NYRA/Adam Coglianese
by Sarah Mace
Mark Valentine’s Ex Ex Ex (Read the Footnotes), winner of his only prior start on the grass two back in a maiden-breaking effort, led every step of the way Monday on his way to a Saratoga victory in the featured $100,000 Cab Calloway Division of the New York Stallion Stakes series for New York-sired 3-year-olds at one mile on the inner turf.
Trained by Gary Contessa and piloted for the first time by Jose Lezcano, Ex Ex Ex went off as sixth choice in the field of seven at odds of 11-1. Out of the gate alertly, the chestnut colt wasted no time in showing his hand, striking the lead early and carving out fractions of 24.64 and 50.18.
Extending his lead to three lengths through the far turn and clocking three-quarters of a mile in 1:14.32, Ex Ex Ex kicked altogether free in the stretch. He crossed the finish line a half-length winner, after a hard-charging Amazing Anne (Freud), fourth early and second in the stretch, eroded the lead. Memories of Peter (Disco Rico), who broke his maiden in his prior start, finished third 3 1/4 lengths back and the top three were followed across the line by Payment Terms, Mark My Style, Secured Position and Possessed. The final time for the mile over firm turf was 1:36.95. [VIDEO]
Winning rider Jose Lezcano said, “I got a very good trip. He broke on the lead and was there the whole way. When I asked him at the quarter pole he was gone and won the race easy. He’s the kind of horse that needs the lead. He feels big on the lead.”
Gary Contessa said, “He’s a very fast horse. Anytime you have speed you’re dangerous, and his speed on the turf is very dangerous.”
NYRA/ Adam Mooshian
Contessa also commented on the overall dynamics of the race, which included trouble for others in the field in the clubhouse turn. “When we went into the first turn and everyone behind him was checking and bolting and everything, I said, ‘Boy, this is a beautiful thing.’ The favorite [Payment Terms], obviously, had the most trouble. That really helps. That’s the advantage of having the speed horse. He’s a very fast horse and he used it to his advantage today.”
Contessa contrasted Ex Ex Ex’s abilities on turf compared to dirt. After breaking his maiden on the grass at 1 1/16 miles at Belmont Park on May 20, in his next start he was well-beaten in the off-the-turf Spectacular Bid division of the NYSS series on June 21. “[Last time out] I decided to stay in it,” said Contessa. “It was a four-horse field and I thought, ‘He can’t be that bad on the dirt, can he?’ It turned out, he was, so now we’ll keep him on the grass. His speed is always going to be dangerous.”
[See also: NYRA analyst Richard Migliore’s post-race interview with trainer Gary Contessa]
Bred by Sequel Thoroughbreds in partnership with A. Lakin & son, Ex Ex Ex is by former New York sire Read the Footnotes out of the winning Honor Grades mare Stelluchella, who was most recently purchased by Becky Thomas for $11,000 at the 2009 Keeneland November sale. Stelluchella has produced six winners in all, led by her third foal Alfonsina (Grand Slam), a multiple graded-placed runner who earned over $120,000.
Ex Ex Ex’s record now stands at two wins and a second from seven career starts with $109,743 in earnings.
