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Zito's Fierce Wind Blows Away Field At Sam F. Davis

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By BART O'CONNELL, Tribune correspondent

Published: February 17, 2008

OLDSMAR - With a Tiffany trophy box in his left hand, Tim Poole reached into his right pocket, pulled out a cell phone and saw it was "the bossman," trainer Nick Zito, calling.

Poole, Zito's assistant, offered congratulations on one of what's expected to be a few more wins along the Kentucky Derby trail.

Fierce Wind, ridden by Cornelio Velasquez and owned by Four Roses Thoroughbreds, surged past fading favorite Z Humor to win the $200,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes before a crowd of 6,168 Saturday afternoon at Tampa Bay Downs. The win paid $8.80, $4.60 and $3.30. Late running Big Truck was second and Smooth Air was third. Z Humor was fifth.

"He was the best horse today and keeps improving," Poole told Zito on the phone.

The race was one of three stakes on the TBD card. The Grade III $150,000 Endeavour Breeders' Cup was won by Dreaming of Anna, also ridden by Velasquez, in a photo finish against 6-5 favorite Lear's Princess. And Vaulcluse, trained by Tom Albertrani and ridden by Eibar Coa, won the $75,000 Suncoast in a mile and 40 yards track record of 1 minute, 39.36 seconds.

Fierce Wind, which shipped up from Palm Meadows on Friday, handed the two-turn, 1 1/16 -mile distance perfectly in his first stakes start. Settling in behind the early speed of local stakes winner Honey Honey Honey, he found a comfortable spot on the outside where Velasquez positioned him for a late charge.

"I think he was waiting for the other horses," Velasquez said of Fierce Wind. "When the other horses tried to pass us, my horse responded like a big horse."

Poole was unsure of Zito's plans for Fierce Wind, but they may now include a return trip to TBD for the Tampa Bay Derby. Zito has been planning to run Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner War Pass in that race all winter. That could make for an interesting matchup of same-trainer entries if it happens.

But it was clear Saturday's victory against such a deep field should only elevate Fierce Wind's chances as a Kentucky Derby contender.

"This is that time of year when they all start coming out of the woodwork - start to separate the men from the boys," Poole said. "This is one of those steppingstones, and he took a step in the right direction today."

Zito and Todd Pletcher have combined to win the past four Sam F. Davis Stakes.

Dreaming of Anna's thrilling win in the talent-laden Endeavour was a bit unsettling for trainer Wayne Catalano and owner Frank C. Calabrese. The 2006 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies champ led throughout but appeared to be caught by Lear's Princess at the wire. Instant replays showed a head bob up by Lear's Princess, however, was the difference.

Dreaming of Anna may come back for the Grade III Hillsborough Stakes on Tampa Bay Derby day, Calabrese said, but her ultimate target is another race in the Breeders' Cup later this year.

"That was about what we expected, just hoping it wasn't that close. But that's horse racing," Catalano said. "They just don't give you these kinds of races. You've got to earn them."

The race quality was evident in the all-source, co-mingled handle, which was the fourth-largest in TBD history ($7,277,007).

Gold And Roses Wins Hollie Hughes Handicap

NEW YORK - Gold and Roses rallied for a half-length victory over heavily favored Whistlin' in the $81,325 Hollie Hughes Handicap at Aqueduct.

Rajiv Maragh was aboard the 6-year-old gelding, who won for the 10th time in 34 starts for trainer Tom Bush. The winner covered the six furlongs in 1:10.82 on a fast track in the race for New York breds.

Gold and Roses paid $7.90, $2.80 and $2.70.

GULFSTREAM PARK: Why Tonto edged Cowboy Cal by 1 1/2 lengths in the $77,000 Hallandale Beach Stakes.

Ridden by Edgar Prado, Why Tonto ran 1 1-16 miles in 1:40.20 and paid $13.40, $4.20, and $2.80.

Information from Tribune wires was used in this report.

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