Violon Sacre overcame some traffic issues to register his second win in four North American starts this year, capturing the $250,000 PTHA President's Cup (VIDEO) at Parx Racing at Philadelphia Park Sept. 18.
Ridden by Pablo Fragoso for owner Bernard Weill and trainer Patrick Biancone, 5-year-old Violon Sacre angled off the rail for running room mid-stretch and swept past his rivals to win by 1 1/2 lengths. He completed the 1 1/18-mile turf event in a solid 1:52.44 over firm going.
Rahy's Attorney, who shook loose to a clear advantage in the lane for jockey Stewart Elliott, could not hold off the winner and finished second. It was four lengths to the show horse, War Hoot, ridden by Jose Lezcano, who edged Pick Six by a neck. Just As Well, the 2-1 favorite in the field of seven veteran turf runners, finished fifth.
Violon Sacre was rank early after taking the lead before coming under a strong hold from Fragoso while racing third or fourth into the far turn. They bided their time along the inside well into the homestretch before a patient Fragoso eased Violon Sacre out for the final drive. Violon Sacre quickly passed pacesetter Sudden War and Pick Six and edged away from Rahy's Attorney late for a commanding victory.
Sudden War carved extremely soft quarter-mile fractions of :26.04, :52.48, and 1:16.54 before yielding in the final furlong and finishing sixth. Polka At Night trailed.
A stakes winner in France, where he sold for $70,684 as a 2-year-old at Deauville in 2007, Violon Sacre started his 2010 campaign in the U.S. May 31, finishing fourth in an optional claiming allowance heat at Monmouth Park. He came back with a game neck victory in the one-mile Battlefield Stakes over the same course July 10. In his most recent start, the Kentucky-bred son of Stravinsky--Histoire Sainte, by Kendor, finished a neck behind Get Serious in Monmouth's 1 1/16-mile Oceanport Stakes (gr. IIIT) Aug. 1.
The President's Cup was the ninth lifetime win for Violon Sacre in 16 starts. He also has three runner-up finishes and has earned $429,392. Ocala Horses bred the winning bay horse.
Sent off as the second choice, Violon Sacre carried top weight of 122 pounds and paid $8, $4, and $3.40. Rahy's Attorney returned $4.40 and $3 and completed a $31.60 exacta. War Hoot was $3.60 to show.
