Shrinking Violet to Race in Foal to American Pharoah

Shrinking Violet, the 7-2 favorite in a highly competitive field of nine in Friday’s Daisycutter Handicap, is racing while in foal to 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, according to Blake Heap, West Coast assistant to owner/trainer Wesley Ward.

 

The six-year-old daughter of Congaree is the defending champion in the Daisycutter, a five-furlong sprint for older fillies and mares on the Jimmy Durante Turf Course, notching a 4 ¾-length victory under Kent Desormeaux over Home Journey last summer.  Santiago Gonzalez has the mount on Shrinking Violet today, Desormeaux switches  to Home Journey.

 

Shrinking Violet was second to Prize Exhibit in the Grade II Monrovia onJanuary 3 at Santa Anita. Shipped east, Ward saddled Shrinking Violet for overnight stakes at Belmont Park in May and June before the American Pharoah breeding, Heap said.

 

She has three works here preparing for the Daisycutter.

 

“I don’t know if she’s doing quite as well as she was last year, but she’s doing good,” Heap said.

 

Bob Baffert, who trained American Pharoah, will saddle Swift Lady, the 4-1 morning line second choice in the Daisycutter.

 

“They were schooling the other day and I told Baffert she was in foal to American Pharoah,” Heap related. “He said, ‘Man, I hope she doesn’t run like American Pharoah.’”