Sky of Hook became the first stakes winner for his freshman sire (by Tapit) with a victory in the Rick Violette S. on a rain drenched Wednesday at the Spa. Formerly known as the Rockville Center S. when run at Belmont Park, the race was renamed this year in honor of longtime New York trainer and NYTHA President Rick Violette, who passed away last year after a prolonged battle with cancer.
Opening his account with a narrow score against fellow Empire-breds at Belmont May 10, Sky of Hook was sent off at 9-1 in this step up to stakes company. Perched in a two-wide third early, the chestnut kept a watchful eye on the leaders through a :22.75 opening quarter and a :46.60 half-mile. Listentoyourheart tried to run away with it in the lane, but Sky of the Hook had him in his sights and closed steadily over the soupy surface in the driving rain to get up for a narrow score.
“It's great to win a race like this that's named after Rick for all the good things he's done for the sport,” said winning trainer Rudy Rodriguez. “We really miss him.”
He continued, “We tried to get him ready and get him along without hurrying him. It worked out good. I thought he was in trouble because he was lagging a little bit. But to run like this in the slop, everything worked out perfect.”
“The track conditions weren't ideal, but he broke sharply and handled it well,” said rider Luis Saez. “When we came towards the stretch, I really knew he was game. He was trying his best. I knew I had enough to get there and thankfully we did before the wire.”
Sky of Hook is the first foal to make the races out of Ambitious Dancer, who produced the winner's full-brother this spring. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
RICK VIOLETTE S., $97,000, Saratoga, 7-17, (S), 2yo, 6f, 1:13.17, sy.
1–SKY OF HOOK, 122, c, 2, by Tapiture">Tapiture
1st Dam: Ambitious Dancer, by Latent Heat
2nd Dam: Isbell Ambiel, by Strodes Creek
3rd Dam: Carter's Creek, by Coastal
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-E.V. Racing Stable; B-EV and NC Corp
(NY); T-Rudy R. Rodriguez; J-Luis Saez. $55,000. Lifetime
Record: 2-2-0-0, $89,100. *First stakes winner for freshman
sire (by Tapit).
2–Listentoyourheart, 122, c, 2, Afleet Alex–Je T'aime, by Gold
Token. O-Merrylegs Farm; B-Merrylegs Farm North LLC (NY);
T-Christophe Clement. $20,000.
3–Theitalianamerican, 118, r, 2, Girolamo–Quiet Kiss, by Quiet
American. ($4,000 RNA Wlg '17 FTNMIX; $5,000 Ylg '18
OBSWIN; $30,000 2yo '19 OBSMAR). O-Monty Foss & John
Moirano; B-McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds, LLC &
Spruce Lane Farm (NY); T-Gary C. Contessa. $12,000.
Margins: NO, 5 1/4, HF. Odds: 9.30, 2.25, 2.85.
Also Ran: Mission Wrapitup, Torres Del Paine.
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