Belmont Stakes Preview - The Dream Catcher

Trainer Nick Zito: The Dream Catcher

Hall of fame trainer Nick Zito is likely going to enter two starters in next Saturday’s Belmont Stakes, and while the duo may be longshots, it may not be wise to treat them lightly when you head to the Racebook betting windows.

Zito is not afraid to start a longshot, and instead of calling the veteran trainer a dream catcher, perhaps dream crusher would be more appropriate.

Twice in the past five years, Zito contributed to ending Triple Crown dreams.

In 2004 Smarty Jones looked well on his way to becoming the 12th Triple Crown winner until Birdstone came calling in the stretch to pull off the upset at 36/1.

Last year, Zito sent out Da’ Tara, who came into the Belmont Stakes sporting a 1 for 7 career record. What Zito saw that many of us did not was the fact there was not much early speed in the race.

His colt was coming off a runner up finish in the Barbaro Stakes at Pimlico where the colt set the early fractions and could not hold off the winner late, settling for second.

Zito’s motto is “You have to play the game,” and he did just that. Da’ Tara went gate to wire and returned $79.00, while Big Brown, seeking the Triple Crown, was eased and finished last.

Zito has finished second in the Belmont six times: Thirty Six Red (1990), Strike the Gold (1991), Go for Gin (1994), Star Standard (1995), A P Valentine (2001), and Andromeda's Hero (2005).

His overall record in the Belmont Stakes is now 20-2-6-2 and his horses have earned $2.6 million.

He has started more runners in the race than any trainer has and his two winners rank in the top six among longest priced Belmont Stakes winners.

I guess you could say that is playing the game.

Does he have a shot of landing another bomb this year?

Miner’s Escape certainly will be a price. The colt did not break his maiden until his sixth career start, but then won the Federico Tesio at Pimlico by 4 ½ lengths in impressive fashion in his last outing.

The colt has some early speed, and if Rachel Alexandra does not show up in New York, this could be this year’s version of Da’ Tara.

One thing this colt does have going for him is a long winded pedigree. He is by Mineshaft out of a Broad Brush mare, so he should be able to handle the 1 ½ miles.

Zito will also send out Brave Victory, who has won two of his nine career starts.

The colt’s last start was a third place finish in the Peter Pan Stakes (G2) over the Belmont Park main track going nine furlongs.

The colt made a good late run despite jockey Rajiv Maragh dropping his whip, and was beaten 5 ½ lengths for the top spot by Charitable Man, who will also be entered in the Belmont Stakes.

The colt’s lone two victories are his maiden score at Belmont Park last fall and a first level allowance win going six furlongs at Gulfstream Park in January.

Neither of Zito’s two runners this year have the type of resume to win a classic race at 1 ½ miles, but we were saying the same thing about Da’ Tara last year, and you can see where that got us.