Printer Friendly Page 

Princess Violet no longer a bridesmaid with rallying Madison win

Princess Violet finished up strongly to deny the comebacking Stopchargingmaria (Keeneland/Coady Photography) After posting runner-up finishes in three of her first four attempts, Princess Violet (Officer) registered her first graded stakes victory in Saturday's $350,000 Madison (G1) at Keeneland. The four-year-old rallied into contention on the far turn and sliced through rivals to strike the front in upper stretch before gamely holding Stopchargingmaria (Tale of the Cat) safe to the wire by a half-length. Off as the 9-2 fifth choice among six rivals, the Barry Schwartz-owned filly returned a win mutuel of $11. Junior Alvarado was up for Linda Rice, who took over training duties recently from an ailing Mike Hushion. Princess Violet completed seven furlongs in 1:22 3/5 on the fast track. Lady Sabelia (Majestic Warrior), the slight 2-1 favorite over the 5-2 Stopchargingmaria, showed the way on a clear lead through rapid splits of :22 2/5 and :44 3/5 before running out of gas at the head of the stretch and retreating to last. Wedding Toast (Street Sense) and Sam's Sister (Brother Derek) were in the next flight stalking the front-runner and also faltered in the stretch drive, checking in fourth and fifth, respectively.

"I saw some pretty serious speed -- and she does stalk -- so I told Junior (the strategy) was up to him," assistant trainer Samantha Randazzo. "If she went to the lead, it was fine, or if she found herself in a stalking position, that was OK too. 

"Junior rode a wonderful race. Best race of her career so far."

Princess Violet launched her move rounding the bend after racing well back in fifth down the backstretch. She reached the eighth-pole with a one-length advantage but had to withstand a late bid from Stopchargingmaria, who was forced to take the overland route in the seven-path entering the stretch drive. Clearly Confused (Successful Appeal), easily the longest shot in the field at 27-1, closed fast to take third while never threatening the top two.

"In the first part (of the race), the horses ran away from her a little bit," Alvarado said. "I knew I was in a good spot still and I tried to save ground. When I turned for home, I slipped her out and she was there for me as soon as I asked her. She gave me all she had."

Bred in New York by her owner, Princess Violet is the first stakes winner out of Lady Rapper (Grand Slam). She counts Grade 1 runner-up She Got the Beat (Sultry Song) as her second maternal dam.

Princess Violet broke her maiden 12 months earlier at Aqueduct in her second start. She followed with a smart allowance win at Belmont Park before finishing second in her stakes bow at the same venue, the Mother Goose (G1). The bay filly pocketed her lone previous stakes tally over state-breds rivals in the Empire Distaff last October and concluded her sophomore campaign with a nose runner-up in the Go for Wand (G3) in late November.

She was making her second appearance of 2015 in the Madison, finishing second to Lady Sabelia in the February 14 Barbara Fritchie (G2) at Laurel Park, and Princess Violet has now earned $662,810 from a 10-5-4-0 record.

Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com

More Graded Recaps:

Bradester takes flight in Salvator Mile

Dogwood Trail leads to Azalea winner's circle

Grand Bili captures Carry Back

Big Blue Kitten regains United Nations title

Merry Meadow crowned in Princess Rooney

Send this article to a friend