**The previous version of the notes incorrectly stated that Shortleaf Stable's New
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Contact: NYRA Press Office
(718) 659-2244
- Contessa eyes Grade 2, $250,000 Woody Stephens for Eightyfiveinafifty
- Proviso heading to Grade 1 Just A Game; Drosselmeyer up in air for Belmont
- Ice seeking Belmont prep for New Madrid
ELMONT, N.Y. – The speedy Eightyfiveinafifty had his first work Saturday since a fourth-place finish in the Grade 3, one-mile Derby Trial in the mud at Churchill Downs on April 24, covering a half-mile in 47.06 over the main track at Aqueduct. The move was the fastest of nine at the distance.
"It was super," said Gary Contessa, who trains the colt for Harold Lerner, John Moirano, and Team Stallion Racing. "He always works well, but he was a little tired after the Derby Trial. I'm seriously considering the Woody Stephens for him, but it's not etched in stone. If I see he's moving along like his old self, he'll go, but I want to make sure of that before I commit."
Contessa said Eightyfiveinafifty would likely work three more times, including this Sunday, in advance of a possible start in the Grade 2, $250,000, seven-furlong Woody Stephens on the Belmont Stakes Day undercard June 5.
"In the Derby Trial, he acted like a horse who didn't handle the track," said Contessa. "He came back blowing hard and the race seemed to take something out of him – usually it's all you can do to walk him after a start. It could have been he didn't like that particular track on that particular day, or maybe the mud will be a problem for him going forward, but I may try him in the slop another day just to make sure."
Contessa also reported that Castaneda, impressive winner of the Fred "Cappy" Capossela on March 6 who was most recently fifth after fading as the pacesetter in the Grade 3 Withers at Aqueduct on April 24, has returned to training following an injury sustained just after the latter race.
"He kicked a wall and I thought he might have bowed a tendon, but we got really lucky and the x-ray and ultrasound came back clean," said Contessa. "He's just now getting back to training and he could train into the Mike Lee or another race around that time.
The $100,000 Mike Lee is a seven-furlong race restricted to New York-breds scheduled for June 20.
* * *
Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott reported Wednesday that Proviso – most recently a nose winner of the Grade 1 Kilroe Mile against males at Santa Anita on March 6 – is on track to run in the Grade 1, $400,000 Just A Game on Belmont Stakes Day, Saturday, June 5.
The 5-year-old Dansili mare breezed four furlongs at
"We're planning on running her in the Just A Game," said Mott, who trains Proviso for Juddmonte Farms. "She's been doing fine since her last race; she breezed twice at Keeneland and once at
The one-mile Just A Game will be Proviso's fifth start in the United States, having finished second in the 2009 Santa Monica, fourth in the 2009 Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic and second in the 2010 Spinster, all Grade 1 races.
Mott added that Drosselmeyer, second in the Dwyer on Saturday at
* * *
Shortleaf Stable's New Madrid, representing trainer Tim Ice's hope for a Belmont Stakes double, is still seeking a prep for the 1 ½ mile race.
The lightly raced son of Rock Hard Ten, 1-1-0 from four starts, most recently was sixth in the Arkansas Derby on April 10.
"He's doing great," said Ice, who last year saddled Summer Bird to victory in the Belmont, one of three Grade 1 races he won in
Although Summer Bird also was lightly campaigned heading into last year's
"They're two different horses," he said. "Obviously, this horse has a lot to prove, as did Summer Bird, but both have different styles and mannerisms. I do think this horse has a lot of talent; he just has to put it all together."
-30-
