Zito, Live at the Spa
Trainer Todd Pletcher may be in a slump with first-time two-year-old starters at Saratoga, but trainer Nick Zito picked up right where he left off last year at the Spa, sending out War Pass in the second to win his maiden debut at 7-1 odds. In 2006, Zito started 17 two-year-old first-timers, winning with six (35%), and finishing in the money eight times (47%), with a median payout of $13.30. The numbers were a stark change from his 2005 record, in which the trainer went 1-for-12. “The owners of today like instant gratification,” Zito said of the shift. “They like the fun of winning. Saratoga has become the premier meet, therefore if you win with a first-time starter that’s a lot of points on your ‘resume’” (DRF).
