Coinage Heads NY-Bred Juveniles in Rick Violette Stakes

Coinage  drew away to maiden-breaking 7 3/4-length win last out and will look to carry that effort into his first stakes appearance, the $100,000 Rick Violette for New York-bred juveniles going six furlongs at Saratoga Race Course July 21.

The Rick Violette, previously named the Rockville Centre, was renamed for the longtime New York-based trainer and former president of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association who passed away in October 2018. Violette served more than 25 years on the NYTHA board, including nine as its president from 2008-17, and trained many talented horses, including the New York-bred Diversify , who captured the 2017 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) and 2018 Whitney Stakes (G1).

After running third in his debut going five furlongs at Belmont Park May 21, Coinage stalked in second position before easily handling a six-horse field going 5 1/2 furlongs over the same track June 17 for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse.

"He's doing great. He's a horse we've liked a lot from the beginning, and he seems to have matured and gotten better and better," Casse said. "He's come a long way."

Owned by D. J. Stable and breeders Chester and Mary Broman, Coinage started his career with high expectations after being purchased for $450,000 from Sequel New York's consignment at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He is a son of Tapit out of New York-bred 2017 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) winner Bar of Gold .

"He's got a tremendous pedigree to be a good horse, but that doesn't always mean they are," Casse said. "We're keeping our fingers crossed. In all honesty, we were expecting that (win last out) from him. We'd like to win first time, but it's never a goal. I thought it was a nice move forward for him. He did everything well and we're looking forward to him moving forward again."

Junior Alvarado, aboard for the first two starts, will have the return call from post 3.

West Point Thoroughbreds and Jimmy Kahig's Ready A. P.  won her debut impressively, posting an 8 1/4-length score going 5 1/2 furlongs July 1 at Belmont for trainer Christophe Clement. The More Than Ready   filly will now compete against males, taking the step up in class with Luis Saez aboard from the outermost post.

With the $100,000 Stillwater Stakes, slated for July 22, for state-bred juvenile fillies coming up light, Clement said he decided to enter Ready A.P. against the boys. She will try to be the first filly to win the Rick Violette.

"It was a very impressive win last time. I would have liked to have run her where she belongs, but it's the way it is," Clement said. 

Trainer Mike Maker will saddle a pair of debut winners in Run Curtis Run  and Barese . Surprise Boss , trained by Juan Vazquez, enters as a maiden having placed in his two races won by Coinage and Run Curtis Run.

Entries: Rick Violette S.

Saratoga Race Course, Wednesday, July 21, 2021, Race 4

• STK
• 6f
• Dirt
• $100,000
• 2 yo
• 2:49 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Run Curtis Run (NY)	Jose L. Ortiz	122	Michael J. Maker	7/2
2	2Barese (NY)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	122	Michael J. Maker	2/1
3	3Coinage (NY)	Junior Alvarado	122	Mark E. Casse	5/2
4	4Surprise Boss (NY)	Jose Lezcano	118	Juan C. Vazquez	10/1
5	5Ready A. P. (NY)	Luis Saez	119	Christophe Clement	9/5