NEW YORK — When Nick Zito walks toward his barn, he passes five signs noting his victories in Triple Crown races: Two Kentucky Derbys, one Preakness, two Belmont Stakes.

"I like the classics," the Hall of Fame trainer said Friday. "I don't train too many fillies. Not too many sprinters or grass horses. I'm looking for horses who can make the classics."

With that simple strategy, Zito has carved out a Hall of Fame career, and he's hoping to add another $1 million Belmont score to his resume in Saturday's final leg of the Triple Crown.

Zito sends out two of the three favorites — Ice Box and Fly Down — in a field of 12 3-year-olds that does not include Derby winner Super Saver and Preakness winner Lookin At Lucky.

No matter who's in the field, though, Zito insists the race is "one of the most historic in the world."

Ice Box, the Florida Derby winner who staged a tremendous rally to finish second in the Derby, is the 3-1 morning-line choice. Fly Down, a lightly raced colt who blew away the field by six lengths in winning the Dwyer last month, is the 9-2 third choice.

The big question is how horses will handle the Belmont distance, a 1Z\x-mile lap around Belmont Park in the longest of the Triple Crown races.

"It's a tricky kind of race," Zito said. "Our horses are fine with the distance, we just want to see if they kick in. You have to fire at the right time, too."

First Dude poses a huge threat as the 7-2 second choice. Probably the biggest horse in the field — he stands 17 hands tall — the colt trained by Dale Romans is coming off a gallant runner-up effort in the Preakness.

First Dude, along with Game on Dude and Uptowncharlybrown, are candidates to set the early pace, while Zito's colts have a similar come-from-behind style.

A hot and muggy day is forecast, with temperatures in the mid-80s and a 50 percent chance of thunderstorms.

The New York Racing Association is hoping for a crowd approaching last year's 52,000, which showed up for Summer Bird's win without a Triple Crown on the line.