Maryland duo look sharp

Priced to perfection brings the best credentials into the Grade 3, $100,000 Violet Stakes on Saturday at Monmouth Park, while the horse with the most upside might be Light Up Our World. Both fillies are invading from Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland.

The Violet is a 1 1/8-mile turf race for fillies and mares. The field of nine includes Beauly, winner of last month’s $100,000 Indiana General Assembly Distaff, and main-track-only entrants Cayman Croc and Camille Claudel.

Priced to perfection, a full sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Miss Temple City, could go favored as a Grade 3 winner. Light Up Our World owns the field’s best lastrace turf Beyer Speed Figure

and exits a race that produced the winner of the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon at Del Mar.

KEY CONTENDERS

Light Up Our World, by Zoffany Beyers: 91-94

◗ She is making her third start in North America after racing in England and France, and trainer Arnaud Delacour said he’s hoping the rain that was forecast for Friday in the Monmouth area might lead to a less-than-firm course for the Violet. Light Up Our World won the Coral Distaff Stakes on soft ground last summer at Sandown Park in England.

“I always wanted to find some softer turf for her,” said Delacour. “She’s got very good form on soft ground in Europe. If it’s a little on the soft side on Saturday, I think that would be perfect for her.”

◗ Light Up Our World made her U.S. debut June 1, running second in a two-other-than allowance at Belmont Park. In her most recent start, she was fourth in the Grade 3 Dr. James Penny Memorial going 1 1/16 miles at Parx Racing on July 4.

“We ran against good horses the last two races, when we went to Belmont and the last time at Parx,” said Delacour.

The Penny Memorial has become a key race. Cambodia, who finished third, returned in her next start to capture the Yellow Ribbon, and Thundering Sky, who was sixth, came back one start later to win the $100,000 De La Rose at Saratoga.

◗ Light Up Our World will break from post 2 under Daniel Centeno.

“Going a mile and an eighth, she could be a little bit closer in the race than what she was in her previous starts,” said Delacour.

Priced to perfection, by Temple City Last 3 Beyers: 85-86-85

◗ She became a graded stakes winner in the Sweetest Chant in January 2016 at Gulfstream Park.

◗Priced to perfection started her 4-year-old season July 22, closing from last for fourth in an optional $62,500 claiming race at Saratoga.

◗ Monmouth leading rider Nik Juarez has the mount for trainer Graham Motion.