Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito reflects on an amazing 17½-length romp in New York’s senior Kentucky Derby prep
Two decades ago, Bellamy Road cruised to an incredible 17½-length victory in the Wood Memorial, undoubtedly one of the best performances in the historic race that celebrates its 100th running on Saturday [April 5] at Aqueduct Racetrack.
The Wood has long since been a major prep for the Kentucky Derby, even if the $750,000 contest is now a G2 event, having still been a G1 contest in Bellamy Road’s day.
What is more, in 2005 there were high hopes for Bellamy Road to make the ’Run for the Roses’ – and he responded with true brilliance at the Big A.
“This was one of the biggest wins of my life,” said his Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito. “As far as performances go, I can’t remember better. Commentator was good, War Pass was great in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, but this has got to stand out as one of the great performances of all-time, no questions in my mind.”
Bellamy Road was campaigned by Kinsman Stable, the nom de course of the late George Steinbrenner III, owner of the New York Yankees.
Well regarded
The dark bay colt was well regarded but lightly raced entering the Wood Memorial, having made one start for Zito and as a three-year-old, a 15¾-length allowance romp going one mile at Gulfstream Park.
He had a three-start juvenile campaign for conditioner Michael Dickinson that included a G3 Cradle win at River Downs.
The 2005 Wood Memorial field included Gotham Stakes winner Survivalist, dual graded stakes-placed Galloping Grocer, the graded stakes-placed pair of Naughty New Yorker and Going Wild, as well as stakes-winners Scrappy T and Pavo.
“You hear a lot of this stuff, but he worked at Churchill Downs before the race and one of the clockers, John Nichols, told me that he had never seen a horse breeze that good. I think it was 46 and change, but the rider was just sitting chilly,” Zito recalled. “I’ve got to tell you, he ran back to that and I was so happy.”
Piloted by Javier Castellano, Bellamy Road exited post twoand went to the lead as D. Wayne Lukas-trained joint favorite Going Wild took second position a length and a half back through an opening quarter-mile in 23.13s on the fast dirt.
Bellamy Road was a half-length in front of Scrappy T through a half-mile in 46.08, extending to 2½ lengths rounding the far turn with little movement from future Hall of Famer Castellano as three-quarter-miles elapsed in a blistering 1:09.84.
Cruise control
“When Javier placed him where he placed him, you knew he was just going to go on and do business,” Zito said. “When he hit three quarters in 1:09, I couldn’t believe the cruise control he was in. I said, ’What is going on here?’”
Bellamy Road was by himself at the top of lane, widening his gap effortlessly with every stride to hold a 10-length advantage over Scrappy T at the eighth pole and a large margin back to the rallying Survivalist in third position.
“They’re coming into the final furlong, and this is a dazzling performance by a dazzling three-year-old,” exclaimed track announcer Tom Durkin. “Bellamy Road, he’s turning the Wood Memorial into an absolute runaway! He’ll just cruise home here!”
Monstrous lead
The race was wrapped up as Bellamy Road held a monstrous lead through one mile in 1:34.41, drawing off to his eye-catching 17½-length victory over Survivalist in a final time of 1:47.16, equaling the track record set by Hall of Famer Riva Ridge in 1973 that stands to this day.
“This was so special to me because Mr. Steinbrenner owned him,” said Zito, who had won the Wood previously with Thirty Six Red (1990) and Adonis (1999).
“He had some great children, his daughters are still alive, my good friend Hank passed away, his other son Hal is a principal owner of the Yankees, and his daughter Jessica put him on the phone with me after the race.
“He was absolutely bawling, crying, George Steinbrenner. To me, that was pretty special.
“We talked about how he won,” Zito went on. “Mr. Steinbrenner was a historian, too, he knew about great things and he saw something great happen. Let’s face it, his horse won a Grade 1 race by that much, you can imagine. It was just one of the great performances of all time.”
Bear in mind that even with the impressive time that registered a 120 Beyer speed figure, Castellano was far from trying to pour it on late. He can be seen celebrating with around a sixteenth remaining; the Equibase chart denotes that Bellamy Road won, “with something left”.
“The funny thing about it was that a lot of people were saying, ’What is he doing?’ He was waving to the crowd,” Zito said, with a laugh. “That was unbelievable. That was special.”
Bellamy Road was favored in the Kentucky Derby, where he took a narrow lead at the top of the lane before weakening to seventh behind 50-1 upset winner Giacomo. Bellamy Road popped a splint in defeat and didn’t return to the starting gate until a courageous, pacesetting second to Flower Alley in the 2005 Travers Stakes at Saratoga.
“He actually got jostled around in the Derby and got hurt in that race, but almost came back with one of the most amazing things: I ran him next in the Travers and he was second,” said Zito.
The Travers was Bellamy Road’s final start before entering stud and siring G1 winners including 2011 Wood Memorial victor Toby’s Corner, dual top-level winning New York-bred Diversify, and Constellation.
Today, Bellamy Road enjoys retirement at Old Friends Farm in Georgetown, Kentucky, whose Kentucky Derby-winning residents include Big Brown, I’ll Have Another and Silver Charm.
“In my opinion, when you look at the horses that have won the Wood Memorial, it has to be one of the great races of all time,” said Zito.
“I’m a traditionalist. I love tradition, and for races to survive, you better remember what happened years ago. The Wood Memorial is a great race.”
• Visit the NYRA Aqueduct website
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