Jackson Bend aiming for Kelso, Dirt Mile

Nick Zito was still aglow Sunday morning over JACKSON BEND's (Hear No Evil)

victory in Saturday's Forego S. (G1), which, coupled with his win in the James

Marvin S. on opening day, provided the Hall of Fame trainer a neat bookend for

the meet.

"This is, by far, the toughest meet anywhere," said Zito, who through

Saturday was 4-1-4 from 41 starters. "That's why it's a cool thing to win the

Forego, and it's big.

"It picked everyone's heads up around the barn. This is the number one meet

in the country, and the whole nucleus is so competitive. There are so many good

trainers here, nothing else comes remotely close. Not everyone is blessed with a

horse like Jackson Bend."

Jackson Bend, who is owned by Robert LaPenta, most likely will make his next

start in the one-mile Kelso (G2) at Belmont Park on Super Saturday, October 1,

as he targets the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) a month later at Churchill Downs.

"If I'm thinking of the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, I want to run in the Kelso,"

said Zito. "The Vosburgh (G1) is six furlongs, and he'd be at a disadvantage

going three-quarters, and then what? The Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1)? He's not a

big horse. What is he going to do, weave through the field? We're going to stick

with the original plan."