Trainer Zito’s Kentucky Derby Fever Is a Hot Thirty Six Red

Trainer Nick Zito hopes Gotham winner Thirty Six Red “is the new kid on the block.”

The block in question is occupied by Churchill Downs, site of the Kentucky Derby on May 5.

Thirty Six Red, who paid $67 in winning the one-mile Gotham Saturday at Aqueduct, can get to the Derby with a win or a good second or third in the 1 1/8-mile Wood Memorial on April 21, Zito said.

Should he make the trip, Thirty Six Red would come up against two colts who appear to be the bullies of the block--Mister Frisky, unbeaten in 16 career starts, and Summer Squall, who has won six of seven.

In his last race before May 5, Mister Frisky won the 1 1/8-mile Santa Anita Derby in impressive fashion Saturday.

Summer Squall, who was impressive in winning the 1 1/8-mile Jim Beam in the mud March 31 at Turfway Park, will complete his Derby preps in the 1 1/8-mile Blue Grass next Saturday at Keeneland.

Four other colts being pointed to the Wood are Senor Pete, Burnt Hills, Champagneforashley and Yonder, all of whom are eligible for the Derby.

Champagneforashley, the Tampa Bay Derby winner, will run Friday in the DeWitt Clinton for New York-breds at Aqueduct. Yonder won the 1 1/8-mile Remsen as a 2-year-old at Aqueduct. In his last start, he was third in the Jim Beam.