Princess Violet Takes on McLaughlin Duo in Ruffian Stakes

Kiaran McLaughlin will saddle the 8/5 morning line favorite represented by the coupled entry of Via Strata and Wedding Toast. Wedding Toast, the more battle-tested of the two runners, most recently finished fourth in the Grade 1 Madison after running third in the Grade 3 Rampart at Gulfstream Park. The undefeated Via Strata has been brilliant in three career starts winning by a combined 16 lengths and never allowing a foe to get within 2 ¼ lengths at the wire. The four year-old daughter of Street Cry has plenty of early speed and will be ridden by Irad Ortiz.

Princess Violet looks for stakes repeat 

9/5 morning line second choice Princess Violet won the Grade 1 Madison April 4 at Keeneland – her first start since February 14. The Linda Rice trainee has won five of ten career starts to go with four runner-up finishes for earnings of $662,810. Princess Violet has excelled at Belmont, winning three of four career efforts including the Empire Distaff in October. Rice connects at a 22% clip with runners making their second start off layoffs of 45-180 days, and regular rider JL Ortiz will gets the mount replacing Junior Alvarado who was aboard for the Madison win.

House Rules back to one-turn racing 

House Rules (5/2) is a classy runner having won the Grade 3 Rampart in February at Gulfstream. The James Jerkens trainee returns to a one-turn race which has produced her best efforts.