If you're one of the fans who arrives at Saturday's 142nd Belmont Stakes through the clubhouse entrance at Belmont Park, turn to the left and pause for a moment before "Woody's Corner."
Woodford Cefis Stephens, who died in 1998 at 84, was one of the legendary horsemen of all-time, training scores of top horses and winning more than 100 Grade 1 stakes. "Woody's Corner" celebrates his singular achievement: winning the Belmont Stakes five years in a row, from 1982-1986. The trophies for Conquistador Cielo, Caveat, Swale, Creme Fraiche and Danzig Connection are encased in the Corner, below a portrait of Woody astride his pony.
Now, there's a new "Mr. Belmont" in town, Nicholas P. Zito, who Saturday saddles 3-1 favorite Ice Box and 9-2 third choice Fly Down in the mile-and-a-half "Test of the Champion." They are Zito's 23rd and 24th starters in the final jewel of the Triple Crown, a record for one trainer, dating back to his first Belmont runner, Morning Bob in 1984.
And therein lies a mystic connection; because before Zito sent out Morning Bob to finish third behind Swale, the colt was trained by Woody himself.
"I've got a long way to fill his shoes," said Zito, who's won the Belmont twice, with six seconds and three thirds. "I was in awe of Woody, like everybody else. I loved his training methods, and I think he was way ahead of his time. To win five Belmonts in a row going a mile-and-a-half, you must know something.
"Woody, Allen Jerkens, Frank Whiteley, Charlie Whittingham, there's only a few in that category. You're talking about the absolute best. I've got a long way to go to even come near that. But getting the third one would be nice."
Zito, like the icons he named, a Hall of Famer himself, has won many major races, including the Kentucky Derby twice, the Preakness and the Travers. But the Belmont holds a special place in his heart.
"Obviously, for a lot of reasons," he said. "We're from New York, and the Belmont is still a classic race. It's tremendous to be in that situation, and I'm grateful to have two good horses that have a chance."
Both of Zito's Belmont victories, with 36-1 Birdstone in 2004 and 38-1 Da' Tara in 2008, came at the expense of horses going for the Triple Crown, Smarty Jones and Big Brown, respectively.
Was part of Zito rooting for Derby winner Super Saver to win the Preakness, so he could ambush another Triple Crown hopeful at "Big Sandy"?
"Absolutely," he said. "No. 1, Todd (Pletcher, Super Saver's trainer) is from Dallas, and I don't think he knows much about pizza. It would have been an unbelievable story, because I knew I was going to have a horse in the Belmont. I'm sure (the other trainers in the race) feel the same way. They would like to be the spoiler.
"And it would be great for racing to see the Triple Crown. But it didn't happen."
Not only is there no Triple Crown bid for the fifth time in six years — from 1997-2004, there were six! — but Super Saver and Preakness winner Lookin At Lucky are AWOL from the Belmont.
"You need the Derby or the Preakness winner (to promote the Belmont)," Zito said. "But you still got some horses that won some big races.
"You have the Blue Grass winner in there, this winner, that winner, the horse that ran second in the Preakness. There's a lot that's hidden. Drosselmeyer at one time was Winstar's best horse, over Super Saver."
Last year, Summer Bird catapulted from obscurity with a Belmont victory en route to the three-year-old championship. Might we see another champ in Saturday's race?
"I sure hope so," Zito said. "And I hope it's from this barn."
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