gets beat in the process.

I agree. The longer the race, the better he'll be.

the belmont, in general, is not a closers race. a race with early pace is a closers dream, the distance doesn't really have anything to do with it.

:rolleyes:

The Belmont is a Zito race.

While he has won two of the last six runnings of the Belmont, let's not forget that he has run horses in 15 Belmonts and won twice, so it's not like he's Woody Stephens.

NT

You are right. I don't have the stats in front of me but I know he has beaten me a few times getting horses into the Super that I thought had no chance.

Yes, his ITM & is a very solid 50 for the Belmont. 11 of his 22 starters have finished in the money (22 starts, 2 wins, 6 seconds, 3 thirds).

NT

Then I will take my chances with it. Ice Box has a style that just doesn't win many races while his claim to fame was winning a a watered down Florida Derby over Pleasant Prince.

sure, with the right horse.

as for the eye roll mister b, you must have been thinking of da tara? :D

Sounds pretty common sense to me -

<<Zito is hesitant to run Ice Box in two weeks because the colt ran so hard in the Kentucky Derby and he wants to have a horse to run in the big races the remainder of the year.

"He's a Pulpit and you worry about his mind,'' Zito said. "We ran twice as hard as the winner. He ran his guts out. I got to focus on the whole year. He could be a serious 3-year-old.''>>

There are hundreds of trainers out there. Two out of fifteen (13%) is a pretty good percentage. I'm not saying you're wrong or right. I'm just throwing that out there. A guy wins two Kentucky Derbys in a decade and a half and he's a lock for the Hall, isn't he?

Ice Box will pass Pimlico; JaxBend decision Monday..
 

ELMONT, N.Y. – Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito announced Wednesday afternoon that Robert V. LaPenta’s Ice Box, runner-up in the Kentucky Derby, will skip the May 15 Preakness and await a possible start in the 142nd running of the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park on June 5.

“After talking to Mr. LaPenta, we concurred Ice Box’s race was tremendous, but we also knew that it was a tough race,” Zito said in a statement regarding the Grade 1 Florida Derby winner. “We feel we are better suited to wait and pass the Preakness and possibly go on to the Belmont, and hopefully things work out.”

Zito said a Preakness decision for Jackson Bend, who was 12th in the Derby, would be forthcoming

“Also, Jackson Bend, we have more evaluation to do, and will make a decision for the Preakness on Monday on his status as well,” said Zito of the colt, who is owned by LaPenta and Fred Brei.

It's seems I recall an interview with Zito on television a couple years ago when he said he treasures The Belmont more then any other race.

Am I wrong?

Zito is making the right move with Ice Box. He will win the Belmont handily if he is 100%

Absolutely

Don't know if Ice Box will get the same pace scenerio

Belmont doesn't seem to be a race for closers but maybe it won't matter

I think it is more about fresh legs for Zito. Also wouldn't at all be suprised if he puts a rabbit in the race.

2nd race in a row he didn't change leads. :(

i agree, ice boxes running style wins way less races(including the belmont) than say, super savers. he kind of reminds me of mine that bird....its all go to fall into place or hes just a board hitting horse. i love how people still believe the myth that hes going to close better because its a a mile and a half.........i've been hearing that one since brians time in 1988 and he got second. the only years these horses win is if theres a contested pace, which is not a given. his chances of winning the belmont go up if super saver wins again because then there will be a full court press on the lead. this is what did smarty jones and big brown in.