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Contessa on Rydilluc: He's One Bad Hombre

"If horses could talk, what a job this would be," said one Gary Contessa, enjoying a bountiful breakfast at Keeneland. "I'd ask that sunofagun right now, 'Do you like that track as much as you like the grass?"

Blue Grass Stakes: Gary Contessa

Trainer Gary Contessa discusses Blue Grass Stakes contender Rydilluc.

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Uncaptured Favored in 14-Horse Blue Grass

It was a crowded scene at the April 10 post-position draw for the $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I), as the connections crossed their fingers and hoped for good post positions.

Blue Grass Contenders Tune Up in Kentucky

Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) contenders Rydilluc, Uncaptured, Undrafted, and Dewey Square all turned in pre-race works April 5 at Keeneland. Also working were Dynamic Sky at Churchill and Fear the Kitten at Trackside.

Contessa Mulls Options After Rydilluc Cruises

Watching his Rydilluc dominate a group of 3-year-old turf runners in his stakes debut in the $150,000 Palm Beach (gr. IIIT) March 3 at Gulfstream Park, trainer Gary Contessa may have come to a conclusion.

Contessa Nails Down Career Win 2,000

New York-based trainer Gary Contessa secured the 2,000th victory of his career Feb. 7 when Al's Rosie prevailed in a maiden claiming race for fillies at Aqueduct.

Migliore to Host NYRA's New Owners Luncheon

Retired jockey Richard Migliore will host the New York Racing Association's eighth "New Owners Luncheon" at Aqueduct Racetrack Dec. 16.

Neck 'n Neck, Five Sixteen Work for Travers

Trainer Ian Wilkes declared Neck 'n Neck ready for the Aug. 25 Travers Stakes (gr. I) after the Jim Dandy (gr. II) runner-up breezed five furlongs in 1:00.09 at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 20 in New York.

NYRA Schedules 'Spirit of Giving' Weekend

The New York Racing Association, Inc.'s annual "Spirit of Giving" weekend is scheduled for Dec. 4-5 at Aqueduct Racetrack, featuring the United States Marine Corps Toys for Tots campaign and the "Stocking Stuffer" promotion.

Grand Rapport Just Super in Kent Stakes Win

Favored Grand Rapport charged home on the outside for jockey Ramon Dominguez to collar Workin for Hops in the final few strides, registering his first stakes victory in the $250,000 Kent Stakes (gr. IIIT) Sept. 25.

Whatsthescript Runs Big in Return Race

Grade II winner Whatsthescript, who stood the first part of the year at Tom and Debi Stull's Tommy Town Thoroughbreds near Santa Ynez, Calif., finished third in the July 10 Battlefield Stakes at Monmouth Park.

Eightyfiveinafifty Targeting Woody Stephens

The speedy Eightyfiveinafifty had his first work since a fourth-place finish in the Derby Trial (gr. III) in the mud at Churchill Downs, covering a half-mile in :47.06 May 8 over the main track at Aqueduct.

Derby Trial Has Added Significance This Year

A pair of Derby Trial (gr. III) starters could go on to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) with a win in the April 24 race at Churchill Downs.

Eightyfiveinafifty Gets Back on Track

Eightyfiveinafifty made a winning return in the seven-furlong Bay Shore Stakes (gr. III) and cruised to a 2 1/2-length victory under Ramon Dominguez in the $200,000 event.

Eightyfiveinafifty Mending Well

Eightyfiveinafifty should be able to return to training in a week after receiving 14 stitches to repair a cut suffered during his premature departure from the racetrack during the running of the Feb. 6 Whirlaway

Eightyfiveinafifty Gets a Chance at Two Turns

There is no disputing the fact that Eightyfiveinafifty is fast, but the colt will get a chance to show how far he can carry his speed when he faces five 3-year-olds in the $100,000 Whirlaway Stakes Feb. 6 at Aqueduct.

