by Kimberly French, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Kimberly French

Louisville, KY — He left his barn after an extremely successful six month sojourn in 2010, but conditioner Dylan Davis did confess he had some minor misgivings about 9-year-old Delivered From Zin’s return last month.

“I wanted him back because he is a great horse,” explained the Viola, Del., resident. “But I did have mixed feelings because he’s not the soundest horse. I was worried about his lameness issues, too.”

After perusing his racelines, it would be hard to believe the altered son of Sealed N Delivered-Zinful had any physical problems. Unbeaten since a loss in a $20,000 claiming contest at Pocono Downs on October 15, 2011, Delivered From Zin tripped the timer first in a $23,000 Open Pace at Dover Downs on Jan. 9 to record his eighth straight victory and second win since rejoining Davis after being claimed for $29,000 by Howard Taylor on Dec. 11, 2011, at Harrah’s Chester.

Since departing Davis’ contingent on August 29, 2010, the gelding has resided in the shedrows of Lou Pena, Josh Green, Christie Collins, Tony Alagna, Andy Santeramo, Nicholas Surick, Chris Oakes and Daniel Taylor and has performed with Pat Berry, Dave Palone, Matt Kakaley, Joe Pavia, Jr., Jim Pantaleono, Rod Allen, George Brennan, Andy Santeramo, Brandon Simpson, Ron Pierce and George Napolitano, Jr. in the bike at Harrah’s Chester, Pocono Downs, Pompano Park and the Meadowlands.

Fotowon photo

Delivered From Zin ran his winning streak to eight with a 1:51.4 score on Jan. 9 at Dover Downs.

During his career Delivered From Zin has paced 100 pari-mutuel miles with 47 triumphs, nine second place finishes and six thirds and purse earnings of $429,254. He paced his lifetime mark of 1:48.4f, which is a track record at Pompano Park, at age eight with the bulk of his starts during his 6-, 7- and 8-year-old campaigns.

“He has some soft tissue trouble,” said Davis, who has earned more than $10.2 million as a trainer since 1996. “His feet and ankles bug him. He’s not very sound at all and never trains. All he does is swim every day.”

Since the gelding is troubled by various physical infirmities, he does require some extra attention.

“He gets a lot of cold water therapy and he is in Epsom Salts all the time,” Davis said. “He takes a lot of work and his groom definitely earns her money. That’s for sure. She spends a lot of time with him.”

Although there are occasions where he certainly races through pain, Delivered From Zin doesn’t really allow the problems with his body to affect his attitude.

“He’s got his issues, but all he wants to do is win,” his trainer said. “It doesn’t matter what kind of trip he has. I think he guts it out more times than not, but he doesn’t care whether he’s in the front or the back because he doesn’t stop until he gets there. If he’s racing he’s going to win. The horse makes me sound confident, but he does all the work.”

The horse is high-spirited, but not in a bad way. He also can be a bit difficult to guide around the track, but Davis thinks this occurs much more frequently when he doesn’t feel quite up to top form.

“He has a really good personality,” he said. “He is a little on the ornery side. He’ll bite and kick at you, but he doesn’t mean to hurt anybody; he’s just playing. He’s really a happy horse.

“He doesn’t steer the straightest,” the 34-year-old continued. “He’ll run in on the turns and out on the straightaways. He sees things on the track that aren’t actually there, but I always seem to have more trouble with him in that way when he is a little sorer than normal. When he gets to hurting, I think he is just trying to find an excuse.”

What is in store for Delivered From Zin’s future depends entirely on what he would like to do.

“He will stay here at Dover for most of the meet,” Davis said. “I don’t make plans for him. I let him tell me what he wants, which is the same as I did before when I had him in the past. It all depends on how he comes out of the race and whether Corey (Callahan) thinks he was a little sorer this week or a little sounder. He always lets us know and tells us what he wants.

“His winning streak doesn’t bother me at all,” he continued. “He went through that with me before after I claimed him for $20,000 and I didn’t have much to do with this streak he is on right now. I was just fortunate to get the last two with him.”