Violette thinking of running Samraat in Whitney

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Rick Violette is planning on running the multiple graded stakes winner Upstart in Saturday’s Grade 1 Whitney. Whether he’ll have a second Whitney starter has yet to be determined.

Violette’s other potential Whitney contender is Samraat, who is coming off the best race of his career, a second to Effinex following a stretch-long duel in the Grade 2 Suburban Handicap at Belmont Park on July 9. Samraat worked for the first time since the Suburban here Monday, going an easy half-mile from the three-eighths pole in 49 seconds before galloping out a strong five furlongs in 1:01 and change.

“It was to let him stretch his legs, let him blow a little bit in his first work since a pretty Herculean effort in the Suburban,” said Violette. “He did it easily, galloped out well. We’ll see how he bounces back out of it.”

Violette said the fact that he already has Upstart pointed for the Whitney will have no bearing on whether he runs Samraat as well. Violette said his second option for Samraat is to await the Grade 1 Woodward on Sept. 3.

A small field is expected for the Whitney, led by Frosted, Noble Bird, and perhaps Effinex.