Contessa Excited About Derby Prospect

Recent maiden winner Eightyfiveinafifty has Gary Contessa talking Kentucky Derby (gr. I).

Banner Year Comes to an End For Dominguez

The last day of 2009 found Ramon Dominguez in the same place as the first -- atop the jockey standings and in the winner's circle at Aqueduct.

Wishful Tomcat Wire-To-Wire in Discovery

Ramon Dominguez hustled Wishful Tomcat to the early lead in the Discovery Handicap and they never looked back, the duo leading every step of the way in posting a 1 3/4-length victory on Aqueduct's main track.

Wishful Tomcat Appetizing in Discovery

Winter Park Partners' Wishful Tomcat, a late-blooming 3-year-old with four wins in his last five starts, tries to notch his first graded stakes score when he takes on seven rivals in the $100,000-added Discovery Handicap (gr. III) Nov. 22 at Aqueduct.

NY Trainers Weigh in on Toe Grabs

Some leading New York trainers said a ban on toe grabs will help level the playing field, but they're not all convinced the shoes are responsible for catastrophic breakdowns.

Contessa New Exceller Fund President

New York-based trainer Gary Contessa has been named president of the Exceller Fund, a non-profit organization that transitions former racehorses into new careers.

Go For Wand: Ginger Punch Heavy Favorite

Last year, Stronach Stables' Ginger Punch romped to a six-length victory in the Go For Wand (gr. I) en route to her Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) win and being named champion older female. The scary part for her competition is that trainer Bobby Frankel says the daughter of Awesome Again is vastly improved as a 5-year-old.

Proven Fillies Clash in Bed o' Roses

A small but accomplished group of 4-year-old fillies will clash in the $150,000 Bed o' Roses Handicap (gr. II) April 19 on the dirt at Aqueduct, including three entering off of graded stakes victories. The seven-furlong Bed o' Roses drew a field of six.

Dominguez, Contessa Rule Winter Meet

Jockey Ramon Dominguez and trainer Gary Contessa won their respective titles and set records when Aqueduct concluded its 2007-08 inner-track meet March 30. Racing switches to the main track April 2.

Distaff May Belong to Control System

Maryland-based trainer Michael Trombetta will start a pair of 4-year-old fillies in the $150,000 Distaff Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) March 22 at Aqueduct, including probable favorite Control System, the only graded stakes winner in the field of six.

Cicada: Carolyn's Cat Goes Gate-To-Wire

Carolyn's Cat won the expected early speed duel from Dill Or No Dill and then never looked back, going wire-to-wire for a 3 3/4-length victory in the $100,000 Cicada Stakes (gr. III) March 15 on the inner dirt course at Aqueduct.

Malibu Moonshine Takes Down Daaher

Daaher was beaten soundly for the second consecutive race, this time in the Stymie Handicap March 1 at Aqueduct.

Saint Liam Colt Brings $220,000

A Saint Liam yearling colt sold for $220,000 to top Saturday's session of the Keeneland January sale.

Contessa Sets NY Training Record

The veteran trainer won his 157th New York race of the year Dec. 29 at Aqueduct

Nite Light There, The Rest Nowhere

The 3-year-old colt won the marathon by 10 lengths Dec. 29 at Aqueduct, denying Successful Affair's bid to repeat.

Successful Affair Looks For Repeat

Winning Move Stable's Successful Affair will attempt to defend his title in the $75,000 Gallant Fox Handicap, the 5-year-old gelding will take on five challengers Dec. 29 at Aqueduct.

Contessa Accepts 15-Day Suspension in N.Y.

Trainer Gary Contessa, the leading trainer at the current Belmont fall meet, was suspended 15 days and fined $2,000 for a medication positive by the New York State Racing and Wagering Board Oct. 20.

Track Injuries Spur Meeting Between NYRA, Horsemen

New York Racing Association racing secretary P.J. Campo says NYRA officials will meet with horsemen in the next "couple days" to discuss maintenance of track surfaces at Aqueduct, Belmont Park, and Saratoga after a series of catastrophic injuries.

