That role belonged to Uncle Mo until the colt finished a stunning third in the Wood Memorial, the first loss of his career and one that turned the Derby into a wide-open race.
"That's what happens in our business," Zito said. "As soon as you fall off, there are not that many people there. His race wasn't that bad in the Wood. He's still the 2-year-old champion, and you've got to give him respect."
Dialed In didn't exactly dominate his final tune-up, either. He edged Shackleford by a head to win last month's Florida Derby, making him 3 for 4.
"He's still the only horse who's won two major races," Zito said, noting that Dialed In's first win of the year came in the Holy Bull Stakes.
"Right now, this is a great horse," owner Robert LaPenta said after the Florida Derby.
And Dialed In has experience at Churchill Downs, where he won his first career start by a half-length in November.
On Sept. 11, 2001, LaPenta approached Zito at a horse sale asking how they could get into business together. By then, LaPenta had been in racing for three years as a partner of Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino.
As passionate and outspoken as Zito can be, LaPenta is just the opposite, which makes him a good client.
"He stays completely out of the training of the horses," Zito said. "Most of my owners do the same, but I think because he buys a lot of horses, you really can't overmanage because then you probably get sidetracked."
Zito and LaPenta are 0 for 4 in their previous attempts to win the Derby together. They came closest with Ice Box last year. The Cliff's Edge finished fifth in 2004, Andromeda's Hero was eighth in 2005, and Cool Coal Man was 15th in 2008.
