SILENT WITNESS GOES FOR SWEET 16 HEADLINE ...p9 NEWS For information about TDN, DELIVERED EACH NIGHT BY FAX AND FREE BY E-MAIL TO SUBSCRIBERS OF call 732-747-8060. www.thoroughbreddailynews.com SUNDAY, APRIL 3, 2005 TAKING THE “HIGH” ROAD TO LOUISVILLE Better Luck This Time? Trainer Nick Zito already boasts two Kentucky Derby A year ago, Zito held the hottest hand during the run- wins, getting the roses with Go for Gin (1994) and up to the Kentucky Derby. Bedded down in his barn Strike the Gold (1991). Can were Birdstone, Eurosilver and The Cliff’s Edge, but High Fly (Atticus) give him a that formidable trio proved no factor on the first Satur- third? The chestnut colt put day in May. Eurosilver spent the afternoon in his stall, himself at the head of the Tri- the victim of an untimely illness, while his stablemates ple Crown class of 2005 yes- struggled on the sloppy surface and were off the board. terday with a decisive 1 1/2- But things look rosier this spring. In addition to the one- length triumph over fellow two Florida Derby finishers, Zito has GIII Tampa Bay Zito trainee Noble Causeway Derby hero Sun King (Charismatic), who will head to (Giant’s Causeway) in the the Apr. 16 GI Bluegrass S.; and 15-length Gulfstream High Fly Equi-Photo 54th running of the GI Florida allowance winner Bellamy Road (Concerto), who goes Derby at Gulfstream Park. The for the Apr. 9 GI Wood Memorial. Florida Derby cont. p2 win also broke the Brooklyn-bred horseman’s 0-for-16 streak in the race. “These horses both ran really huge,” ANOTHER SETBACK FOR ROCKPORT HARBOR Zito said. “They both showed me a lot of courage. All Triple Crown hopeful Rockport Harbor (Unbridled’s the way down the lane, I was yelling, ‘Show me your Song) suffered another setback yesterday at Oaklawn heart; show me your heart,’ and they did. They both Park when trainer John Servis opted showed a lot of courage.” not to send the three-year-old to the track due to an undetermined ailment. Saturday, Gulfstream Park The latest misfortune for the Fox Hill FLORIDA DERBY-GI, $1,000,000, GPX, 4-2, 3yo, colt, who has battled foot bruises 1 1/8m, 1:49 2/5, ft. throughout the spring, throws into 1--sHIGH FLY, 122, c, 3, by Atticus doubt his status for the GII Arkansas 1st Dam: Verbasle (GISP, $250,801), by Slewpy Derby Apr. 16. "I originally thought he 2nd Dam: Verbality, by Verbatim had a fever, but John told me he did 3rd Dam: One Sum, by One for All not," Fox Hill owner Rick Porter told O-Live Oak Plantation; B-Live Oak Stud (KY); Rockport Harbor The Blood-Horse. "They think he had a T-Nicholas P Zito; J-J D Bailey; $600,000. Lifetime and John Servis reaction to a build-up shot he had a Record: 6-5-0-1, $897,300. *1/2 to Estimraar (Holy Jeff Coady couple days ago. John was just not Bull), MGSW-UAE, $569,999. happy with his attitude this morning 2--Noble Causeway, 122, c, 3, Giant's Causeway-- and decided not to train him. His Mimi's Golden Girl, by Seeking the Gold. white count is good, too, so ($1,150,000 yrl '03 KEESEP). O-Meadowview Farms; maybe it's not an infection as we B-Reiko & Michael Baum (KY); T-Nicholas P Zito; first thought.” Arkansas Derby $190,000. contender Greater Good (Intidab) 3--B. B. Best, 122, c, 3, Yes It's True--Bold Juana, by breezed an easy five panels yes- John Alden. ($150,000 2yo 2004 OBSFEB). terday at Oaklawn in 1:04.40, O-Bea Oxenberg & Laurie Plesa; B-Bent Oak Farm the 28th fastest of 34 works at Greater Good (yellow cap) (FL); T-Edward Plesa Jr; $100,000. the distance. The GIII Rebel S. Jeff Coady Margins: 1HF, 2, 1HF. Odds: 1.20, 3.00, 7.70. winner worked in company with Also Ran: Park Avenue Ball, Mighty Mecke, Vicarage, stablemate Copy My Notes (Souvenir Copy), who was Papi Chullo, Evil Minister, Wallstreet Scandal. timed in 1:05.20. TDN P HEADLINE NEWS • 4/3/05 • PAGE 2 of 9 Florida Derby cont. Saturday, Gulfstream Park The “Live” Horse... ORCHID H.