Avioli Explains New Breeders' Cup Challenge

Breeders' Cup president and chief executive officer Greg Avioli said the organization hopes to achieve a number of goals with the newly created Breeders' Cup Challenge.

Eclipse Award Winner Fleet Indian heads NY-bred Champions for 2006

Paul Saylor's 2006 Eclipse Award winner Fleet Indian was named 2006 New York-bred Horse of the Year and Champion Older Female by the New York Thoroughbred Breeders at its annual awards banquet held May 14 at the Desmond Hotel in Albany, NY.

Woodlander Keeps Owners On Top in Fort Marcy

Woodlander put the final touch on a successful Aqueduct season for leading owner Winning Move Stable Sunday when the 5-year-old edged Golden Commander by a neck in capturing the $114,100 Fort Marcy Handicap (gr. IIIT) on the grass at 1 1/16 miles.

New York Trainers 'Pony-Up' for TRF

New York- based trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, Gary Contessa and John Kimmel are the latest horsemen to sign up for the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation's Pony-Up Program, a new TRF fundraising initiative designed to spread the financial responsibilities of caring for retired racehorses across the training community, while taxing horsemen only when they have reaped the benefits of a win.

Contessa, Dominguez Bag 4 Winners at Aqueduct

Gary Contessa added to his already huge lead in Aqueduct's trainer standings Friday afternoon, saddling four winners from seven starters.

Accountforthegold Rushes to Stuyvesant Win

Front-running Accountforthegold peeled away from the field at the head of the stretch en route to his first open and graded stakes victory in the $110,100 Stuyvesant Handicap (gr. III) at Aqueduct Saturday.

Excelsior Racing Gains Two New Members

A group vying to take over the New York Racing Association's Thoroughbred franchise has added the state's former top racing regulator and a veteran trainer to its ranks.

Magnolia Jackson Delivers in Bed o' Roses

The champion filly Smuggler made no impact in her first start in nine months when Magnolia Jackson dug in to defeat Grecian Lover by a neck in the $155,400 Bed o' Roses Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) at Aqueduct Saturday.

Red-Hot No Sleep Faces Four in Next Move

No Sleep, a winner of three straight races on the Aqueduct inner dirt course this winter, is part of a small field of five entered for Sunday's Next Move Handicap (gr. III) for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles.

Arroyo Begins Year With a Bang at Aqueduct

Jockey Norberto Arroyo Jr. won the first four races on Sunday's New Year's Day card, the first day of Aqueduct's winter meet.

Contessa's Sleeping Returns in Valley Stream

Trainer Gary Contessa sends out Sleeping in Sunday's $100,000-added Valley Stream at Aqueduct expecting his 2-year-old filly to bounce back from her last-place finish in Belmont Park's Astarita (gr. III) last month.

Bomze Re-Elected as NYTHA President

Richard Bomze was re-elected as New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (NYTHA) president for his third term.

Lost in the Fog Gets Comfortable at Spa

Harry J. Aleo's undefeated sprinting sensation Lost in the Fog had settled into trainer Gary Contessa's Saratoga stable Wednesday as he prepares for the $250,000 King's Bishop (gr. I) on Travers Day Aug. 27.

NYRA Makes Security Barn Adjustments

The New York Racing Association is "100 percent committed" to race day security barns, but has taken immediate action to address concerns expressed by horsemen at Saratoga Race Course, NYRA president Charles E. Hayward said July 29.

NYRA Increasing Claiming Race Purses

The New York Racing Association announced Thursday that it will increase purses for claiming races beginning June 18.

Bright Mahogany Intriguing in Comely

Bright Mahogany, a winner of three of her five races in Puerto Rico including a pair of group I races, adds an intriguing element to Saturday's $150,000 Comely (gr. II) for 3-year-old fillies at Aqueduct.