WASHINGTON, 7 May 2005 — Bellamy Road can cap a phenomenal spring season today though he must battle some hard-to-ignore race history and 19 other horses in the Kentucky Derby.
Despite looking unbeatable in his last two starts, the Nick Zito-trained colt has only been to the starting gate twice as a 3-year-old and the last time a horse won the Kentucky Derby with those credentials was Sunny’s Halo in 1983. Prior to that, Jet Pilot managed the feat in 1947. With Javier Castellano in the saddle, Bellamy Road looks like he could be ready to join that select group. He won an allowance race by 15 lengths in March before romping to a 17 1?2-length victory in the Wood Memorial last month.
If he runs anywhere near his recent form, the dark bay horse should have little problem in the 1 1?4-mile Derby. The only possible roadblock, however, could be the size of the field at Churchill Downs.
The Louisville, Kentucky track will have the maximum 20-horse field for the race and Bellamy Road has not been in traffic this year. In fact, he has had the lead in his last four races. Bellamy Road, owned by New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, will break from the 16th post and could need a smooth run to win the race.
Zito is not complaining.
“I like the fact that Bellamy Road will get the chance to run (in the clear),” Zito said. Arkansas Derby winner Afleet Alex should have a lot of support from the bettors, as will Bandini, who loves to stalk the field and wait for the stretch run. Afleet Alex’s trainer, Pittsburgh native Tim Ritchey, picked second for the post position and selected the 12 slot.
“It is a good spot for this horse,” he said. “Fifteen would have been the first choice... But 12 has always been a lucky number for anybody associated with the city of Pittsburgh — (quarterback) Terry Bradshaw, four Super Bowls, so I went with luck.”
The early line has Bellamy Road a 5-2 choice, followed by Afleet Alex at 9-2 and Bandini at 6-1. Zito will have a record-tying five horses in the field. In addition to Bellamy Road, he will saddle Florida Derby winner High Fly (8-1 odds) the dangerous Noble Causeway (12-1), Sun King (15-1), and Andromeda’s Hero (50-1). Choosing 10th in the draw, Zito placed Bellamy Road in the No. 16 post.