-GII, $150,000, GPX, 4-2, 3yo/up, f/m, Live Oak homebred High Fly was sent off the 6-5 1 1/2mT, 2:27, fm. chalk off his win in the Mar. 5 GII Fountain of Youth S. 1--HONEY RYDER, 116, f, 4, by Lasting Approval He pressed B.B. Best (Yes It’s True) through a half in 1st Dam: Cuando Quiere, by Affirmed :45.89 and six furlongs in a rapid 2nd Dam: Quatre Saisons, by Court Recess 1:09.92. The crowd’s choice 3rd Dam: Alpine Peak, by Olympia grabbed a short lead at the ($70,000 yrl '02 WIMJUL). O-Glencrest Farm LLC; eighth pole and held stablemate B-Wimborne Farm, Inc (KY); T-Todd A Pletcher; J-J R Noble Causeway at bay late. “It Velazquez; $90,000. Lifetime Record: 16-5-1-6, pretty much developed the way I $299,830. *1/2 to Cuando Puede (Lord at War thought it would,” winning {Arg}), GSW, $199,973; Cuando (Lord at War {Arg}), Zito & Bailey Equi-Photo jockey Jerry Bailey said. “He was MSW & MGSP, $329,967; Cuanto Es (Exbourne), just as impressive as he was in GSP, $255,239. the Fountain of Youth. I just let him run along the last 2--Ellieonthemarch, 114, f, 4, Old Trieste--Marchtothe- 100 yards.” Nick Zito was thrilled by the performances mine, by Mining. ($65,000 yrl '02 FTKOCT). O-West of both colts. “You know, a week ago [High Fly] had a Point Thoroughbreds LLC; B-Freshmen Group LLC slight temperature,” he explained. “But all week there (KY); T-Richard A Violette Jr; $30,000. has been no humidity and that really helped. God takes 3--Pretty Jane, 114, f, 4, Subordination--Girl in Velvet, care of me. And you can’t give [Noble Causeway] by Afleet. O-Redmond Garrett; B-Ballycapple (KY); enough credit, coming out of an allowance race and the T-Eduardo C Caramori; $16,500. only horse that can beat him is High Fly.” Click for the Margins: HF, 1 1/4, 2 3/4. Odds: 2.30, 12.30, 8.60. brisnet.com chart or the free brisnet.com catalogue- Also Ran: Briviesca (GB), Snowdrops (GB), Coquinerie, style pedigree or the video replay. Stormin' Daina. For the video replay, click here. Honey Ryder showed her ability to handle 12 furlongs The Classic Question... when rallying from the back of the pack to be third in High Fly has now handled distances from six furlongs the Dec. 18 GII La Prevoyante H. She ran out of real to a mile and an eighth. Can he get the extra furlong of estate when fourth in the Feb. the Kentucky Derby? “You’ve got to think positive,” 12 GIII Suwanee River H. at nine Bailey said. Zito believes both of his Florida Derby furlongs, but got the job done in horses will be effective at the Classic route. “They can her latest, closing to take the both go a mile and a quarter--no question,” he said. Zito Mar. 6 GIII The Very One H. at did not announce where Noble Causeway will show up 11 panels. The second choice to next, but did say, “He’s got a great future in the Ken- make it two in a row, the gray tucky Derby.” With High Fly, he is leaning toward filly settled in fourth while saving going into the first leg of the Triple Crown off five ground through the opening mile. weeks rest. “He should just train for the Derby now,” Honey Ryder eased around front- Equi-Photo he said. “Maybe these are the horses that will show running Pretty Jane to take over people that you can win the Derby off a five-week at the eighth pole and held off a troubled layoff.” Ellieonthemarch for the narrow score. “We talked about getting a distance with this filly when she was a two- year-old and a three-year-old...that she might eventually TODAY’S VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS develop into a good distance horse,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “This was one of those rare situations GII Orchid H. Honey Ryder (Lasting Approval) hangs where we turned out to be right.” The runner-up stum- on at a mile and a half. bled at the break, was checked on the first turn, raced widest of all into the stretch and just missed. “Maybe GI Florida Derby Trainer Nick Zito hits the exacta with she’s a winner without all that,” jockey Cornelio High Fly (Atticus) and Noble Causeway (Giant’s Velasquez said. Click for the brisnet.com chart or the Causeway). free brisnet.com catalogue-style pedigree. www.barretts.com TDN P HEADLINE NEWS • 4/3/05 • PAGE 3 of 9 Saturday, Gulfstream Park Saturday, Gulfstream Park PAN AMERICAN H.-GII, $150,000, GPX, 4-2, 3yo/up, SKIP AWAY H.-GIII, $100,000, GPX, 4-2, 3yo/up, 1 1/2mT, 2:25 4/5, fm. 1 1/8m, 1:49 1/5, ft. 1--@#NAVESINK RIVER, 114, c, 4, by Unbridled 1--EUROSILVER, 113, c, 4, by Unbridled's Song 1st Dam: Sheepscot (SW, $153,446), by Easy Goer 1st Dam: Russian Tango (SW), by Nijinsky II 2nd Dam: Escrow Agent, by El Gran Senor 2nd Dam: Brave Raj, by Rajab 3rd Dam: Viva Sec, by Secretariat 3rd Dam: Bravest Yet, by Bravo ($140,000 yrl '02 KEESEP).