BackTrack: Rydilluc Wins Inaugural Penn Mile

It didn't take the connections of Rydilluc long to decide the colt was better racing on the turf, and the move paid off big time June 1 with a victory in the inaugural $460,000 Penn Mile Stakes for 3-year-olds at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course.

The win was Rydilluc's fourth in as many starts on the grass. His two losses have come on dirt and synthetic: a fifth-place finish in his debut at Belmont last year and a close-up fourth over Keeneland's Polytrack in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1).

"He stamped himself as arguably the best 3-year-old turf horse in America," trainer Gary Contessa said after the Penn Mile, which was run on a firm course at the Pennsylvania track. "He got it all together today and looked magnificent."

Rydilluc, by Medaglia d'Oro  out of the Clever Trick mare Swift and Classy, sat in second behind 100-1 shot Yougotthatgoinforu for about five furlongs before making his move entering the far turn. Ridden by Edgar Prado, Rydilluc opened a short advantage into the stretch and used a final eighth of a mile in :11.49 to hold off late-closing Charming Kitten  and Jack Milton , who finished second and third, respectively.

The time for the mile was 1:33.99, just shy of the course record of 1:33.12 set by Thunder Brew in 2010.

Rydilluc, bred in Kentucky by Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings and Gaines-Gentry Thoroughbreds, was purchased for $150,000 by Contessa as agent at the 2012 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-year-olds in training sale. He has earned $471,990 in six starts.

Rydilluc is owned by Leonard Green, Harold Lerner, Jeff Massaro, Tami Bobo, Sean Shay, Peter and Henry Baker, Bruce and Linda McConnell, and Jennifer Contessa. In March he won the Palm Beach Stakes (G3T) at 1 1/8 miles on the grass at Gulfstream Park.

Contessa drew a line through the colt's effort at Keeneland. Rydilluc had led for most of the way but was reeled in late.

The trainer believes the colt can handle longer distances, so he is pointing him to Colonial Downs' Virginia Derby (G2T) at 1 1/4 miles on the grass July 13.

"I think the horse is improving every time he runs," Prado said. "He came home running against nice horses, and I'm very proud he's getting better and better. Gary's doing a super job with the horse."

Green, the managing partner for the ownership team, said he's happy the connections stuck with the plan early on to heed Contessa's advice and race Rydilluc on the grass. That meant passing on some major races for 3-year-olds earlier this year, but Green indicated it was worth it to have a colt that is undefeated on turf.

"Thank you very much," Green said of the Penn Mile victory. "We want him to be the best turf horse in the United States."

Penn National attracted some of the top 3-year-old turf horses in the country and was rewarded with all-sources wagering of $3,658,996 for the 10-race evening program. That shattered the previous mark of $2,173,921.

Handle on the eight-horse Penn Mile alone totaled $1,139,478.

"On every possible level, tonight was a huge success," said Dan Silver, director of racing operations at Penn National. "The racing department here, including racing secretary Dave Bailey, stakes coordinator Craig Lytel, and assistant racing secretary Jenny Bowman, put together the best card in the history of Penn National Race Course, and it was great to see people on track and around the country respond so enthusiastically."

The card had six other stakes races including the $230,000 Mountainview Handicap at nine furlongs, won by Robert LaPenta's Easter Gift, and the $135,000 Pennsylvania Governor's Cup Handicap at five furlongs on the turf taken by Mr. Amore Stable's Tightend Touchdown.