Sal Russo This is Me

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1. 1. Centennial Farms Online

   www.centennialfarms.com/people - [Cached]

   Published on: 12/15/2007   Last Visited: 12/15/2007

   Sal Russo Trainer

2. 2. Centennial Farms Online

   www.centennialfarms.com/people - [Cached]

   Published on: 4/3/2006   Last Visited: 12/15/2007

   Sal Russo
   
   A longtime horseman with deep roots and respect in New York racing, Russo is currently in the beginning stages of his career as a head trainer that is sure to bring him back to the pinnacle of thoroughbred racing. Russo grew up a few furlongs from Belmont Park and his initial pursuit in the equine industry started at a young age with show horses before he took a job as a groom during his high school days. The native of Valley Stream, New York was foreman and head lad with numerous trainers in his younger days, but found a home with Hall of Fame trainer Scotty Schulhofer, where he worked as head assistant for 15 years. While with the legendary Schulhofer barn, Russo learned the trade and his training style from one of the all-time greats and he was instrumental in the development of Centennial horses Rubiano and Colonial Affair in addition to classic winners Fly So Free and Lemon Drop Kid. Russo currently trains for Centennial on the Florida and New York circuits.

3. 3. Centennial Farms Online

   www.centennialfarms.com - [Cached]

   Published on: 10/5/2002   Last Visited: 9/12/2007

   The five-year-old Thunder Gulch colt is training well with Sal Russo and he could go for his second consecutive victory on August 8 against allowance company going 1 1/8 miles.
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   "Those kind aren't around anymore," Sal Russo, who worked as an assistant to Schulhofer for 17 years, said of him.
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   Jockey Jose Santos will once again be aboard for trainer Sal Russo.
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   Russo also conditions Centennial Star , a son of the young A.P. Indy stallion Old Trieste that has shown promise as a turf horse. This colt should begin his career over the massive new grass course that drew many accolades since debuting last year.
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   Trained by Sal Russo, the Silver Deputy colt rated in third in the early stages before advancing toward the front around the turn.
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   Centennial Star, an Old Trieste colt currently in training with Sal Russo, had already recorded a workout at Belmont and he could start if everything goes perfect.
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   Trained by Sal Russo, the son of 1995 Belmont Stakes winner Thunder Gulch most recently finished second in the Peter Pan Stakes (GII) on May 28, earning a 106 Beyer Speed Figure and placing him among the top 3-year-olds in the nation.
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   "There are many similarities between Reverberate and Colonial Affair," said Little Jr. "Our racing manager and veterinarian, Dr. Stephen Carr, worked with both horses, and Sal Russo was Scotty Schulhofer's assistant at the time."
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   ELMONT, N.Y. - Sal Russo knows all too well how the Peter Pan can act as a springboard to success in the Belmont Stakes.
   
   In 1993, Russo was an assistant to trainer Scotty Schulhofer when Colonial Affair won the Belmont after finishing second in the Peter Pan. Six years later, Russo was the agent for jockey Jose Santos, who guided the Schulhofer-trained Lemon Drop Kid to victory in the Belmont, ending Charismatic's bid for the Triple Crown.
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   Now out on his own, Russo, 44, may be following the same path with Reverberate, a son of 1995 Belmont winner Thunder Gulch, who is scheduled to start in Saturday's Grade 2 Peter Pan at Belmont. While Russo is thinking more about the Travers at Saratoga in August than the Belmont Stakes on June 11, he hasn't ruled out the Belmont should Reverberate run well Saturday.
   
   "It's not out of the question, but I think it's a lot to ask," Russo said. "He's very tall, he's still immature, but it's not out of the question."
   
   Though Russo said Reverberate is a "completely different" horse than Colonial Affair, there are, on the surface, some similarities. Both horses are owned by Centennial Farms. Both won their maiden in their second start at 2. Both ended their 2-year-old seasons with fifth-place finishes in the Nashua Stakes at Aqueduct. Both horses seemed to have improved with the addition of blinkers and entered the Peter Pan off allowance wins.
   
   Following the Nashua, Reverber-ate underwent a myectomy to correct a breathing problem, Russo said. After Reverberate finished third in his 3-year-old debut, at Gulfstream, Russo stretched him out to 1 1/8 miles and was reluctant to try blinkers in that spot. After the race, jockey Jerry Bailey told Russo, "If they're going to help any horse I've ever ridden, they're going to help this horse."
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   "When Johnny came back, the first thing I said to him was 'John, you ride enough good horses, is this a good horse?' " Russo said.
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   Trained by Sal Russo, the son of Thunder Gulch looks to have a bright future, having defeated a field that included some extremely well-bred individuals.