Gulfstream Park: Rydilluc starts cranking up for Blue Grass

Courtney Heeney

Rydilluc will follow this romp in the Grade 3 Palm Beach on turf with a try on Polytrack in the Grade 1 Blue Grass at Keeneland

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Rydilluc breezed five furlongs in 1:02.02 inside the dogs over the Palm Meadows turf course on Thursday with regular rider Edgar Prado aboard. It was Rydilluc’s first breeze since his smashing 3 1/2-length victory over Charming Kitten in the Grade 3 Palm Beach Stakes earlier this month. Rydilluc will make his next start at Keeneland in the Grade 1 Blue Grass on April 13.

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“Just a maintenance work, a five-eighths walk in the park in 1:02,” said trainer Gary Contessa, who was not in attendance for the work. “I told Edgar to just sit on him and walk him around there, just give him a nice, happy work, and from the sound of things it went just according to plan.”

Contessa said he was informed there was a brief anxious moment just prior to the work.

“My assistant told me there was a little mishap with the pony leading him over, that he ducked from something and Edgar came off briefly but that he never let go of the reins, he recovered quickly and got right back on,” said Contessa. “I’m glad I wasn’t there to see that. I’d probably have been a nervous wreck.”

Contessa will breeze Rydilluc again next week at Palm Meadows before shipping to Keeneland on March 31, when he’ll have nearly two weeks to train over the Polytrack prior to the Blue Grass.