view raw text
I Rico Tesio Has Breeding To Carry Derby Route Imbesi Bought Colt at Sale; Piarulli Trains; Nelson to Ride CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville, Ky., May 1. — Rico Tesio, an outsider in Saturdays 85th edition of the Kentucky Derby who has not fulfilled, at three, the promise he displayed as a two-year-old, bears a ■ distinguished name and boasts an impressive pedigree. The chestnut colt, by Royal Charger — Seraphin, by Hyperion, was named for the late Italian breeder Federico Tesio, who bred such great thoroughbreds as Ribot, Nearco and Tenerani. Rico Tesio is owned by Anthony Imbesi, the head of the Seven Up Bottling Company, whose horses race under the nom de course of Briardale Farm. Joe Piarulli is the trainer and Eldon Nelson will be the jockey Saturday. Imbesi became active in the yearling market a few years ago. One of his first selections was a son of Tulyar out of China Bay, dam of four stakes winners abroad. The colt, purchased at the 1957 Saratoga Sales, cost 3,000. Another of his 1957 purchases was an Oil Capitol colt named Puneves Seven Up spelled backwards" for 0,000. The Oil Capitol progeny was one of two yearlings Imbesi bought that year at Keenland. The other was Rico Tesio. a 6,000 buy. Rico Tesio, incidentally, was bred at Mrs. Parker B. Poes Shawnee Farm. Piarulli. a 35-year-old native of Camden, | N. J., was born and raised within walking | distance of Garden State Park. He studied at LaSalle College, Philadelphia, and later registered in the law school at Rutgers University. However, his father became interested in thoroughbred about that time and the younger Piarulli decided to try and make his way in racing. "When I was in school I always had a book on one side of me and the Daily Racing Form on the other," said Piarulli. "So I decided to try racing for a year and said that if I didnt make it I would go back to school. That was a couple of years ago 1951. and here I am." Nelson, a 32-year-old Oklahoman, has been a jockey since he was 14. He is stocky 4-foot. 7-inches tall, race riding having given him the shoulders, arms and chest development of a small wrestler. Nelson credits trainer Johnny Nerud with giving him his first boost towards success "When Nerud became the Woolford trainer, he advised me. He pointed out my mistakes and he put me on all the Woolford horses," said Nelson. "He didnt even hold out Delegate for a more experienced rider. I rode my first winner at Tropical Park in 1948 and pretty soon I started winning stakes with Delegate." Nelson quit riding in 1950, because of his wifes illness, and bought a 400-acre farm in Kansas. He returned to competition in 1953 and has been "going good" ever since. His biggest success was aboard Hasty House Farms Stan in the 1954 Arlington Handicap.
