Just because someone doesn't start a zillion horses doesn't mean he's not a top trainer.

Maybe he has chosen to have a smaller stable than in prior years.

As far as I'm concerned, anyone who can train Anromedas Hero to earnngs of $800,000+ doesn't deserve to be in the Hall of Fame; he probably deserves to have his own wing.

Zito had 3 graded stakes winners and trainers that had more than him were: Pletcher, Frankel, Mott, R.Mandella, Biancone, McLaughlin, Matz, Canani, ONeill, Clement, bin Surroor, Baffert, and Tagg.
He doesnt have the stable size of Pletcher and doesnt have a stable on the West Coast, doesnt receive horses from the Sheiks, and two of his top clients (Live Oak-distributes their horses amongst 4-5 trainers and LaPenta-he buys yearlings for him and the pinhook them at the 2yo sales, keeping the ones that dont meet their reserve (on a side note they've done very well with this plan)) Thus he's doing pretty well in his spot, considering he's in the top 13 for graded stakes winners.

:D Beautiful.

The 16 million dollar bust? I see turf in his future.

Good news guys!

I just got back from lunch and picked up a "I'm sorry your career is slipping away" card for Zito....would anyone else like to sign it?

I think we need to make a movie about is. It would be the most over-hyped movie ever--sort of like Zito's career.

I can't bash Zito, because he is who he is, but he has mishandled Sun King's career. This horse ran the two best races of his life in a 7F sprint and the Met Mile. So what does Nick do? Run him in the Classic at a mile and a 1/4.

What about his Whitney?

Considering the horse had only lost by a nose at 9 furlongs to the horse that won the Classic it is tough to say he shouldn't have been there.

True true. He did have that outside post on the rail friendly Breeder's Classic.

What was he to do? Lay him off for a year and bring him back in the '07 BC Mile and 70yards?

I have to agree with you. Street Sense is much better than Private Vow ever was.

Haskins list is pretty good. I agree with you. Hard to argue with his list. Makes sense now, but I am sure it will change come April. And I think people have a right to bash Zito. Take a couple of years out of his career and he is a avg trainer at best.

Yeah, if by "couple" you mean those like 10 or 12 years where he was training Bird Town, Birdstone, Go for Gin, Louis Quatorze, Strike the Gold, Thirty Six Red, Bellamy Road, Sun King, Albert the Great and many others, he really was average.

Bellamy Road and Sun King--are you serious. Take 1991 to 1996 out and you have a very avg trainer with an occassional good horse.

Pick any of his down years and his career is still avg. Face it, the man is a low life scum who is given more credit than he deserves--just my opinion of the so called man.

The internet works well for you I see.

I would tell that to his face and have many of times.