERIOUSLY...that said...just don't know if D.I. is actually fast enough to win the Preakness...

[GatetoWire]

I don't think this has been by design from Zito. The reality is that Dialed In has had serious soundness issues since the Florida Derby.
He barely moved him during Derby week, the clocker reports were horrible leading up and there were constant rumors that he was going to be scratched.
Too much buzz from too many sources not to have some fact.

That said the Derby could make him fitter but will the 2 week turnaround be enough for him to recover physically from the soundness issues that have been bothering him.

[turninforhome10]

5.5 million dollar bonus is a lot of money, just sayin

[Dahoss9698]

Originally Posted by turninforhome10

5.5 million dollar bonus is a lot of money, just sayin

It is a lot of money, but Lapenta is really wealthy. If I had to guess, I think winning the Derby would be a lot more important than 5.5 million to him.

[turninforhome10]

Originally Posted by Dahoss9698

It is a lot of money, but Lapenta is really wealthy. If I had to guess, I think winning the Derby would be a lot more important than 5.5 million to him.

Good Point. I would like to see him get it someday as he has been really good for the sport. Did not see him holding any press conferences or hoggin the limelight. He is a classy guy. I would love to him and Zito in the winners circle at CD the first Sat in May.

[Pell Mell]

I think Dialed In and a few others were the victim of jockey error. They just didn't realize how slow they were going up front and had intentions of closing. I think that's what makes AK's win so impressive. JMO

[Robert Goren]

The Derby reminded me of the first rule of handicapping. If a horse PPs make you think a horse is sore, he more than likely is. Stakes horses workout a lot. when they don't, something is wrong. I got off DI, but stupidly bet another sore horse MOH.

[Grits]

Originally Posted by Dahoss9698

It is a lot of money, but Lapenta is really wealthy. If I had to guess, I think winning the Derby would be a lot more important than 5.5 million to him.

Dh, Mr.LaPenta's made his money in the spook business. Of course, its been mighty lucrative. At times even downright questionable. There's no doubt the Derby's a big deal when one's involved so heavily in the sport. But as you know, some folks--they just LOVE making money. Being cut a 5.5 million dollar check is a pretty good chunk, I don't care if its coming from the spook business or a "one shot deal in a game one enjoys." Its mighty challenging. Not to mention the high that keeps one grinning.


If Bill Gates or Warren Buffett were owners of thoroughbreds running in stakes races, I'm not so sure winning the Kentucky Derby would be what they wanted most in life, or what they most wanted to be remembered for. To each his own though, everyone's goal, everyone's dream, different.

Yep, they may not have wanted to use Dialed In all up a couple of weeks ago. But LaPenta, as TurningForHome said, "he's a classy guy."
(There's that word again.)

Here's some of Bob's spook background, one of which includes this little blurb. There's been a tremendous boon post 9-11. Iris idenity technology contracts, all that kinda stuff.

La Penta spent 25 years with Loral Space & Communication and was a vice president from 1981 to 1996. In February 1996, a space launch vehicle belonging to the Chinese army crashed, destroying a Loral satellite it had aboard. An ensuing investigation accused Loral engineers of giving away missile secrets to China and Loral paid a $14 million civil fine.

http://www.nationalcorruptionindex.o...profile_id=174

http://people.forbes.com/profile/robert-v-lapenta/48133

[Plain Steve]

Originally Posted by Grits

Dh, Mr.LaPenta's made his money in the spook business. Of course, its been mighty lucrative. At times even downright questionable.

When I first read that I thought he was a "televangelist"

Pat Robertson had a stable of "blue bloods" until word got out and the PR guys told him it might be bad for business.

Here's a link to his press release
http://www.patrobertson.com/PressReleases/HorseSale.asp

Quote: "I am sorry that my fondness for the performance of equine athletes has caused you an offense..."
WTF!

[GatetoWire]

If you are going to bash Lapenta make sure you include his whole Bio.
From 1997 to 2005 Lapenta and Frank Lanza built L-3 Communications into a company that helps the Defense department exponentially by providing products and services that are vital to national security. Virtually every single voice and data communication used by the leaders of America is encrypted by products that L-3 built with Govt assistance. Do you think this type of work would have been given to someone who was friendly with enemies of America?
To suggest that Lapenta made his money from spook work is really short sighted.
Take a look at the work L-3 really does for America.
Look around next time you are in the airport to see who makes the bomb screening equipment?
I could type all day giving examples of things that L-3 contributes to America. These are just 2 examples.
People like Lapenta should never be slandered without you presenting the full facts.

[PaceAdvantage]

No slander that I can see. In fact, no potential libel either, which is the correct term when you are referencing the written word.

[cj]

I don't think anyone is sacrificing a chance to win the Derby to prep for more money in the Preakness, bonus or not. I just don't think Dialed In is nearly as good as many have believed. I never have. He is a one run closer that needs everything his way in top competition.

[Dahoss9698]

Originally Posted by Grits

Dh, Mr.LaPenta's made his money in the spook business. Of course, its been mighty lucrative. At times even downright questionable. There's no doubt the Derby's a big deal when one's involved so heavily in the sport. But as you know, some folks--they just LOVE making money. Being cut a 5.5 million dollar check is a pretty good chunk, I don't care if its coming from the spook business or a "one shot deal in a game one enjoys." Its mighty challenging. Not to mention the high that keeps one grinning.

I'm not really interested in how or why he made his money. I just know the guy has spent a lot of it trying to win the Derby and in the grand scheme of things, IMO winning the Derby would be more important to him...and Zito than a larger payday.

Just my opinion.

[Saratoga_Mike]

Originally Posted by cj

I don't think anyone is sacrificing a chance to win the Derby to prep for more money in the Preakness, bonus or not. I just don't think Dialed In is nearly as good as many have believed. I never have. He is a one run closer that needs everything his way in top competition.

I don't even know why this is up for discussion. I could not agree with you more. My best guess is he's worth at least $400 mm.

And someone mentioned Loral - LaPenta did work there, but he made most of his money at L3 (not part of Loral - the three founders' last names all started with L). I think he's also done well in private equity, but that info isn't publicly available.

[Grits]

The links posted were regarding his business career of several decades and if you read everything linked you would have realized this. I didn't supply the Forbes link to slander this gentlemen, but worth noting also was the other link posted that, again, involved his long time career along with a problem that not only raised question but resulted in an investigation and a 14 million dollar fine. I believe I indicated the post 9-11 boon for Mr.LaPenta and his companies, too. Maybe we have differing opinions on the "spook business", one I think has a great deal to do with providing intelligence, investigation, and security. No, I didn't slander Mr.LaPenta. I'm sorry if you felt I did so. There was plenty to read regarding his biography, though, I chose not to rely on Wikepedia. The difficulty in this is many do not take the time to read anything of length, eg. the links posted.

If Dialed In wins the Preakness, great. If he flounders again, it may well be as Cj has indicated for quite some time, he's not nearly as good as some believe.

Originally Posted by GatetoWire

If you are going to bash Lapenta make sure you include his whole Bio.
From 1997 to 2005 Lapenta and Frank Lanza built L-3 Communications into a company that helps the Defense department exponentially by providing products and services that are vital to national security. Virtually every single voice and data communication used by the leaders of America is encrypted by products that L-3 built with Govt assistance. Do you think this type of work would have been given to someone who was friendly with enemies of America?
To suggest that Lapenta made his money from spook work is really short sighted.
Take a look at the work L-3 really does for America.
Look around next time you are in the airport to see who makes the bomb screening equipment?
I could type all day giving examples of things that L-3 contributes to America. These are just 2 examples.
People like Lapenta should never be slandered without you presenting the full facts.