Thursday, April 29, 2004
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Favorite The Cliff's Edge gets 11 hole
Trainer Nick Zito scoffs at early odds
Published April 29. 2004 7:30AM
BY RYAN CONLEY
STAFF WRITER
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Trainer Nick Zito added another set of experiences to his resume Wednesday during the post-draw ceremony for Saturday's 130th running of the Kentucky Derby.
Zito, who saddled two Derby winners in the 1990s, saw one of his entries, The Cliff's Edge, earn the morning-line favorite's role at 4-1, while his other horse, Birdstone, was dismissed by oddsmaker Mike Battaglia as the lone 50-1 longshot in the 20-horse field.
After the televised portion of the event ended in the Kentucky Derby Museum, Zito made his way to the adjoining press conference, where he took a good-natured shot at Battaglia.
"I asked Mike if he had any grandchildren, because I thought he might have wanted to get a college fund going," said Zito of Battaglia, who has set the morning-line odds for the 30 Derbys. "Believe me, 50-1 is insane. Birdstone is forgotten, and that is what happens in this game."
At the same time, Zito downplayed the the 4-1 odds assigned The Cliff's Edge, who was made the slight favorite over unbeaten Smarty Jones at 9-2.
"Smarty Jones is undefeated, it really could have gone either way," Zito said. "But I know my friend Bob Baffert likes (The Cliff's Edge), and my friend Bobby Frankel likes him too. And that's pretty good advice for me."
John Servis, the trainer of Smarty Jones, said he didn't expect his horse to be named the favorite.
"No, we definitely took the path of least resistance, only running in one graded stakes," said Servis of his colt, who will break from the No. 15 post. "What happened here was fair."
Horses were entered Wednesday morning, and a selection order was established in the Churchill Downs racing office. Most of the early posts selected were bunched in the desired middle of the starting gate until the team for Pollard's Vision (20-1) took the No. 17 post. The colt is named for Seabiscut jockey Red Pollard, and like the former rider, is blind in his right eye.
"With him not having any vision in his right eye, and with him having some speed, we wanted him on the outside of most of the field," said trainer Todd Pletcher.
With only two undesirable posts left, the Nos. 1 and 20, Pletcher chose the rail for his other entry, Limehouse (30-1).
"Obviously there wasn't much of a decision, but he's run well in the past on the inside, and gotten roughed up," said Pletcher of the Florida-bred colt who is unbeaten in two starts at Churchill Downs. "Besides (jockey Jose) Santos said he preferred the inside, so that was good enough for me."
The final post of No. 20 went to Quintons Gold Rush, who is owned jointly by Jay Manoogian and Marion County-based Padua Stable.
"Maybe if we get some rain, he might get a chance to throw some mud in some other horses face," said trainer Steve Asmussen. "In any event, he's done well at Churchill, and has the confidence of a winner."
Lion Heart (10-1), who has been stabled at Keeneland Race Course and will ship to the Derby Saturday morning was made the fourth favorite behind Tapit (8-1).
Patrick Biancone, the trainer of Lion Heart, was asked when he would ship the colt to the Derby.
"Just don't expect me to arrive on Sunday," he said with a laugh. "You can count on that."
Two more days of training are scheduled before Saturday's big event, which is expected to draw a crowd of 140,000. The Derby will go off at a few minutes after 6 p.m., and will be televised by NBC.
Favorite The Cliff's Edge gets 11 hole
Trainer Nick Zito scoffs at early odds
Published April 29. 2004 7:30AM
BY RYAN CONLEY
STAFF WRITER
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Trainer Nick Zito added another set of experiences to his resume Wednesday during the post-draw ceremony for Saturday's 130th running of the Kentucky Derby.
Zito, who saddled two Derby winners in the 1990s, saw one of his entries, The Cliff's Edge, earn the morning-line favorite's role at 4-1, while his other horse, Birdstone, was dismissed by oddsmaker Mike Battaglia as the lone 50-1 longshot in the 20-horse field.
After the televised portion of the event ended in the Kentucky Derby Museum, Zito made his way to the adjoining press conference, where he took a good-natured shot at Battaglia.
"I asked Mike if he had any grandchildren, because I thought he might have wanted to get a college fund going," said Zito of Battaglia, who has set the morning-line odds for the 30 Derbys. "Believe me, 50-1 is insane. Birdstone is forgotten, and that is what happens in this game."
At the same time, Zito downplayed the the 4-1 odds assigned The Cliff's Edge, who was made the slight favorite over unbeaten Smarty Jones at 9-2.
"Smarty Jones is undefeated, it really could have gone either way," Zito said. "But I know my friend Bob Baffert likes (The Cliff's Edge), and my friend Bobby Frankel likes him too. And that's pretty good advice for me."
John Servis, the trainer of Smarty Jones, said he didn't expect his horse to be named the favorite.
"No, we definitely took the path of least resistance, only running in one graded stakes," said Servis of his colt, who will break from the No. 15 post. "What happened here was fair."
Horses were entered Wednesday morning, and a selection order was established in the Churchill Downs racing office. Most of the early posts selected were bunched in the desired middle of the starting gate until the team for Pollard's Vision (20-1) took the No. 17 post. The colt is named for Seabiscut jockey Red Pollard, and like the former rider, is blind in his right eye.
"With him not having any vision in his right eye, and with him having some speed, we wanted him on the outside of most of the field," said trainer Todd Pletcher.
With only two undesirable posts left, the Nos. 1 and 20, Pletcher chose the rail for his other entry, Limehouse (30-1).
"Obviously there wasn't much of a decision, but he's run well in the past on the inside, and gotten roughed up," said Pletcher of the Florida-bred colt who is unbeaten in two starts at Churchill Downs. "Besides (jockey Jose) Santos said he preferred the inside, so that was good enough for me."
The final post of No. 20 went to Quintons Gold Rush, who is owned jointly by Jay Manoogian and Marion County-based Padua Stable.
"Maybe if we get some rain, he might get a chance to throw some mud in some other horses face," said trainer Steve Asmussen. "In any event, he's done well at Churchill, and has the confidence of a winner."
Lion Heart (10-1), who has been stabled at Keeneland Race Course and will ship to the Derby Saturday morning was made the fourth favorite behind Tapit (8-1).
Patrick Biancone, the trainer of Lion Heart, was asked when he would ship the colt to the Derby.
"Just don't expect me to arrive on Sunday," he said with a laugh. "You can count on that."
Two more days of training are scheduled before Saturday's big event, which is expected to draw a crowd of 140,000. The Derby will go off at a few minutes after 6 p.m., and will be televised by NBC.
