Violette ($100.000 Purse)
SAR- For Two Year Olds Foaled in NY
Six Furlongs on the Dirt
July 21, 2021

Two year old racing at SAR is always very exciting, and the stakes races for them always are must-watch races. As we move into the second week of this great meet, we will get a chance to see juvenile NY breds look to make a name for themselves in the second running of the Violette. This race debuted on the calendar in 2019, but it would not be run in 2020. A horse named Mystery won the inaugural race, doing so for Allinthegate, and the still active gelding has gone on to have a strong career. Personal Beliefs and Bound Bay were two others in the race who have had plenty of success in their own right. These are names that our field of eleven can look up too. Some of them we’ll be talking about a lot more often in the SRF while others might not be heard from here again. That’s what makes these races so exciting! Here’s our field!

#1- Le Chat Et La Lune (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by E Cancel)- This new gelding has won once in his two starts, that in May down at PIM. The Black Minnalouche progeny would be gelded following that race. He had a sharp workout at BEL last month that was a little faster than most of these and will run with lasix for the first time.

#2- Meltz (Gdp Inc, ridden by M Franco)- In his second start, he was put up for a $50.000 claiming tag, but there would be no takers that day. Suffice to say, the trainer thinks a lot better of him now, but Meltz will need to be a little better here than he was down at LS last month.

#3- Never Hold Back (Arindel, ridden by D Davis)- Broke his maiden in his last start, which was his third, coming at CD. The month prior, he ran third in very similar conditions, so I do like that he has been running against the best on multiple occasions. Was acquired by Arindel for $100.000 unraced in late March.

#4- Underground Creeper (Aer Stables, ridden by D Cohen)- The second horse in the race by the late Marketable, as that one also sired Never Hold Back. Hopefully, we don’t end up regretting his deactivation in the long run. Underground Creeper makes his second start here after an impressive come from behind win at LS in early May.

#5- Victory In Europe (Big Jd Racing, ridden by J Rosario)- This is the only maiden in the field, but this is the type of stake that you can see a maiden taking home the trophy. His last start was nearly a win, anyway, placing second after losing the headbob at BEL as he tried to come from way back in the stretch.

#6- Fire Knockers (Fractious, ridden by J Lezcano)- The sire Ez Fire brings us the next two in the starting gate. Fire Knockers makes his debut with Fractious here after he picked him in the auction last month for $55.010. He’s made two starts, and his last was a win at PIM after having a good stalking trip.

#7- Forever Fire (Mb Stables, ridden by J R Velazquez)- There are two in the race from Mb Stables. This was initially a private sales purchase, for $22.000 from Pristine Stables in November, unraced; interestingly enough, coming just six days after the same breeder sold Fire Knockers for $12.000. He’s let a couple get away. Forever Fire is another 1-for-2 starter in the field, breaking his maiden in late May.

#8- Model Commander (TwinTowersRacing, ridden by R Santana Jr)- This Lord Commander colt has won one of his two races, with the win coming last month at CT. That’s something that makes him alot like the others in the field, but what concerns me a little bit is that his works are a little slower than most of his competition here. When they’re this young, that doesn’t have to mean a thing.

#9- Noble Order (Sccj Stables, ridden by I Ortiz Jr)- After running his whole career, all three races, at GG, Noble Order comes east in hopes of scoring his second win. He was brought back pretty quickly after making his debut, and it was in his third start where he looked the best. Worked well at DMR before making the trip.

#10- Dwindle (Mb Stables, ridden by T Gaffalione)- If we are going to base this solely on works, then this is the horse to beat. A sub 1:11 work at BEL opened eyes last week and the Sweet Sweat gelding his ready to make his second career start now. He debuted very early, and only at two furlongs, winning that race. The trainer has exercised his patience with him, and he’s an interesting one to watch here.

#11- Worthington Springs (Acber Farms, ridden by J J Castellano)- The two quickest workers in the field have drawn the outside two posts for the race, so that could serve as a bit of an equalizer. Worthington Springs is working better than everyone not named Dwindle and comes here off a win at LS in the last start.

Prediction: Anything can happen in this type of race. I’ll go with: 3-10-11-7

— NS

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded