Read the Contract added to New York Watch

Last updated: 12/4/10 9:01 PM

Read the Contract set the terms
to take his initial win
(NYRA/Adam Coglianese)

Sometimes, there is nothing wrong with being a little sentimental.
When scouting talent at the OBS Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in
Training, trainer Rick Violette thought a colt by Read the Footnotes —
whom he trained to wins in the Nashua (G3), Remsen (G2) and Fountain of
Youth (G2) — was a worthy purchase.

“The fact he was by Read the
Footnotes did play a small role in our decision to buy him, but
we try not to be too sentimental,” Violette said. “He was a fast
two-year-old, and he looked the part. He was well balanced and had a
good hip and shoulder, and he didn’t break the bank, either, as we
bought him for $70,000.”

The colt, now named

READ THE CONTRACT (Read the Footnotes), delivered on the
potential he showed at the sale when he broke his maiden by six lengths
at Aqueduct on November 26 to join the New York Watch, which profiles
up-and-comers that have recently cleared the maiden ranks at Aqueduct,
Belmont Park, and Saratoga Race Course.

Read the Contract’s career began
inauspiciously at Saratoga on August 8 as the colt got loose during warm
ups after dumping jockey Javier Castellano, dueled for the early lead,
and faltered badly to finish last of seven.

“He ran off before the race and did too much, and he ended up bleeding,” Violette explained. “We
gave him six weeks off to help him get over the disastrous experience.”

With that setback behind him, Read the Contract returned in a
six-furlong maiden special weight for New York-breds last week. He once
again showed early zip, but this time he steadily extended his advantage
to register an easy victory under new rider Alex Solis.

“We were
concerned he’d bleed again, or he’d show negative effects in the paddock
or on the way to the starting gate from the disastrous race,” Violette
said. “He passed all the tests as he was able to control himself.

“We’ll let him cool his heels after this race and make sure he doesn’t too
much right after that performance.”