Saratoga Day 5: The Rick Violette Stakes

By Rick Francis —-

Headlining the start of the second week of the 2019 Saratoga race meet is the inaugural running of the Rick Violette Stakes. Named for the much respected New York trainer who passed away due to complications from cancer, a field of five New York-bred 2-year-old fillies will sprint six furlongs over the main track; let’s have a look at the starters.

Race 2) Rick Violette Stakes 2yo Fillies 6 Furlongs Post Time 1:25 EDT

1) The italianamerican (Contessa/Rosario); back-to-back seconds, her last a solid effort in the Tremont Stakes.

2) Listentoyourheart (Clement/Franco); debut gate-to-wire winner at Belmont; trainer is above average in several key conditioning angles.

3) Mission Wrapitup (Brown,B/Davis); exits perhaps the most impressive start when she raced 5-wide to win going away by over eight lengths.

4) Sky of Hook (Rodriquez/Saez); battled gamely to take her debut in early May so connections have had on the training track since; rested’s for Rudy Rod, 20 percent.

5) Torres Del Paine (Motion/Hamilton); her debut victory came over the Laurel lawn; surface switch angle for trainer Motion is nearly 20 percent.

Selections: 1, 2, 3