Dialed In finds the wire in time in Florida Derby

Instead, To Honor and Serve (Bernardini) flashed speed into the first turn,

only to defer to the hustling Shackleford. Carving out honest splits of :23 1/5,

:46 1/5 and 1:10 3/5, Shackleford was prompted by To Honor and Serve, while

Flashpoint was forwardly placed in third. Arch Traveler (Sky Mesa) raced in

fourth through the opening half-mile, followed by Soldat, Gotham S. (G3) winner

Stay Thirsty (Bernardini) and Bowman's Causeway (Giant's Causeway), and Dialed In,

the 5-2 second choice, was reserved in

his favorite spot, last of all.

"We drew a line in his last race. We had no excuse for it. He came back and

showed us he's better than his last race showed. He just dug back in and

galloped out real strong. He's doing everything right."

Another 6 3/4 lengths adrift in third was To Honor and Serve.

Flashpoint checked in fourth, 2 1/4 lengths clear of Soldat, who outfinished

Arch Traveler by a nose for fifth. After another 6 1/4-length gap came Stay

Thirsty, and Bowman's Causeway was eased.

Soldat's worst career effort left trainer Kiaran McLaughlin at a loss.

"(Jockey Alan Garcia) said he just didn't fire his 'A' race today,"

McLaughlin said. "He didn't have much horse when he pulled him out. He took a

lot of dirt, but you're going to have to take dirt, so we'll regroup and look

him over."

Dialed In had first stamped himself as a major-league talent when winning his

debut at Churchill Downs last November. Overcoming a slew of rookie mistakes, he

rallied furiously to prevail by a half-length in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden. He will

now return there as a major contender for the 137th Run for the Roses, with a

sparkling 4-3-1-0 mark and $879,206 in his bankroll.

"I've been around long enough to know how special he is with just four races

-- from one 6 1/2-furlong maiden race as a two-year-old," Zito said.

"I think his last race really helped him today," Leparoux said. "I loved his

last race. It was a very good learning race. He learned to run between horses

and take dirt in his face and it all paid off today."

Zito took a similar view of the colt's only loss.

"Even when he got beat by Equestrio, a good four-year-old, it was like a

Grade 3 race," Zito said. "And then today to beat horses that have won races

like the Remsen (G2) (To Honor and Serve) and Fountain of Youth, you just can't

do what he's done."

Bred by W.S. Farish, Madeleine Pickens and Skara Glen Stables in Kentucky,

Dialed In was purchased by LaPenta's Whitehorse Stables for $475,000 as a Fasig-Tipton

Saratoga yearling. He is out of the Grade 2-placed Miss Doolittle (Storm Cat),

whose other offspring include stakes winner Broadway Gold (Seeking the Gold),

the stakes-placed Mambo Master (Kingmambo), an unnamed juvenile colt by

Ghostzapper and a newborn filly by Curlin.

Miss Doolittle is herself a half-sister to current Irish stakes hero Samuel

Morse (Danehill Dancer), runner-up in last year's Railway S. (Ire-G2) and

Anglesey S. (Ire-G3) and third in the Futurity S. (Ire-G2). Miss Doolittle is

herself a daughter of Eliza (Mt. Livermore), the champion two-year-old filly of

1992 who went on to finish second in the 1993 Kentucky Oaks (G1). This is also

the family of 1991 Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner, Dinard (Strawberry Road

[Aus]), and more recently, Run It (Cherokee Run), hero of the 2010 Berkeley S.

(G3), and Spacy Tracy (Awesome Again), who captured last November's Top Flight

H. (G2).

Zito and LaPenta were teaming up to win the Florida Derby for the second

straight year, having connected with Ice Box (Pulpit) here in 2010.

They are the first owner/trainer tandem to score back-to-back wins in the

Florida Derby since Calumet Farm and Jimmy Jones won with Gen. Duke and Tim Tam

in 1957-58. The highly-touted Gen. Duke was scratched with a foot injury on the

morning of the 1957 Kentucky Derby, but Tim Tam won the Roses in 1958.

Could another tale of two stablemates unfold in 2011? Ice Box finished a

hard-charging second in the 2010 Run for the Roses, and Dialed In will try to go

one better.

"We've been to the (Kentucky) Derby several times," LaPenta said, "and look

forward to doing it again. We almost won it with Ice Box, but it does feel

special to finish second."