OCEANPORT, NJ – Trainer Chad Brown hit the exacta when She’s Got You nipped her stablemate Altea at the wire to win Saturday’s $100,000 Violet Stakes at Monmouth Park.
She’s Got You was the slight 8/5 favorite over Altea (9/5) as she broke from post 6 under Joe Bravo and settled into a two-wide position at the rear of the field.
Up front, Valedictorian set the tempo, posting fractions of :23.47 and :48.22 while Story Time gave closest watch.
Beginning to advance as she entered the far turn, She’s Got You advanced slightly and straightened for home running four-wide near the lead.
Altea was in desperate need of running room at the top of the stretch and fought to split the pacesetters while her stablemate ranged up in the middle of the course.
The two Brown trainees distanced themselves from their rivals at the 1/16 pole and drew off together, but She’s Got You had just enough left to push forward and win the 1 1/16-mile firm turf route by a neck 1:42.50.
“My hardest job was to get her to turn off and relax,” Bravo said. “I know the proper turf race is to sit in the pocket and go, but they were so bundled up ahead of me and going so slow, I just wanted to get her running early into the turn. Chad Brown’s training took over from there.”
Lucky Stride took third by 1 length over Story Time, while Valedictorian faded to fifth. Sweet Sami D and Aunt Hattie completed the order of finish.
Super Tigress and Wicked Awesome were scratched as Main Track Only entries.
She’s Got You’s win was her first at the stakes level and improved her overall record to 9-4-1-3 with $124,120 earned for owner/breeder John Gunther and his daughter, Tanya. The victory was also her first in North America after the 4-year-old British-bred Kingman filly spent her first two seasons racing overseas.
“Both horses raced very well,” said assistant trainer Luis Cabrera. “Either one could have won it. We’re very pleased with how they ran. … They told me (She’s Got You) has been training very well at Saratoga. When horses have back class, you don’t really worry about a layoff; you just make sure they’re ready and they run. I thought she might be closer (early), but we were good. Chad always makes sure these horses are ready and she was ready.”
She’s Got You returned $5.40 to win, $3 to place, and $2.40 to show. Altea brought back $3.40 to place and $2.40 to show, while Lucky Stride paid $3 to show.
