Friday, July 20, 2007


Jul. 20, 2007 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) --
Richard Violette Jr., is searching for a little respect for Summer Doldrums, winner of the Colonial Turf Cup (Grade III) a month ago at Colonial Downs.

Despite the victory, his horse is only the third favorite in the field of 10 for the $1 million Virginia Derby (Gr. II) for 3-year-olds tomorrow at the New Kent County track.

But even if Summer Doldrums wins the second leg of the Grand Slam of Grass, Violette indicated earlier this week that he might not let the son of Street Cry continue his chase for a $2 million bonus.

'As long as the check is cashable, I'm not worrying too much about [the odds],' said Violette, whose entry was listed at 7-2 behind Circular Quay (5-2) and Strike a Deal (3-1) in the morning line.

'I'm sure they're looking at the four-pound shift with Strike a Deal. [Trainer] Todd [Pletcher] and [jockey Garrett] Gomez will get a whole lot of respect with Circular Quay, winning the Louisiana Derby and the Kentucky Derby trail. But he [Summer Doldrums] can't read the newspaper, and he's not going to be insulted by whatever the odds are.

'As long as he gives us an 'A' effort, that's all I'm concerned with. To be honest, I'd rather they write about us in the Wednesday papers rather than be on the front cover of the Racing Form [tomorrow]. If they're talking about us after the race, that's usually a good thing.'

Summer Doldrums, who nipped Strike a Deal by a head at the wire in the 1 3/16-mile Turf Cup, will carry four more pounds than his rival in the 1¼-mile Virginia Derby based on his previous performance. Strike a Deal also edged Summer Doldrums by a nose in the Straight Deal Stakes at Belmont in May.

This will be Circular Quay's first race on turf, but the son of Thunder Gulch finished sixth in the Kentucky Derby and fifth in the Preakness to boost his lifetime earnings to $1,177,434. In addition to the Louisiana Derby, the chestnut colt has also won a pair of graded stakes and was second in two others.

Other strong entries in the field for the 10th annual Derby include Duveen, winner of two Grade III races on grass, Inca King, who won the Jefferson Cup (Gr. II) last month at Churchill Downs (NASDAQ:CHDN) , and Soldier's Dancer, one of the favorites for the Turf Cup who wound up sixth but still has three turf wins under his belt.

Summer Doldrums is the only horse with a chance at the $2.09 million bonus that goes to the winner of four turf races. In addition to the Turf Cup and the Virginia Derby, the others are the Secretariant (Gr. I) on Aug. 11 at Arlington Park and the Breeders' Cup Turf (Gr. I) at Monmouth Park on Oct. 27.

'The bonus is really not even a percentage of the equation,' Violette said. 'If we were fortunate enough to win [tomorrow], I'm not sure we'd want to come back in three weeks and go to Arlington. We'd certainly consider it, but the million dollars [in purse money for Derby] and the [previous] success over the racetrack are the only enticements we needed.'

Summer Doldrums arrived at Colonial Downs yesterday and is scheduled for his first workout this morning. Strike a Deal also arrived early. Could yet another down-the-stretch duel between them be in the cards?

'It is a deep field, but they've shown up twice,' Violette said. 'Stranger things have happened. It wouldn't surprise me if it did happen, but I wouldn't stand there wondering how it could have happened a third time in a row.

'They're two very, very high-quality horses that, given a fair trip, I think are fairly evenly matched. I don't think the extra sixteenth of a mile will hurt us, and I'm sure they think it won't bother them either.'

Contact John Packett at (804) 649-6313 or  jpackett@timesdispatch.com.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0177-18280718


Delivered by Newstex LLC
via theFinancials.com