Tom Pedulla is interviewing prominent owners, trainers, and jockeys as they travel the Road to the 150th Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve May 4 at Churchill Downs.

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This installment features Vicente Stella, who purchased Kentucky Derby hopeful Le Dom Bro for $20,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. 2022 Winter Mixed sale. Stella owns and operates Novergy Chemicals Corp., which has offices in Weston, Fla. and Venezuela.

Luck can play a huge role on the Road to the Derby. Le Dom Bro, a bay son of 2013 Breeders’ Cup Classic victor Mucho Macho Man, caught a big break when he capitalized on a depleted field of five to place second in the Grade 2, $400,000 Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park. Favored Locked, Speak Easy, and Victory Avenue were scratched in advance of the 1 1/16-mile contest.

Le Dom Bro, sent off at 27.10-1 odds, ran second throughout the Fountain of Youth. He finished a length and three-quarters behind comfortable winner Dornoch but still earned 25 Kentucky Derby qualifying points. Trained by Eniel Cordero, he will look to build on that total in the Grade 1, $1 million Curlin Florida Derby on March 30 at Gulfstream.

Stella, 59, discussed his passion for racing, his relatively inexpensive acquisition of Le Dom Bro, the great work of little-known trainer Cordero, and the hectic life he and his wife, Maria, lead as parents of 10-year-old triplets Vicente, Mathy, and Sabrina during a question-and-answer session conducted on behalf of America’s Best Racing.

PEDULLA: How did you become interested in racing?

STELLA: Through my father, Vincenzo, I got to learn about the world of racing — trainers, jockeys.

PEDULLA: When did you own your first horse? What was his name?

STELLA: I bought my first horse around 2010 in partnership. His name was Conqueror Jack. I was very excited. We won a couple of claiming races at Calder [Race Course] with Conqueror Jack. 

Vicente Stella and his wife, Maria, with their 10-year-old triplets. (Courtesy of Vicente Stella)

PEDULLA: What is it like to raise triplets?

STELLA: The twins, Vicente and Mathy, like soccer. The baby girl, when she goes to bed, she wants to be read to every night. They enjoy horses, dogs everything.

PEDULLA: You bought Le Dom Bro for $20,000. Why was he relatively inexpensive?

STELLA: It’s not the price of the horse. It’s a horse that connects with you. I felt a connection with this horse. The appearance, the color of the horse, is important to me, too.

PEDULLA: That’s not very scientific.

STELLA:  It’s not scientific but for me it’s important.

PEDULLA: I am not familiar with your trainer, Eniel Cordero. What can you tell me about him?

STELLA: Eniel is [20] years old. I wanted a young trainer with the capacity to listen and learn. He is young, but he is very good. I think he can talk with the horses. He has a closeness to the horses he trains.

PEDULLA: Of his six races, Le Dom Bro has only run poorly once, when he was ninth in the Dec. 2 Remsen [Stakes]. What happened that day?

STELLA: The track was muddy, it was raining and my place to start was number one. Every day we learn.

PEDULLA: Did you learn from that he does not like a muddy track?

STELLA: Yeah, that’s correct.

PEDULLA: How did the horse change from 2 to 3?

STELLA: The horse is, of course, more mature. We take our time with him and let him get strong. Le Dom Bro is, right now, a mature horse.

PEDULLA: How many horses do you own?

STELLA: I have 20 horses racing.

PEDULLA: Le Dom Bro placed second in the Swale Stakes in his 3-year-old debut. Were you happy with that?

STELLA: After the race, [jockey] Irad Ortiz Jr. said he could never find the space for the horse to run. The horses in that race are high level. I was really happy with second in the Swale.

PEDULLA: How do you evaluate your horse’s runner-up effort in the five-horse Fountain of Youth since Locked, Speak Easy, and Victory Avenue all scratched?

STELLA: It is impossible to know. I think Speak Easy would have had a great opportunity. Speak Easy is a very fast horse with a great possibility to win that race.

PEDULLA: How do you like your chances in the Florida Derby?

STELLA: For us, our Kentucky Derby is March 30. It’s step by step. The other trainers and the other horses are really good. We can say Le Dom Bro is going really well. We expect a nice race.

PEDULLA: Your horse has 25 qualifying points. Do you have Kentucky Derby fever yet?

STELLA: If we have the opportunity to participate in the Kentucky Derby, we would be really, really happy. But, for us, participating in the Florida Derby is a really nice gift, too. It’s very important to me.

PEDULLA: Do you allow yourself to dream of winning the $5 million Kentucky Derby?

STELLA: The most important race is the Kentucky Derby. You’re in this environment where everybody dreams of winning the Kentucky Derby. Me, too, of course. It’s not the money. It’s another thing. The money is a consequence of your job, your dream, your passion. The money is a consequence of working hard and doing things well. I never pursued money in my life.