Uncle Sigh's Breeze Thrills Trainer Contessa

While patience has been a point of emphasis in returning Uncle Sigh to racing, trainer Gary Contessa could hardly contain his enthusiasm after a July 21 breeze on the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga Race Course.

Wounded Warrior Stables and Anthony Robertson's Uncle Sigh has not raced since an off-the-board finish in last year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) but the twice grade III-placed son of Indian Charlie has posted three official workouts since June 29, including Tuesday's four-furlong move in :49.54, which ranked sixth-fastest of 32 moves at the distance on the training track.

"He looked like a million dollars today," Contessa said after the breeze on the fast track. "He galloped out in 1:02 and that was on the deep training track. Seriously, on the main track, that would have been a minute-flat. It was a phenomenal work; he could not be training better."

Contessa is not targeting a specific race but hopes Uncle Sigh can return next month. Contessa will have a lot of Saratoga races to choose from for New York-bred Uncle Sigh, who is still eligible for first-level allowance races for state-breds. Uncle Sigh finished second to Samraat in last year's Withers (gr. III) and Gotham (gr. III) stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack.

"You never know where this horse may show up," Contessa said, noting the 4-year-old colt raced mostly in routes but showed potential in his one sprint start, finishing second in his career debut at six furlongs.

Contessa credited owner Chip McEwen (Wounded Warrior) with great patience for what was supposed to be a short layoff at McEwen's Ocala, Fla., farm that turned into more than a year away from the races. Contessa said it's been great to see Uncle Sigh return from a pulled muscle in his back.

"It's very exciting to have him back," Contessa said. "Uncle Sigh is the reason why trainers wake up in the morning at 3 a.m. When I look down that shed row and see him, it certainly makes coming to work a whole lot easier."

Contessa said Tuesday's move and a July 11 half-mile breeze in :49.72 have both been very good.

"I don't think he's far from the races, but I'm also not pushing him to get there," Contessa said. "I'm guessing early August, but that's just a guess."

In other Tuesday works at Saratoga:

• Grade I winner Lea breezed five furlongs in 1:01.78 on the Oklahoma training track, second-fastest of 18 moves at the distance. Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider's Lea, who most recently finished second in the Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) June 13 at Churchill Downs, has completed four workouts since June 30 at Saratoga.

• Ted Mitzlaff's Neck 'n Neck breezed five furlongs in 1:02.14 on the main track for trainer Ian Wilkes. The work by the grade II winner was sixth-fastest of 14 at the distance.