Kentucky Derby 2014; Samraat and Rick Violette Smell the Roses

Kentucky Derby 2014; Samraat and Rick Violette Smell the Roses: Gotham Stakes and Withers Stakes winner Samraat earned a cozy fifth place position on the Kentucky Derby leader board with 100 points and is ready for the 140th running of the Kentucky Derby set to take place on Saturday, May 3, 2014. The My Meadowview Farm colt flew in from New York and arrived at the Churchill Downs track at approximately 6:30 PM EDT today. While Samraat prepares for the big day, trainer Rick Violette stops to smell the roses!

Samraat’s trainer Rick Violette had a shot at the Run for The Roses in 2004 with colt Read The Footnotes. Read The Footnotes finished 7th the year that Smarty Jones won the Kentucky Derby. Rick Violette is just as excited about winning the Kentucky Derby with Samraat saying, “It’s pretty cool. I’m obviously excited; my whole family is going to be there. I’ve got a brother flying in from L.A. and another brother flying in from London. My sister and my parents are coming up from Florida. It’s pretty cool and they are very excited. This is something you really should enjoy, whether you go once or 100 times. There is no question that you need to slow down sometimes and smell the roses and this is certainly one of those times. No pun intended.”

Rick Violette, who is 61-years-old, said he enjoyed being at the Derby with Read the Footnotes in 2004, but that hasn’t lessened his enthusiasm. “I’m 10 years older, and probably not wiser, but as you get older you realize that these things don’t have to happen ever again, or 10 years from now. So do your job, cross all the t’s and dot all the i’s, but leave yourself some time to sit back and enjoy it, too.”

Before traveling to Louisville, Kentucky for the 2014 Kentucky Derby, Samraat had his final workout at Aqueduct Racetrack on Friday, April 25, 2014. Exercise rider Rodney Paine worked with Samraat just before 7:00 am in New York. The duo went an easy mile in 1:45.91, with an opening quarter in 27.79 and a half in 54.62 seconds per the NYRA.

Trainer Rick Violette stated the workout went smooth and reported,”I really didn’t want him to go too fast. We just wanted to get it done. Time was only important if he went too fast, and he didn’t. He went great.”

Samraat is a well-known race horse and has had a busy racing season. In February of this year, Samraat competed in the 2014 Withers Stakes (watch Withers Stakes replay) at Aqueduct. Samraat came in an impressive first place in the grade 3 1 1/6 mile race. On March 1st, Samraat had another big win, earning points towards the 2014 Kentucky Derby at the 2014 grade 3 1 1/6 mile Gotham Stakes (watch Gotham Stakes replay) at Aqueduct. On April 5th of this year, Samraat competed in the 2014 Wood Memorial (watch Wood Memorial replay) at Aqueduct. Samraat came in second place in the grade 1 1/8 mile race behind Wicked Strong.

Samraat has had 3 starts this year with 2 firsts and 1 second and 0 thirds. So far this year, Samraat has earned $640,000 with $213,333 earnings per start. Overall in Samraat’s career Samraat has competed with 6 starts, 5 firsts, 1 second, and 0 thirds for total career earnings of $773,200 and $128,867 earnings per start. Samraat is ranked in sixth place out of 29,290 horses so far this year.

Samratt is ridden by famous jockey Jose L. Ortiz who has been on Samraat for all six of his career races. Samraat is trained by Richard A. Violette, Jr. and owned by My Medowview Farm and was bred by My Meadowview LLC. Samraat was foaled on April 16th, 2011 with sire Noble Causeway and mare Little Indian Girl.

Samraat is ranked as a multiple graded stakes winner and is looked at as a serious contender to look out for in this year’s Kentucky Derby.

Kentucky Derby 2014 Odds and Post Positions
1 Vicar’s In Trouble 20-1 and Rosie Napravnik
2 Harry’s Holiday 50-1 and Corey Lanerie
3 Uncle Sigh 30-1 and Irad Ortiz, Jr.
4 Danza 8-1 and Joe Bravo
5 California Chrome 5-2 and Victor Espinoza
6 Samraat 15-1 and Jose Ortiz
7 We Miss Artie 50-1 and Javier Castellano
8 General A Rod 15-1 and Joel Rosario
9 Vinceremos 30-1 and Joe Rocco, Jr.
10 Wildcat Red 15-1 and Luis Saez
11 Hoppertunity 6-1 and Mike Smith SCRATCHED
11 Dance With Fate 20-1 and Corey Nakatani
12 Chitu 20-1 and Martin Garcia
13 Medal Count 20-1 and Robby Albarado
14 Tapiture 12-1 and Ricardo Santana Jr.
15 Intense Holiday 8-1 and John Velazquez
16 Commanding Curve 50-1 Shaun Bridgmohan
17 Candy Boy 15-1 and Gary Stevens
18 Ride On Curlin 15-1 and Calvin Borel
19 Wicked Strong 6-1 and Rajiv Maragh
20 Pablo Del Monte 50-1 and Jeffrey Sanchez

Kentucky Oaks 2014 Post Positions and Odds

Samraat breezes at Aqueduct on Friday, April 25, 2014: