Hushion Seeks 'Wand for Princess Violet

 

Trainer Mike Hushion has a sense of joy every time Princess Violet goes to post.

 

The 3-year-old filly is named after his 4-year-old granddaughter, and on Nov. 28, Princess Violet will be shooting for her first graded stakes victory in the $300,000 Go for Wand Handicap (gr. III) at Aqueduct Racetrack.

 

Owned by Barry K. Schwartz, Princess Violet has won four of seven starts in her career including a victory in the restricted Empire Distaff Handicap Oct. 18 at Belmont Park, where she prevailed by 5 1/2 lengths.

                

"Barry let me name her, and once I did, he said he knew she was going to be a good one," said Hushion, who saddled Lovely Lil to victory in the 2011 Go for Wand.

                

After finishing second in her debut March 16 at Gulfstream Park, Princess Violet broke her maiden at Aqueduct on April 6 before taking an allowance race at Belmont on May 16.

                

She then finished second in the Mother Goose Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont June 28 before throwing in a clunker in the Prioress Stakes (gr. II) at Saratoga Race Course two months later when she finished seventh.

 

Princess Violet, a New York-bred by Officer, rebounded with an allowance win at Belmont Oct. 5 before dominating the field in the Empire Distaff Handicap.

                

"She came out of her last race in good order and we were deciding between running her in this race or the Comely (gr. III, on Saturday)," Hushion said. "The reason we went here is because she is proven at one turn."

                

The Go for Wand is a one-turn mile, while the Comely is around two turns going a mile and an eighth.

                

Jockey Jose Ortiz, who rode her to victory in the Empire Distaff, will once again be back in the saddle breaking from post 6 in the 12-horse field.

 

Todd Pletcher, who has saddled the Go for Wand winner three times in his career—Ashado (2005), Spun Sugar (2006), and Royal Lahaina (2013)—has two entrants in this year's edition: Street Girl and Sweet Whiskey.

 

Street Girl is winless from six starts this year but finished an improved second in the Chilukki Stakes (gr. II) Nov. 1 at Churchill Downs when equipped with blinkers. The 4-year-old Street Hero   filly will be ridden by Manuel Franco and break from post 3.

                

Sweet Whiskey, a 3-year-old daughter of Old Fashioned  , has won once from seven starts in 2014, taking the Old Hat Stakes (gr. III) from Gulfstream Park Jan. 4. In her previous start, Sweet Whiskey finished second in the Raven Run Stakes (gr. II) Oct. 18 at Keeneland.

                

Willet, a 6-year-old Jump Start   mare who drew post 5, has hit the board in all five starts this year, finishing third in both the Ballerina Stakes (gr. I) and the Gallant Bloom Handicap (gr. II).