Rydilluc has Secretariat on his radar

Arlington Park's Grade 1, $500,000

Secretariat Stakes, a race won three of the last five years by European

shippers, got a domestic boost when trainer Gary Contessa announced that his

Penn Mile victor Rydilluc will be aimed toward the race many consider

the premier American turf race for three-year-olds.

Undefeated in four starts on turf, Rydilluc defeated a

solid field that included American Turf hero Noble Tune, Grade 1-placed stakes

victor Charming Kitten and Transylvania scorer Jack

Milton.

Owned by Team Stallion Racing Stable et al, Rydilluc previously finished

a close fourth in the Blue Grass, beaten less than two lengths,

and was being pointed toward the Kentucky Derby before a minor injury stunted

those plans.

"He just stamped himself as arguably the best three-year-old

turf horse right now, and we're going to stay there," trainer Gary Contessa

stated.

The New York-based conditioner has been bullish in his belief that the son

of Medaglia d'Oro was special since the colt took

Gulfstream Park's Palm Beach in March.

"I'd say next stop Virginia Derby (on July 13) and then on to the

(August 17) Secretariat and then let's try to win a race with him at Saratoga, as well,"

Contessa continued.

The nearly black colt should, at least from a

pedigree perspective, appreciate the additional two furlongs of the

Secretariat's 1 1/4-mile distance. His sire, a son of Irish champion El Prado, not only claimed the 10-furlong Travers Stakes but also

finished second in the 12-furlong Belmont Stakes.

Rydilluc's dam, Swift and Classy, is by speed influence

Clever Trick out of a Quack mare. Quack was a huge deep-closing colt with

immense stamina, thanks to damsire *Princequillo -- the same damsire of

Secretariat, who not only won the 10-furlong Hollywood Gold Cup Invitational

Handicap, but did so as a three-year-old and in world record time (1:58.20).

Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com