Parisella returns to training

John Parisella couldn’t stay away.

A leading trainer on the New York Racing Association circuit in the 1980s and ’90s, Parisella retired in the summer of 2013, saddling his last horse June 16 that year. After leaving New York for the last 22 months, Parisella, 70, plans to have 15 horses based at Belmont this spring.

“Can’t get it out of my blood,” Parisella said.

During his time away, Parisella said he spent time with family and friends in Arizona, Northern California, and Florida.

“I was bored,” Parisella said. “This is my home. I don’t like any other place to live.”

Parisella said his primary clients will be Max and Saul Kupferberg, for whom he’s trained for many years. Parisella will start Rivetto in a $12,500 claimer Wednesday for the Kupferbergs. Before he retired, Parisella won six stakes with the New York-bred filly Sunny Desert for the Kupferbergs.

Back in his heyday, Parisella conditioned the stakes winners Chieftain’s Command, Kamikaze Rick, Simply Majestic, Don Rickles, and Am Capable.

In addition to the New York-breds and claimers he will have, Parisella said he will have five 2-year-olds.