Princess Violet, House Rules Headline Ruffian

Highlighting the field for the Grade 2, $250,000 Ruffian on Saturday at Belmont Park is Grade 1 winner Princess Violet, who will face a quintet of talented rivals in the one-mile race for fillies and mares.

Stretching out the extra furlong in the Ruffian should not faze the Linda Rice trainee, who won 2014 edition of the Empire Distaff Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on October 18 at Belmont Park. In her most recent start, the Grade 1 Madison on April 4 at Keeneland, Princess Violet was unhurried in the early going but displayed a fleet turn of foot as she galloped four-wide in the stretch to prevail by a half-length in front of her multiple stakes-winning rival, Stopchargingmaria.

"[Former trainer] Mike Hushion did an amazing job bringing her along as a young filly to the level that she competes at today," said Rice. "We didn't want to run her back on short time, so we decided on the Ruffian to give her the extra rest and she's doing very well. We're very excited about the race."

Princess Violet will break from post 4 with Jose Ortizin the irons. The co-highweight in the field with House Rules under 123 pounds, she is the second choice at 9-5 on the morning line.

House Rules enters the race seeking her fourth stakes win of the year, having won the Bal Harbour Handicap and the Grade 3 Rampart at Gulfstream Park, and most recently, the Grade 3 Top Flight Handicap at Aqueduct Racetrack for trainer Jimmy Jerkens.

The daughter of Distorted Humor will have Javier Castellano aboard and is 5-2on the morning line.

Gary Contessa will enter Shayjolie for owner Sean Seay. The 4-year old daughter of Indian Charlie proved her mettle in stakes competition when she carved out a win in the $100,000 Cat Cay Stakes on the inner dirt on March 7 at Aqueduct. In her latest start, she was third, beaten less than a length, in the Top Flight.

Breaking from the innermost post, Shayjolie will have Cornelio Velasquez aboard at 8-1 on the morning line.

Rounding out the field are Macha for trainer Rudy Rodriguez and owner Michael Dubb, and the 8-5 co-favorite Kiaran McLaughlin entry of Via Strata and Wedding Toast.

Source: NYRA Communications