Parx: Violette keeping options open

Trainer Rick Violette two options for the $200,000 Dr. James Penny Memorial Handicap for fillies and mares on the turf on Monday.

One is definite. Gitchee Goomie, winner of the Mt. Vernon Stakes for New York-breds at Belmont Park most recently, will run in the holiday feature at Parx Racing.

She is part of an entry with Trix in the City, who was cross-entered in a race at Presque Isle Downs on Tuesday.

Violette is still going back and forth on where Trix in the City will land.

“I honestly don’t know,” Violette said.

The more he discussed the options, the more inclined Violette sounded to run both in the Penny, as their styles mesh. Gitchee Goomie comes off the pace, while Trix in the City runs best when close to the pace.

“There is no speed in the Parx race,” Violette said. “Both fillies would pretty much complement each other as far as an entry goes. It’s possible I could run both. If I could find a better spot for Trix in the City, I’ll opt for that.”

Gitchee Goomie never seems to run a bad race. She has hit the board in all five races since Violette bumped her up in class from a statebred allowance into last year’s Grade 1 Garden City Stakes at Belmont, where she finished third after leading in the lane.

“She just always shows up,” Violette said. “She’s a really special filly. She’s definitely running. It’s just a matter of whether I pull the trigger on Trix, or not.”

The Penny drew nine runners for the 1 1/16-mile race. Trainer Graham Motion also has two in the race, including Check the Label, who beat Gitchee Goomie in last year’s Garden City. Daveron, his other entrant, captured the Grade 3 Beaugay Stakes at Belmont in her lone start this year.

The two Motion fillies are uncoupled in the betting.

Desert Sage settled in nicely on arrival from England to join Chad Brown’s barn this year. She acclimated with a pair of allowance wins at Gulfstream Park before stepping up to dead heat for second in the Grade 3 Galorette Handicap on the Preakness undercard.

Strike the Bell, winner of the Grade 3 Noble Damsel last fall at Belmont, has the rail, while Bet On the Blue and Exquisite complete the field.

Aquitaine was crossed entered in Sunday’s Miss Liberty Stakes at Monmouth Park.