February, 2021 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Contessa Nearing Return to Training

Gary Contessa, who stepped away from training in March to try his hand at being a bloodstock agent and a jockey agent, is set to return Apr. 1. He has accepted a job as the private trainer for Nick Beaver's Bell Gable Stable and will be based at Delaware Park.

“Nick hired me about four months ago to organize his stable,” Contessa said. “He had horses everywhere, with Jamie Ness, Anthony Farrior, Mike Trombetta, and they were scattered all over the place. He told me he wanted to be more organized and be able to report to just one person and he thought I was the perfect guy for the job. He asked what would it take for me to become his private trainer. I gave him a number and he didn't even blink. It is a damn good salary and I will be working for a super, super good guy.”

Bell Gable Stable has been primarily a claiming outfit, but Contessa said the goal is to improve the quality of the stable and to compete at the highest level.

“He wants to become a top stable,” Contessa said. “It's going to take me a year or two to get rid of some of his cheaper horses and bring in better horses. We will have about 25 to 30 horses. He has about 40 but there are 10 to 15 that don't belong. We'll send them to some place like Charles Town. We are going to try to have a little more quality.”

When announcing his departure from the training ranks, Contessa said he was frustrated with his recurring battles with the New York State Department of Labor, which had targeted several NYRA trainers over possible violations.

“When I stepped away, I knew I would be open to coming back, but only as a private trainer,” he said. “But jobs like that are few and far between. When Nick came to me with the offer I thought that it was meant to be. He's an easy guy to work for.”

Contessa started his training career in 1985 and has had 2,364 winners. His top horses include Grade I winners Sippican Harbor (Orb) and Do It With Style (Pancho Villa).

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Katie Davis Says NYRA Racing Office Discouraging Trainers From Riding Her

Jockey Katie Davis has alleged that the NYRA racing office has been telling trainers not to ride her because of a New York State Gaming Commission rule that requires that horses running in the same race ridden by a husband and a wife must be coupled. Davis recently married Trevor McCarthy and both are riding at Aqueduct this winter.

Because of the rule, any time McCarthy and Davis compete in the same race there is one less betting interest than normal because of the Gaming Commission rule. The TDN estimates that, on average, each time the coupling rule goes into effect, NYRA loses about $90,000 in handle because of the loss of a betting interest.

“Maybe two weeks after I started here, trainers were starting to tell me they wanted to name me on a horse,” she said. “They'd say, 'It's not me, it's the racing office.' They've been telling trainers if they name me on a horse the race won't go. You've got the racing office convincing trainers that if they really want a race to go they had better name someone else.”

Davis said she has heard the same story from several trainers.

“I've heard this from a lot of the trainers, pretty much everybody I ride for,” she said.

“I understand there is a horse shortage and the racing office is doing its best to put together a card, but they shouldn't do it at the expense of someone's career. That isn't right,” said Davis' agent, Mike Monroe.

Through spokesperson Pat McKenna, NYRA denied Davis's allegations.

“These accusations are completely false and without merit,” McKenna said. “In fact, NYRA has consistently advocated for modernized rules regarding coupled entries in New York state and we will continue to do so for the benefit of New York racing as a whole.”

Davis and McCarthy, who were married in mid-December, came to New York after riding in Maryland and were unaware of the Gaming Commission rule. Starting Jan. 1, the Gaming Commission began to enforce the rule regarding married riders. Through Feb. 5, McCarthy has had 12 winners at the meet from 122 mounts. Davis has gone just one for 43. She picked up her first winner Friday, one race after crossing the wire first only to get taken down by the stewards for interference. Their ruling came after her brother, Dylan Davis, claimed foul against her. Horses ridden by siblings, like brothers Irad and Jose Ortiz, do not have to be coupled.

Davis said she has no intention of returning to Maryland.

“Trevor and I have decided to stick together and not let these people walk all over us,” she said. “It's not fair. I'm just trying to make a living and there's no reason for me to stop riding here.”

Davis has hired an attorney, who has asked the Gaming Commission to issue an emergency rule rescinding the current rule covering married riders.

In a letter sent to Robert Williams, the executive director of the New York State Gaming Commission, lawyer William Gotimer Jr. wrote: “This rule has added to the many difficulties female riders face in pursuit of their careers and should be rectified. Due to application of this anachronistic rule Ms. Davis must make a choice between entering into the Constitutionally protected state of matrimony and furthering her career. This is not something that should be mandated by a government agency.”

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Fire At Will Likely to Return in Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth

Three Diamonds Farm's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Fire At Will (Declaration of War) breezed five furlongs at Gulfstream Park Saturday morning in preparation for a likely start in the GII Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Feb. 27.

He was timed in 1:01.71 (27/51) in his fifth breeze in anticipation of his 2021 debut.

“He went super,” trainer Michael Maker said. “I think we're going to the Fountain of Youth.”

After finishing sixth on turf in his Aug. 8 debut at Saratoga, Fire At Will broke his maiden in the Sept. 2 rained-off With Anticipation S. over a sealed, sloppy main track at the Spa. He went back to turf to capture the Oct. 3 GII Pilgrim S. at Belmont prior to his 30-1 upset on the big stage at Keeneland.

“It looked like he handled [the dirt] well this morning,” Maker said. “He won on it at Saratoga, even though it was muddy and against a short field.”

The post Fire At Will Likely to Return in Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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