With three top 20 Kentucky Derby contenders headed to Churchill Downs on May 3, Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito has a pretty good shot at taking another Derby trophy home this year (he's already got two).Reigning 2-year-old champion War Pass and Fountain of Youth winner Cool Coal Man both have earned their way into the running and both have a fair shot at winning; and then there's Anak Nakal, winner of the Kentucky Jockey Club last fall at Churchill, who also remains on the list of top Kentucky Derby nominees.
And to think Zito began his career as a hot walker. (A hot walker is someone who walks horses post-exercising or post-race.) Zito's first big win was the 1990 Grade 1 Wood Memorial Stakes, and then that same year he earned a second place finish in the Belmont Stakes. In addition to two Derby wins, Zito has also won the Preakness and Belmont Stakes once each.
As a testament to his life's work within the horse racing industry, Zito was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2005 (that year his horses took in more than $8 million in purses).
What do you think? Does Zito have a winner this year? Get your Kentucky Derby odds while the gettin' is good.
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