Horse Racing News is the source of thoroughbred racing information with horse racing odds, betting tips, racing picks, race results, and handicapping. Latest news and articles on top horse racing contenders, jockeys, trainers, three-year-olds, race tracks, and major stakes races such as the Triple Crown races: the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes as well as the Breeders' Cup horse races.Nick Zito May Run Wanderin Boy Against Curlin In The Woodward at Saratoga
Posted on Thursday, August 7th, 2008
Hall of Fame race horse trainer Nick Zito may be looking to run Authur Hancock’s Wanderin Boy against Curlin in The Woodward on August 30 at Saratoga. The 7-year-old Wanderin Boy is coming off an allowance win by 3 1/4 lengths at Saratoga on July 28.
The Woodward is a weight-for-age event, with 3-year-olds carrying 121 pounds and older horses 126 pounds.
“We’ve tried to beat every big horse that we could,” said race horse trainer Nick Zito, who ruined Big Brown’s Triple Crown bid with Da’Tara in the Belmont Stakes and nearly beat Big Brown again with Coal Play in the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on Sunday. “He had a wonderful prep race. He likes Saratoga. I think there’s a good possibility (for him to run in the Woodward). This is certainly a good spot for him.”
Last year, Wanderin Boy led for most of the race before being overtaken by Lawyer Ron to finish second in the Whitney Handicap. In 2006, after winning the Brooklyn Handicap (G2), Wanderin Boy was second to Bernardini in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Belmont Park. Also in that same year, Wanderin Boy was second to Breeders’ Cup Classic winner and Horse of the Year Invasor.
Even with strong finishes against previous champions, Nick Zito is hoping Wanderin Boy can give Curlin a challenge by carrying different weight.
“Obviously, I have all of the respect for Curlin,” race horse trainer Nick Zito said. “You have to respect him, and I am going to respect the Horse of the Year”
With less than three weeks away from the $1-million Travers Stakes (G1) for three-year-olds going 1 1/4 miles on Saturday August 23, Nick Zito has several options for the race.
Coal Play nearly had the Haskell (G1) won before Big Brown caught him late in the stretch for a 1 3/4-length victory, while his stablemate, Cool Coal Man, rallied for third. Robert V. LaPenta owns both Coal Play and Cool Coal Man, who won the Fountain of Youth (G2) earlier this year at Gulfstream Park.
Race horse owner Robert LaPenta and trainer Nick Zito may be looking at the Travers for Da’Tara, who got caught in a speed duel with Mint Lane in the Jim Dandy (G2). “I don’t know, yet,” Nick Zito said about his Travers consideration. “Coal Play — no way. Cool Coal Man is a possibility. Obviously, Da’Tara is my best choice. He’s my No. 1 choice for that race.”
Horse racing news edited from www.nyra.com.
Horse racing tags: Coal Play, Cool Coal Man, Curlin, Da' Tara, Wanderin Boy
"Nick Zito May Run Wanderin Boy Against Curlin In The Woodward at Saratoga" was posted on Thursday, August 7th, 2008 at 10:56 pm and is filed under Horse Racing Industry, Horses, Race Tracks News, Saratoga, Stakes Races, USA Horse Racing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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