Vino Rosso

Vino Rosso gave his owners Mike Repole and Vinnie Viola (St. Elias Stable) the perfect reason to host a party with that adult beverage flowing freely last spring, after the Curlin colt captured the Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct. “I’ve known Vinnie for six or seven years now,” Repole told Thoroughbred Daily News' Steve Sherack. “My wife grew up in Brooklyn, Vinnie grew up in Brooklyn. His wife grew up in Queens, I grew up in Queens. I love his story, and he loves mine. We're all about family first and big, Italian families. Winning the Wood with Vinnie was probably one of the best wins I’ve ever had. It was so awesome having both of our families there. After the race we went back to my house with about 60 other people and we drank a lot of Vino Rosso and had a good time.” Vino Rosso then ran ninth in the Kentucky Derby, fourth in the Belmont, third in Jim Dandy and fifth in the Travers before going to bench for the season. Trainer Todd Pletcher had him ready at first asking for his four-year-old debut, as he made a five-wide move and then fended off Title Ready down the stretch in the Stymie Stakes at Aqueduct in early March. Two starts later, Vino Rosso captured his first Grade one in the Gold Cup at Santa Anita (G1) May 27. With John Velazquez aboard, Vino Rosso loomed up to engage Gift Box at the head of the stretch, and drew off near the wire. "I knew the pace would be fast early and I just wanted to stay close. He broke very well and we settled in there. When it was time to go, we knew we had to engage Joel (Rosario on Gift Box) to play the game because he was the horse to beat. And we got the job done,” said Velazquez. “Vino Rosso seemed to have it all put together today." A $410,000 yearling purchase at the Keeneland September Sale, Vino Rosso has earned over $1.2 million.