Mission Wrapitup quite possible in Violette

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Given his pedigree and his large feet, Mission Wrapitup was viewed as a likely turf horse by trainer Bruce Brown. But after the way Mission Wrapitup ran on the dirt in his debut seven weeks ago at Belmont Park, any move to the grass will have to wait.

Coming off an 8 1/4-length maiden score at Belmont Park on May 31, Mission Wrapitup makes the logical step into Wednesday’s $100,000 Rick Violette Stakes for New York-breds going six furlongs on dirt at Saratoga.

Only five were entered for the Rick Violette, formerly known as the Rockville Centre and run in past years at Belmont Park on closing weekend. The race was renamed for Violette, a trainer and fierce advocate of horsemen’s rights who died last October, and was moved to Saratoga with this meet having started eight days earlier than normal.

With only five runners in the race, the Violette will go as race 2 on a 10-race card that begins at 12:50 p.m. Eastern with a steeplechase contest.

Mission Wrapitup, a son of Mission Impazible out of a turf winning mare Thatza Wrap, had the rail in a five-horse field in his debut. He broke a tad slowly and found himself behind a three-ply speed duel down the backside and entering the far turn.

Dylan Davis was able to tip Mission Wrapitup four wide turning for home and they swept past the trio of leaders en route to the victory. He ran five furlongs in 57.46 seconds and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 66.

“He definitely showed some ability and he really was professional,” Brown said. “Usually with 2-year-olds you don’t seem them drop back and he really took the dirt well and then went about his business.”

Mission Wrapitup has breezed four times since his win, including a half-mile move in 47.40 seconds, the second fastest of 19 at the distance on July 9.

Davis will ride Mission Wrapitup from post 3.

Listentoyourheart was a front-running debut winner of a June 23 maiden race. Like Mission Wrapitup, Listentoyourheart had the rail in his debut and was hard sent by Reylu Gutierrez to make the early lead, which he never relinquished.

He could play out as the primary speed on Wednesday under Manny Franco.

Theitalianamerican is a maiden but he has twice finished second, including to Fore Left in the Tremont Stakes for open company. Trainer Gary Contessa was going to run him in the Sanford Stakes last Saturday, but he wasn’t happy with the results of bloodwork he had taken on the colt on entry day.

Contessa said Theitalianamerican has bounced back quickly and he is inclined to run him Wednesday.

“He’s jumping out of his skin,” Contessa said. “He’s really telling me that he wants to run.”

Sky of Hook, who beat Theitalianamerican when they both debuted in May at Belmont, and Torres Del Paine, a debut winner on turf at Laurel for Graham Motion, complete the field.