Contessa saddles career win 2,000

"Most of my wins came in the winter at Aqueduct," he remarked.

Contessa was born in Merrick, New York, and first gained

experience with horses by working with Standardbreds at Roosevelt Raceway during

his childhood and adolescence. He switched to Thoroughbreds in 1980.

"My biggest mentor was (Hall of Fame trainer) Frank

Martin," explained Contessa, who assisted Martin in the 1980s. "I came up under

Stanley Hough and all the Harbor View Farm trainers and Jimmy Picou and Dave

Sazer, who brought me to this place. But Frank Martin beat the daylights out of

me and made me a horse trainer.

"(It's appropriate) that I'm in his (old) barn, his

office and his world. We sat here many days in the freezing cold at Aqueduct,

winning two or three races in a day, so it's great."

In 1985, Contessa took out his trainer's license, winning

his first race on June 25, 1985, with Legendary Wealth at Monmouth Park.

"When I first went out on my own, Johnny Campo said, 'Let

me tell you something, Contessa. Whatever you do, you make sure the first horse

you run, wins. I don't care if it takes three months of being on your own, do

not run a horse until it's going to win because then they will remember you,'"

Contessa recalled. "I remember I went to Monmouth Park and the first horse I won

with in my career, Legendary Wealth. Owner, John Campo. It really worked out

well and I thank John, who was a big supporter when I first started out."

Contessa's first Grade 1 victory came in 1991 when Do It With Style captured

the Ashland at Keeneland.

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