'More Than 30 Years, Under 30 Stalls' -- Saluting Veteran Trainer Nick Zito

Jun 06, 2024 Kevin Kerstein

Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito may be down on horses but he’s far from out of the game. At age 76 the veteran conditioner, who has won 35 Grade I races, including two Kentucky Derbys, two Belmont Stakes, and the Preakness Stakes, currently trains 12 horses at Churchill Downs’ Trackside Louisville. Despite recent challenges, he remains hopeful for a return to the spotlight before his career ends.

“I may be down but I’m sure not out of it yet,” Zito said. “Horse racing is a hard business, especially when you’re down on your luck. It’s tough coming from where I once was in the 90s and early 2000s to now having to ask clients for horses.”

Zito won his first race of 2024 two weeks ago with Mossarosa’s Philharmonic and continues to reinvent himself in an effort to rebuild his stable.

“I’ve had great support from Nena Moss, the principal owner of Mossarosa, even when we’ve been down on horses,” Zito said. “Recently, I received three horses from Mike Repole, two of which are racing Wednesday at Churchill. I’m hopeful this is the kickstart we need to get another shot at the Derby. Mike is the ‘Who’s Who’ of horse racing owners. It’s an honor to train for him.”

Zito began his training career in 1972 after working as an assistant to Leroy Jolley and John Campo. The native New Yorker grew up near Queens, close to Aqueduct Racetrack. He started as a hotwalker as a teenager and then worked as a groom for Buddy Jacobson.

“Every day I kept telling myself that I wanted to win the Kentucky Derby,” Zito said. “Once I finally did with Strike the Gold, I never stopped wanting to win it.”

Zito has made 26 starts in the Derby, winning twice with Strike the Gold (1991) and Go for Gin (1994). His last starter in the race was Mossarosa’s Frammento in 2015.

Saturday’s Belmont Stakes, run this year at Saratoga, marks the 20th anniversary of Zito’s trainee Birdstone upsetting Smarty Jones’ Triple Crown bid. Zito’s Da’ Tara also played Triple Crown spoiler, leading every step of the 1 ½-mile race in 2008, defeating Big Brown at odds of 39-1.

“I know things are different this year with the Belmont run at Saratoga,” Zito said. “There are some very nice horses in this field but the complexion is different running at a mile-and-a-quarter compared to the true test of a mile-and-a-half. I remember to this day when Birdstone ran down Smarty Jones. When Smarty Jones turned for home in front by about four lengths, more often than not, you’d see that horse go on to win. It was an unbelievable upset by an unbelievable horse.”

Zito’s horses are back in the Churchill Downs entries Thursday with Repole Stable’s Blind Speed (Race 5) and Always Be Smart (Race 9).

“Winning the other week with Philharmonic was the shot in the arm I needed,” Zito said. “Now, I’m looking ahead to build off that and get rolling again.”