Shrinking Violet Steps Out in Monrovia Win

Shrinking Violet, a bargain buy for owner/trainer Wesley Ward making her initial start at Santa Anita Park, scored a 10-1 upset in the $200,000 Monrovia Stakes (gr. IIT)  on the hillside turf course Jan. 4.



The 5-year-old daughter of Congaree   registered her initial graded stakes win for Ward, who purchased her as a weanling for $4,000 at the 2010 Keeneland November breeding stock sale.



With Kent Desormeaux in the irons, Shrinking Violet overtook stablemate To My Valentine in the stretch on her way to a 1 1/4-length win over the closing Heat Trap. Velvet Mesquite, the slight 7-2 favorite in the field of 11 older fillies and mares, finished third.

The winning time for the about 6 1/2-furlong distance on the downhill course was 1:12.56 over firm going.



Shrinking Violet previously won the listed Lightning City Stakes on the Tampa Bay Downs turf just under a year ago. She was coming off close third in the Holiday Inaugural Stakes on Polytrack at Turfway Park Dec. 6, and was shipped to Santa Anita shortly afterward. She had two published workouts over the turf course.



Breaking well from the rail, the chestnut mare got a nice stalking trip while saving ground for Desormeaux as the Ward-trained To My Valentine showed the way through quarter-mile fractions of :21.71 and :44.05.



Shrinking Violet increased the pressure as they made their way into the stretch, taking the lead approaching the eighth pole in 1:06.46, and opening up a daylight advantage. She held on well in the final stages under some urging as Heat Trap, Velvet Mesquite, and Sky Treasure edged past the weakening pacesetter.



"She tracked well; she runs like a European," Desormeaux said of Shrinking Violet. "The leaders spread crossing the dirt so I filled that spot and she was full of run at that point."



Desormeaux had previously ridden the mare to a runner-up finish in the Ontario Fashion Stakes (Can-III) at Woodbine in November 2013 and also won an allowance race with her seven weeks later at Gulfstream Park. He gave all the credit to Ward for her latest victory.



"The filly has been to 12 different race tracks, but so have I over the years and a part of those were with Wesley Ward, so I'm glad he didn't bring sand to the beach," said Desormeaux, off to a strong start at the Santa Anita winter stand. "He let me pilot her, I've ridden her before, I know her well, and I hope he knows that, and it's probably the reason we're in the winner's circle."



Heat Trap, ridden by Victor Espinoza, finished second by head over Velvet Mesquite and Mike Smith, with Sky Treasure a nose behind in fourth. Harris Farms' Velvet Mesquite lost for just the second time in seven starts on the hillside course.



Espinoza said he had some traffic issues aboard Heat Trap.



"I got in a little bit of trouble by the three-eighths pole and also turning for home," he said. "I was going to swing out and the horse in front of me swung out so I had to drop inside again. It cost me a little bit right there."



Carrying 118 pounds, Shrinking Violet paid $22.20, $12, and $7.60 for the victory as the seventh choice in the wagering, topping a $121 exacta. Heat Trap returned $5.60 and $3.60 in her graded stakes debut for trainer Carla Gaines as the second choice. Velvet Mesquite was $3.60 to show.



Blake Heap trains Velvet Mesquite and also saddled both of Ward's entrants as the Florida-based trainer's assistant.



"The only thing I told Kent was that (To My Valentine) had to be kind of in front, and for him to break and try to get through up the fence," Heap said. "It just happened to work perfect for him. Mike (Smith) said my filly (Velvet Mesquite) hit the gate with her elbow and nearly knocked him off. That's why she broke so slow."



Shrinking Violet, who graduated for a $25,000 tag at Kentucky Downs in September 2012, posted her seventh lifetime win from 16 starts while boosting her purse total to $394,677.



Bred in Kentucky by Ashbrittle Stud out of the graded stakes-placed Cozzene mare Lets Get Cozzy, Shrinking Violet was offered at the Keeneland November sale by Hartwell Farms, agent.



Gender Agenda, Biorhythm, Wishing Gate, Warm Breeze, One More, and Judy in Disguise completed the order of finish in the Monrovia.