Violeta M Steps Up in Class for the Swingtime Stakes

The Argentine mare will compete next Monday over a mile on the turf at Santa Anita Park in the U.S., facing tough rivals, with Mike Smith in the saddle

Violeta M Made a Promising U.S. Debut / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

ARCADIA, California (Special for Turf Diario).- Argentine mare Violeta M faces a demanding assignment next Monday at Santa Anita Park, one of 14 entered (two also listed as alternates) for the Swingtime Stakes (L), contested over one mile on the turf with a purse of $80,000.

Owned by Stud Las Monjitas and trained by Chilean Marcelo Polanco, the John F. Kennedy filly will break from post 2, carry 126 pounds—one of the highest weights in the field—and be guided by the experienced Mike Smith.

A multiple graded stakes winner in San Isidro and Palermo, Violeta M made a promising U.S. debut a few weeks ago, finishing a close fourth in an optional claiming allowance at Del Mar, showing that she was still needing her first start. With her recent preparations, a significant improvement forward would not be surprising.

The race will also feature another South American contender in the Brazilian Sun of Hill (Camelot Kitten), trained by Phil D’Amato for R Unicorn Stable and ridden by Kazushi Kimura. She comes off a fourth-place finish in the Tranquility Lake Stakes (L) at Del Mar, though she was runner-up in the Royal Heroine Stakes (G3) and previously closed her Brazilian campaign with a win in the Grande Premio Henrique de Toledo Lara (G1).

Other key contenders in this competitive field include the French Nadette (Outstrip), winner of the Prix Finlande (L) before crossing the Atlantic. She has since captured the Wilshire Stakes (G3) and the Beverly D. Preview Stakes (L), along with multiple placings; her most recent outing was a fifth in the Light & Wonder Ladies Marathon Invitational Stakes(G3) at Kentucky Downs.

Watchtower (Demarchelier) seeks quick redemption after a setback in last week’s Rodeo Drive Stakes (G2), with the Autumn Miss Stakes (G3) among her previous victories.

With the backing of Richard Mandella, Venganza (Curlin) has run well in several stakes before finishing out of the board in the CTT and TOC Stakes (L). Likewise, Mahina (Bolt D’Oro), second in the Robert J. Frankel Stakes (G2), the Megahertz Stakes (G3), and the Possibly Perfect Stakes (L), rounds out a strong and evenly matched group.