Fustok Takes Buckram Oak Horses From Zito

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Mahmoud Fustok's Buckram Oak horses in trainer Nick Zito's care have been relocated to other conditioners. The horses left Zito's barn, stayed briefly at Fustok's Buckram Oak Farm near Lexington, and have since been distributed to other trainers. Neither racing manager Mohammed Moubarak nor farm manager Michael Albina would elaborate.

The two most prominent Buckram Oak runners, Eurosilver and Silver Wagon (trained by Ralph Ziadie), are not currently in training. Eurosilver is at a rehabilitation center in Central Kentucky, and Silver Wagon is at Buckram Oak recuperating. He should return to training in about a month.

Zito said he received hand-delivered letter informing him that, although they regretted the decision, they have decided to move their horses elsewhere.

"It hurt at first, but what can you do? It's part of the game," Zito said. "They said they wanted to remain friends and I'm OK with that. I'm not taking it personally."

Zito won major stakes last year with Buckram Oak's Eurosilver, who captured the Breeders' Futurity, and Najran, winner of the Phoenix Breeders' Cup (gr. II) and Westchester Handicap (gr. III), equaling Dr. Fager's world-record mile on dirt of 1:32 1/5.

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