Violette Hopes Samraat Can Move Forward

Making his first start since last year's Grade 1 Belmont Stakes where he finished sixth, New York-bred Samraat began his 4-year-old season with a fifth-place finish after being squeezed at the start and leading the field to the quarter-pole before giving way in the lane in an allowance optional claiming race on Saturday.

Trainer Rick Violette, Jr. was not discouraged by his colt's performance, however, noting a hotter-than-expected pace scenario.

"Head and Head going a half in 46 [seconds], three quarter's in 1:10 wasn't exactly what we had drawn up, and so we got a race into him," Violette said after the race. "He looks like he pulled up great, that's the most important thing. We don't have a specific target yet but we'll see how he cools out and go from there."

Source: NYRA Communications