Tricky Escape overcomes slow start to win Violet

Tricky Escape broke slow and was shuffled back going around the first turn before saving all the ground and splitting horses late in the stretch to take the Grade 3, $100,000 Violet Stakes by a length and a quarter Saturday at Monmouth Park.

Trained by Lynn Ashby, Tricky Escape stopped the timer at 1:49.91 for the mile and an eighth on the firm turf course and paid $12.40, $5.60, and $3.40. Light Up Our World completed the $45.20 exacta as the 2-1 favorite and paid $3.20 and $2.60. It was just a head back to Gianna’s Dream, who paid $3.20 to show.

“I wanted to be up close, but when we broke a few horses came over on me and then I had to check going into the first turn, so I wound up in the back,” said winning rider Chris Decarlo. “On the backside, the field cleared me and I was able to get over to the rail.  I had to take so much of a hold of her early, I was a little afraid I was going to discourage her, but that definitely wasn’t the case.”

The 4-year-old daughter of Hat Trick out of the Petionville mare Island Escape boosted her record to 3-4-2 in 11 career starts. It was the first graded stakes victory for the filly, trainer and owner.

Source: Monmouth Park