Zito Still Sees Florida Derby as a Springboard to Kentucky

No one needs to sell Nick Zito on the merits of the Florida Derby as a prep for the Kentucky Derby. Since 1990, four of the six winners at Churchill Downs came from here, and Zito trained two of them--Strike The Gold in 1991 and Go For Gin in 1994.

Last year, Zito’s Florida-to-Louisville route didn’t work when Suave Prospect ran 11th in the Kentucky Derby. But the trainer, 48, is at the threshold of another familiar mission Saturday--trying to use Gulfstream Park’s premier race for 3-year-olds as a springboard for the main assignment in Kentucky seven weeks later.

Zito’s entry in the 45th Florida Derby is Louis Quatorze, 6-1 on the morning line in the $500,000 race. Earlier on the card, he is running George Steinbrenner’s Diligence, another Kentucky Derby candidate, in a $50,000 stake. Zito said it would be a misconception to assume that Louis Quatorze is better.

“If Johnnie Cochran cross-examined me, I wouldn’t be able to separate them,” Zito said. “I do know, though, that two is better than one at this stage.”

Louis Quatorze is owned by Georgia Hofmann, Bill Condren and Joe Cornacchia. Condren and Cornacchia were also partners in Strike The Gold and Go For Gin, and although they split up after the 1994 Kentucky Derby, they still race a few 3-year-olds together.

Three weeks ago, Zito scratched Louis Quatorze from the Fountain of Youth, the customary prep for the Florida Derby, and won with him in an allowance race two days later. After minor shin problems as a 2-year-old, Louis Quatorze has won both his starts this winter, albeit against second-rate opposition.

Diligence, a bad fifth as Unbridled’s Song won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at muddy Belmont Park in October, has also won two allowance starts here, the most recent by 7 1/2 lengths. Zito’s colts don’t have to win Saturday to move on to their final Kentucky Derby preps, the Blue Grass and Wood Memorial, which are both on April 13. The Derby is May 4.

Zito has never won a Florida Derby. Five years ago, Strike The Gold ran second at 10-1 to Fly So Free, and in 1994, favored Go For Gin was fourth as Holy Bull won the race.

“The important thing is that your horse goes forward from the Florida Derby,” Zito said. “In ‘91, after we were second here, people kept telling me that Strike The Gold was a lock to win the Blue Grass and the Kentucky Derby. I couldn’t believe how much support he was getting. He did win both of them, but before he did, I kept asking myself, ‘Am I missing something here?’ ”

Cobra King, whose first race outside California was a 1 3/4-length victory over Editor’s Note in the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream on Jan. 20, is a 9-5 favorite for the Florida Derby. Built For Pleasure, the upset winner of the Fountain of Youth at 143-1, drew the No. 1 post position and will be ridden by Gary Boulanger. He’s 12-1 this time. Then comes Cobra King, with Chris McCarron, and outside them, in order, are: Skip Away, Shane Sellers, 6-1; Louis Quatorze, Jerry Bailey, 6-1; Tour’s Big Red, Jose Santos, 30-1; Unbridled’s Song, Mike Smith, 2-1; Editor’s Note, Gary Stevens, 8-1; Ensign Ray, Pat Day, 20-1; and Appealing Skier, Rick Wilson, 15-1.

Horse Racing Notes

As Cigar gets ready for the $4-million Dubai World Cup on March 27, nothing is coming easy. The 1995 horse of the year missed the Santa Anita Handicap because of a bruised foot; rain earlier this week forced trainer Bill Mott to postpone a workout; and when Cigar did work Wednesday at Gulfstream Park, another horse got in his way, angering Mott. Cigar was clocked in 1:16 for six furlongs after Another Miracle, with Pat Valenzuela aboard, gave him unexpected company. “That other horse came along at the half-mile pole,” Mott said. “He forced us down closer to the rail than we would have liked. I wanted him four or five [paths] off the rail.”