Photo credit: Adam Coglianese
Dialed In, the top Kentucky Derby contender under Trainer Nick Zito, has everything going for him in the lead up to Saturday’s race. Dialed In drew the #8 post near the much-coveted center of the field. And he’s currently the handicappers’ favorite, currently at 4-1 odds in the final days before the Derby.
Dialed In is an exciting horse to watch with his come-from-behind style, which has served more than a few Derby winners well in past years. Here’s a glimpse into the life of the 2011 Kentucky Derby favorite Dialed In.
Dialed In’s Bloodlines
Many factors go into the makings of a great racehorse, and for many genetics is where it starts. Dialed in was bred in Kentucky at Skara Glen Farms, and bought by trainer Nick Zito for Robert LaPenta.
Dialed In has some impressive bloodlines, particularly through his sire Mineshaft. Here are some of the notable successes in Dialed In’s pedigree:
- Mineshaft: won four Grade 1 stakes races as a 4-year old and was named 2003 Horse of the Year
- Miss Doolittle: produced five winners, including sprinter Hometown
- Prospector’s Delight: multiple Grade 1 stakes winner, produced five winners all with at least $100,000 each in earnings
- Stormcat: leading broodmare sire by earnings
- Eliza: named 2-year-old Filly of the Year, produced eight winners.
You can learn more about the successes in Dialed In’s pedigree from Horse Racing Nation.
Dialed In Running Style
A horse that can close, falling behind the field at the start and then catching up and winning, is one of the most exciting to watch. Dialed in is one of those horses that starts slow but makes up lost ground quickly in the homestretch. Watch his big wins in the Holy Bull Stakes and Florida Derby earlier this year.
He has won three of his four starts, and his only loss was a close 2nd in an allowance race against older horses. Dialed In has yet to run at the Derby distance of 1 ¼ miles, but he did win pulling away in the slightly shorter Florida Derby.
The Team Behind Dialed In
Dialed In is trained by Team SUCCEED member Nick Zito, a man who needs no introduction among track enthusiasts around the world. One of only 17 trainers in history to saddle two or more Kentucky Derby winners, Zito has earned the title “Racing Legend” through hard work, perseverance and dedication to the needs of his horses. He was elected to the Racing Hall of Fame in 2005, and was recognized for running 5 horses in the Derby that year, a full quarter of the field. Zito’s charge Ice Box came in second in last year’s Derby.
Jockey Julien Leparoux has ridden Dialed In in all four starts and will be up again for the Derby on Saturday. He has ridden in over 7,200 races and has 1,391 wins and total earnings over $70 million. Julien also won the 2006 Eclipse award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey.
Finally, Dialed In is owned by Robert LaPenta, CEO of L-1 Identity Solutions. He also owned Ice Box who won last year’s Florida Derby and ran second in the Kentucky Derby. And his long-shot Da’ Tara is the horse who won the 2008 Belmont Stakes, ending Big Brown’s Triple Crown streak.
Dialed In’s Digestive Supplement
Nick Zito keeps all of his horses, including Dialed In, on SUCCEED® to promote their overall digestive health.
The respected veteran always keeps an open mind about ways to help his horses maintain optimum health during the grueling training and racing campaigns that make them winners.
“Some of it’s very simple. Horses do better when they feel good,” Zito said. “Attitude is a critical part of what it takes to be a winning race horse. When horses are in pain and they don’t feel well, their attitude suffers. Thoroughbred race horses are under a lot of stress and they have digestive problems … There’s no doubt it affects their performance.”
Soon we’ll know if Dialed In has what it takes – in pedigree, people, health, and of course a little bit of luck – to be the next great Kentucky Derby winner. Be sure to tune in when 20 of the best 3-year-old thoroughbreds step up to the post at 6:24 pm on Saturday.
