Theitalianamerican rerouted to Rick Violette Stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Gary Contessa was pleased enough with how Theitalianamerican trained Friday morning to enter the maiden in Wednesday’s $100,000 Rick Violette Stakes.

On Thursday, Contessa said he didn’t enter the colt in Saturday’s Grade 3 Sanford Stakes because he was not happy with the colt’s bloodwork. Contessa said he planned to take more blood from Theitalianamerican on Monday before deciding whether to run.

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“I liked the way he looked today,” Contessa said. “We’ll take another blood and if it’s good we’ll probably run.”

Others entered in the Violette include Listentoyourheart, Mission Wrapitup, Sky of Hook, and Torres Del Paine.

The Rick Violette, for New York-bred juveniles, was previously run as the Rockville Centre. It was renamed for Violette, a trainer who was a tireless advocate for horsemen and backstretch workers in his longtime role as president of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association.