Horse Racing: Nick Zito Does It Again As Da' Tara Upsets Big Brown

Midway through the afternoon, approximately three hours before race time, I heard an interview with trainer Nick Zito on ESPN. He noted that one of his two horses in the Belmont field, Da' Tara, would get out quick early.

Zito was on the money with that prediction. Not only did he get out fast, however, he won the Belmont Stakes wire-to-wire, leaving Ken Desormeaux and Big Brown in the dust.

Although Zito admitted it was almost a forgone conclusion that Big Brown would capture the Triple Crown, he stated, "that's why we run the race." His projections of the race couldn't have been more true.

At 38-1, it seemed almost impossible that Da' Tara would keep up his pace, but when several horses closed on him down the stretch, Da' Tara threw his hind legs into overdrive and raced away from the field.

The 140th Belmont Stakes were owned by Zito, as his horses finished first and third, respectively.

It isn't the first time, however, that the genius trainer Zito has shocked the world. His horse, Birdstone, captured the Belmont as a 36-1 underdog to ruin Smarty Jones' chances of winning the elusive Triple Crown.

Going back through the tape, it remains a mystery why Big Brown never made his charge to the lead. Desormeaux tried to coax his way up into the lead, but Big Brown bobbed his head and didn't rifle it up a gear.

In the most hyped horse race in years, Big Brown came up miniature. After all of trainer Rick Dutrow's outlandish comments, his horse was defeated by Da' Tara, whom had previously run against Big Brown. That race for Da' Tara was not as successful, losing to Big Brown by 23 1/2 lengths.

For Zito, you could see the joy exuded from his body. Not only had he placed third, but his underdog status had created a legend once again. From a 22-year-old jockey, to a much more experienced trainer, the 38-1 line served no truth.

As stated by commentators on ABC, this race shows a prime example of why the Triple Crown is so incredibly tough to capture. Whether it was the quarter-crack, the temperature, or any other outside factor, we will find out shortly, but for now it is Da' Tara's time.