Princess Violet Makes the Grade in Madison

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Barry Schwartz's homebred Princess Violet held off a late run from Stopchargingmaria to win the $350,000 Madison Stakes (gr. I) April 4 at Keeneland, acing the biggest victory of her career .

The 4-year-old Officer filly, runner-up last time out in the Feb. 14 Barbara Fritchie Handicap (gr. II) at Laurel Park, was transferred to the care of trainer Linda Rice because her former conditioner, Mike Hushion, is suffering a serious illness.

Princess Violet was ridden by Junior Alvarado in her first outing for Rice and covered the seven furlongs on a fast track in 1:22.73 at odds of 9-2 after taking over from tiring pacesetter Lady Sabelia at the head of the stretch. Stopchargingmaria finished second by half a length in her first outing since a second in the 2014 Beldame Invitational (gr. I) Sept. 27 at Belmont Park. Clearly Confused checked in 2 1/4 lengths back in third.

Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez said the effort was a good one for Stopchargingmaria's first start of 2015.

"We knew she'd probably get outrun in the first part of the race, so we basically wanted to try to get her going down the backstretch, and she did," he remarked. "She put in a good effort and when I pulled her out she put up a fight. She just got a little tired at the end."

Although Princess Violet showed speed in previous starts, she was unhurried early along the inside in the Madison and rated fifth in a field of six while Lady Sabelia, the 2-1 favorite, sailed out to the early advantage.

"I saw some pretty serious speed—and she does stalk—so I told Junior (the strategy) was up to him," assistant trainer Samantha Randazzo said. "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."

The front-runner went a quarter in :22.42 and a half in :44.73 under Horacio Karamanos, but gave way through three-quarters in 1:09.89.

"She broke out of the gate like she usually does and took the lead nice and comfortable," Karamanos said. "I had plenty of horse to the five-sixteenths (pole). I asked a little bit at the quarter pole and she gave me a little kick, but when the others came she didn't try."

That was when Princess Violet picked up the pieces, shifting out to the four path and taking command by a length before battling to hold off Stopchargingmaria in the final stages.

"She broke pretty good," Alvarado said. "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."

The winner returned $11, $5.40, and $3.60 while Stopchargingmaria paid $4.80 and $3. Clearly Confused was worth $5 while Wedding Toast, Sam's Sister, and Lady Sabelia completed the order of finish. 

Princess Violet improved her record to five wins and four seconds from 10 starts for earnings of $662,810. Bred in New York out of the Grand Slam mare Lady Rapper, she took home not only her first grade I win but her first graded score as well. She won the Empire Distaff Handicap against state-bred runners last October at Belmont, and earlier that year was second to eventual 3-year-old champion filly Untapable in the Mother Goose (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course.