Nolo Contesto to make return in Affirmed Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Nolo Contesto, fourth in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 6 in his stakes debut, underwent a procedure to remove an undescended testicle earlier this spring and is scheduled to start in the Grade 3 Affirmed Stakes for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita on June 16, trainer John Sadler said.

The $100,000 Affirmed Stakes is run at 1 1/16 miles. Sadler had considered sending Nolo Contesto to Belmont Park for the Easy Goer Stakes on June 8, but has opted to remain in California.

Owned by Pete and Kosta Hronis, Nolo Contesto won his 3-year-old debut in a maiden special weight race at a mile by a half-length over Omaha Beach, who later won the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes and Grade 1 Arkansas Derby. Omaha Beach was withdrawn from the Kentucky Derby last month because of an entrapped epiglottis detected three days before the race.

In the Santa Anita Derby, Nolo Contesto finished 7 1/2 lengths behind winner Roadster, who was later 16th in the Kentucky Derby.