Contessa scratches eight horses after one horse tests positive

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Gary Contessa, the leading trainer at Aqueduct's inner-track meet, scratched all eight of his horses entered over the weekend after being informed by the stewards that one of his horses had tested positive for a banned substance.

The investigation is so much in the preliminary stages that the stewards couldn't tell Contessa which horse's test came back positive. Contessa said he was only told that a preliminary test performed on one of his horses turned up positive for a banned substance.

Contessa can only speculate but believes the substance found is ephedra, the primary ingredient in the Chinese herb ma huang, which is used in humans to treat asthma and reduce upper respiratory infections. Ma huang is sold over the counter.

Contessa was not forced to scratch his horses over the weekend, but did so as a precaution when given the opportunity by the stewards. Contessa said he uses herbal supplements in virtually all of his horses.

"We have herbal supplements for bleeders, we have herbal supplements the whole barn gets, we have herbal supplements for horses that are high strung, we have herbal supplements for horses that act like they have ulcers,'' Contessa said Monday from Florida, where he is attending a horse sale. "The smartest thing was to scratch the horses Saturday and Sunday, pull the herbs, pull the supplements, and have them all analyzed.''

Contessa has two horses entered for Wednesday's card and said he planned to run them. Contessa said he also plans to run Grey Comet - his unbeaten 3-year-old New York-bred - in Saturday's Whirlaway Stakes.

A spokesperson for the New York State Racing and Wagering Board declined comment except to say "there is a matter under review involving [Contessa] right now. Until that review is completed and something is handed over from the stewards we really can't say anything.''

Classic Endeavor continues to roll

When Scott Schwartz entered Classic Endeavor in Sunday's $56,000 classified allowance race, the last thing he expected to find was graded stakes winners Ground Storm and Coyote Lakes in the field.

The second-to-last thing he thought was that Classic Endeavor could win. But win is exactly what Classic Endeavor did, at odds of 5-2, beating Tempest Fugit by four lengths while Ground Storm and Coyote Lakes checked in third and fourth.

Now, instead of pointing Classic Endeavor to the starter handicap series for horses who have run for a claiming tag of $20,000, Schwartz will point Classic Endeavor to next month's $75,000 Stymie Handicap.

"I thought he was over his head, but he ran great,'' Schwartz said. "He had light weight, had the rail, I thought I'd take a shot. He's turned out better than I've ever thought. He's beaten some of the best horses on the grounds and beat them handily. He came out of the race great.''

The victory was the ninth in 33 career starts for Classic Endeavor, a 5-year-old son of Silver Buck. He is 5 for 9 over the inner track. Schwartz pointed out that Classic Endeavor loves Aqueduct's main track as well.

Classic Endeavor's dam, Bold Juana, is a half-sister to Little Bold John, a stakes winner on the Maryland circuit who got better as he aged. Schwartz is hoping that is the case with Classic Endeavor as well.

Outathechute can wire them

Outathechute was no match for Lethal Weapon in a Jan. 8 allowance race, but he certainly looks like the one to catch and beat Wednesday when he heads a five-horse field of horses who have never won three races lifetime.

That Jan. 8 race was Outathechute's first start since Nov. 17, and he could not match strides with the quicker Lethal Weapon. Outathechute looks to be quicker than Atomic Sub, the only other speed in Wednesday's race.

Wednesday's race marks the return of Heir D'Twine to the races. Heir D'Twine, unraced since September, finished third in last year's Federico Tesio Stakes and competed in several graded stakes for 3-year-olds during the summer.

Wednesday's card also features split divisions of an entry-level allowance race for older fillies and mares going six furlongs.

In the first division, which goes as the sixth race, Maud Gonne makes her first start for trainer Jimmy Jerkens after racing competitively at Woodbine for Roger Attfield. Lyrical Prado and Turbo Robo are also contenders.

In the second division, which goes as the eighth race, Boundandetermined looks to work out a stalking trip in a race loaded with speed, topped by the Richard Dutrow Jr.-trained Anita Cocktail.