National Pride

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Scav

Was Contessa up to his winning ways that far back or just starting?

Not exactly.

Plus, Gary Contessa doesn't exactly set the world on fire. What he does is bash people over the head with numbers. He is a 14% winning trainer....but he starts an enormous number of horses.

[Linny]

Not certain here but I'd guess that there is a difference between claiming from someone and negotiating a private sale after a nice maiden win.

Peace Rules stands out as the best horse Contessa sold on after a decent start, but I think he's had a few others who did some good. Not PR's class but decent, useful horses.

[blackthroatedwind]

Here is a list of Gary Contessa's winning firsters over the last 12 months....

11 wins from 68 starters for a 3.05 ROI but that includes Saturday's $86 winner.

National Pride and the aforementioned Another Foose obviously haven't run back. Here are the other nine and what happened to them. I will start with the best.

Mission Approved - broke maiden March 10th and has subsequently become a stakes winner on the turf. Won multiple turf races.

Brown Eyed Belle - broke her maiden December first and did not race again for over five months. She has subsequently won 2 races ( out of six or seven ).

Gansevoort - broke maiden December 9th, returned to win again on Jan 18th and has been unsighted since.

Motovato - 2YO winner at Delaware on May 5th. Bought by Gann and given to Todd Pletcher. Raced in Churchill stake on July 7th where he finished 5th at 3:1. Unsighted since.

Citi On Fire - broke maiden March 25th in NY Bred MSW, finished near last in two subsequent starts, left Contessa and was last seen racing in $4K claiming races at Finger Lakes and Penn National with minimal success.

Wheelit - broke maiden March 30th. Claimed May 4th for $14K and last seen running in $4K claiming races at Finger Lakes.

Keen Irish - broke maiden August 15th. Returned to finish third on September 8th and unsighted since.

Deities Day - broke maiden October 11th. Unsighted since.

He's a Ray - broke maiden in MSW January 20th. Unsighted since.