SKY OF HOOK GETS UP IN SLOPPY RICK VIOLETTE
SARATOGA SPRINGS >> None of the five starters in Wednesday’s featured Rick Violette Stakes had had enough racing experience for anyone to know for certain which horses would do well on an off track – let alone in the near-torrential downpour, accompanied by wind and a thick mist, that enveloped Saratoga Race Course early Wednesday afternoon.
As it turned out, the conditions suited Sky of Hook, the biggest price on the board at 9-1, just fine. Rallying through the stretch, the son of firstcrop sire Tapiture sailed over the sloppy (sealed) going, nailing pacesetting Listen to your heart in the last jump to prevail by an official nose. The running time for six furlongs in the statebred feature for 2-year-olds was 1:13.17
Trainer Rudy Rodriguez was pleased with the win but took time first to pay tribute to the race’s namesake, who passed away last October.
“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. We really miss him.
“We tried to get him ready and get him along without hurrying him,” Rodriguez continued. “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.”
As expected, Listen to your heart went to the front, leading the way through a quarter-mile in 22.75 seconds and a half in 46.60. Sky of Hook raced evenly in third, with favored Mission Wrap it up (6-5) between him and the leader. Mission Wrap it up started to fade in upper stretch. Sky of Hook was gradually gaining ground on the outside but still had two lengths to make up at the eighth pole. At the wire, it looked as though Sky of Hook got up in time, but it took a photo to make it official.
“The track conditions weren’t perfect, but he broke sharply and handled it well,” said winning rider Luis Saez. “When we came toward the stretch, I really knew he was game. He was trying his best. I knew I had enough [horse] to get there, and thankfully we did before the wire.”
The italian american finished third ,5¼ lengths behind Listen to your heart. Mission Wrap it up and Torres Del Paine trailed in that order.
The winner, who races for EV Racing Stable, is now 2-for-2 with earnings of $89,100. Sky of Hook was bred in New York by EV and NC Corporation.
Sky of Hook is the first stakes winner for Tapiture, a son of Tapit who won five graded stakes during his career.