Princess Violet scores Grade 1 victory in Keeneland’s Madison

by Sarah Mace

Princess Violet gave owner-breeder Barry K. Schwartz a Grade 1 victory at Keeneland on Saturday afternoon with a determined half-length score in the Grade 1, $350,000 Madison Stakes for fillies and mares. She also became the first New York-bred to win the seven-furlong contest in its 14-year history.

Drawn in the outside post, Princess Violet took a back seat in the betting as fifth choice in a deep and talented field of six. She could already boast three second place finishes in graded stakes company, but was still looking for that elusive first graded win. The bay 4-year-old daughter of Officer earned it in style in her Keeneland debut when saddled by Linda Rice’s team, standing in for recovering conditioner Mike Hushion.

In the early stages of the race Princess Violet was content to settle as much as seven lengths behind frontrunners Lady Sabelia and Sam’s Sister, who ran one-two through a speedy first quarter in 22.42 and half in 44.73. Saving ground through the far turn, Princess Violet then shifted out into the two path to make her stretch bid.

Dispatching the frontrunners and taking charge just inside the furlong marker, “Princess” then dug in bravely to hold off a late-running Stopchargingmaria, a five-time graded stakes winner and the second betting choice. Her margin of victory was one-half length.

Longshot Clearly Confused finished 2 1/4 lengths behind Stopchargingmaria in third, followed across the line by Wedding Toast. Frontrunners Sam’s Sister and Lady Sabelia completed the order of finish. After six panels in 1:09.89, Princess Violet stopped the clock after seven furlongs over Keeneland’s fast main track at 1:22.73. [VIDEO[3] from America’s Best Racing]

Junior Alvarado, who piloted the filly for the first time in the Madison, reported, “She broke pretty good. In the first part [of the race], the horses ran away from her a little bit. 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.”

Linda Rice’s assistant Samantha Randazzo said that given Princess Violet’s versatility, she left the details up to her rider. “I saw some pretty serious speed – and she does stalk – so I told Junior (the strategy) was up to him. 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.”

Unraced at two, Princess Violet has finished first or second in nine of 10 career starts and has earned $662,810. Her record includes a crushing 5 1/2-length victory in last fall’s Empire Distaff at Belmont Park, a runner-up finish to champion Untapable in the Grade 1 Mother Goose, second by just a nose to Classic Point in the Grade 3 Go For Wand and runner up by 1 1/2-lengths to Madison rival Lady Sabelia in the Barbara Fritchie Handicap at Laurel in her seasonal debut on February 14. She is undefeated in three starts against New York-breds.

Princess Violet is one of two winners from two starters out of Lady Rapper, an unplaced Kentucky-bred daughter of Grand Slam, who was purchased by Barry Schwartz for $275,000 at the 2006 Keeneland September yearling sale. Lady Rapper’s first foal Baime (Star Dabbler) is a seven-time winner of nearly $125,000. Lady Rapper’s dam is multiple graded stakes placed New York-bred She’s Got the Beat (Sultry Song), who, like Princess Violet, was a Go For Wand runner-up.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2015/04/05/princess-violet-madison/

---