You have to love a horse who has big feet.
Big feet often signal a horse who will fare well on the grass, and Mark Valentine’s Gary Contessa-trained Ex Ex Ex proved the adage to be dead-on when the three-year-old colt won the one-mile, turf Cab Calloway Division of the New York Stallion Series Stakes on Monday, August 10th at Saratoga.
Ex Ex Ex, son of the popular sire, Read the Footnotes, out of Stelluchella (Honor Grades) bolted first out of the gate on a gorgeous Saratoga day, and held his lead the entire way. Jose Lezcano must confidently led his mount around the first turn, immediately after which they were two lengths ahead of the pack. Never were Lezcano and Ex Ex Ex truly threatened by any contenders: the duo kept their lead by 3/4 of a length through the backstretch, and after the home turn, the team took a five-length lead as the group headed for home.
Amazing Anne came up from fourth to take over the second position, and made a run for Ex Ex Ex, but the Contessa colt held on and beat the ambitious filly, taking the first stakes win of his career. The final time, according to the uber-accurate Longines timer, was 1:36:95.
Winning any race feels good, but winning a stakes race is a joy. Congratulations to Trainer, Gary Contessa; owner, Mark Valentine; jockey, Jose Lezcano and everyone at Team Contessa.
I must make a…footnote…here, if you will…that in 2008, the Daily Racing Form had noted that Gary Contessa doesn’t take to the turf too often, but when he does, he’s dangerous and pays a nice price for bettors. Insightful wagering brought $24 for those who had confidence in this Contessa ROI fact–and congratulations to you smart bettors, as well.
https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/videos/ex-ex-ex—2015-nyss-cab-calloway-division-stakes-/