Unbridled Humor will be looking for her first win of the year and her first graded stakes victory since last September when she goes postward in the $100,000 Violet Stakes (gr. IIIT) over the Monmouth Park turf May 28.
The 1 1/16-mile Memorial Day test for fillies and mares is the first of Monmouth’s 17 graded stakes races to be contested during the meet. The ninth race on the card, it is set for a 4:48 p.m. EDT post.
Last time out on April 7 in a grass race at the same distance at Tampa Bay Downs, Unbridled Humor rallied to miss by only a head in the Turf Distaff for Florida-bred fillies and mares. In her prior effort, the 5-year-old daughter of Distorted Humor faded late going longer but still hung tough for third in the Hillsborough Stakes (gr. IIIT) at the same track.
“We wanted to give her a little bit of a freshening off of her Florida campaign,” said trainer Graham Motion of the Live Oak Plantation homebred. “I thought she ran very well in her last race in what was a more competitive race than how it would look on paper. This race seems like a good fit for her.”
Joe Rocco Jr., who is based at Monmouth for the meet, was aboard for her last two tries and retains the mount.
“That’s a big plus. He knows her and all of her idiosyncrasies. He fits her and he’s riding well right now,” Motion said.
Despite recent rains, Motion said he expects a firm course for the Violet, which should be a plus for Unbridled Humor, who won the Noble Humor Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Belmont last September.
Unbridled Humor has drawn post 3 in Monday’s Violet, which has attracted eight fillies and mares.
Here to Win, trained by Kiaran McLaughlin for Trick or Treat international, is the 123-pound top weight. She spots Unbridled Humor seven pounds. The Brazilian-bred daughter of Roi Normand won the The Very One Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Gulfstream Park Feb. 25. She is coming off a fourth-place effort in the Grey Goose Bewitch Stakes (gr. IIIT) over the Keeneland turf April 26. Joe Bravo has the call.
Romacaca won a pair of stakes at Monmouth last summer, including the Taylor Made Matchmaker Stakes (gr. IIIT). The 6-year-old Running Stag mare is coming off an allowance victory at Calder Casino & Race Course April 20 for trainer Luis Ramirez and owner Frank Calabrese. Elvis Trujillo rides.
$100,000 Violet Stakes (gr. III, Race 9, 4:48 p.m.), Fillies & Mares 3 & Up, 1 1/16 Miles (Turf)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. My Redbyrd (KY), C P DeCarlo, 118, J P Terranova II
2. Romacaca (FL), E Trujillo, 116, L M Ramirez
3. Unbridled Humor (FL), J Rocco Jr., 116, H G Motion
4. Whipsaw City (FR), P Lopez, 116, C C Brown
5. Here to Win (BRZ), J Bravo, 123, K P McLaughlin
6. Pinch Pie (KY), J Rose, 118, A W Dutrow
7. In the Rough (VA), A Serpa, 116, K J Breen
8. Ruthenia (KY), K Carmouche, 118, C Clement