Nick Zito Birthdate: Feb. 6, 1948 Birthplace: New York City Residence: Garden City, N.Y. Family: wife, Kim; daughter, Sara; son, Alexander.

2007 Gulfstream Record

Career

• Inducted to the Hall of Fame in 2005, Zito starts 2008 with the leading prospect for the Kentucky Derby in Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and Eclipse Award winner War Pass.

• Last year at Gulfstream saw Zito continue a string of tough-luck losses and close-call finishes, including three straight second-place results for Hesanoldsalt in races that included the Donn Handicap and the Gulfstream Park Handicap.

• Other tough photo-finish losses over the previous two years included Sun King missing the 2006 Whitney at Saratoga by a nose and Wanderin Boy missing in the Pimlico Special, both times behind eventual Horse of the Year Invasor.

• Since starting five horses in the 2005 Kentucky Derby (one of whom was Florida Derby winner High Fly), Zito has been shut out of the Run for the Roses entries the last two years. He’s also been shut out of the winner’s circle in Gulfstream stakes since that Florida Derby win.

• Had the best Gulfstream meet of his career in 2005 when he captured four stakes, including his first Florida Derby victory after 18 previous attempts.

• Has won two Kentucky Derbys, a Preakness, two Breeders’ Cup races and a Belmont. The latter coming when Birdstone kept Smarty Jones from the Triple Crown in 2004 before going on to win the Travers Stakes.

• Managed Bird Town, Birdstone’s half-sister, to 3-year-old filly championship of 2003.

• On March 24, 2001, sent out two horses, Albert the Great and AP Valentine, to set Hialeah Park track records.

• Won 2000 Donn Handicap with Stephen Got Even.

• Other top runners have been The Cliff’s Edge, Suave Prospect, Greenwood Lake, Najran, Halory Hunter and Thirty Six Red ...

   
  Other:  Would go to racetrack with his father, once an exercise rider for trainer Max Hirsch and a chauffer for New York Mayor Robert Wagner, as a child growing up near Aqueduct ... Started at track at age 15 as hotwalker for Buddy Jacobson ... Advanced to become assistant trainer to John Campo and the Leroy Jolley before branching out on his own in 1972 with stable of two horses ... First winner was Palais at Liberty Bell in December, 1972 ... He and wife Kim are active in Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation.