Phipps Stable’s Vigilantes Way found her way to the winners’ circle of another Monmouth Park stakes race, this time winning the Violet Stakes on September 3rd by a nose. The graded stakes-winning daughter of Medaglia d’Oro has won three stakes at the New Jersey track.
Covering a mile and a sixteenth over the turf, jockey Paco Lopez settler her off of the pace early on, then moved to the inside rail to begin closing in on the leaders. She was caught up in traffic while rounding the far turn and into the stretch, but found a seam nearing the furlong marker and shot through to the lead before holding off a late challenge. (Video below.)
The win is her first of the year and she’s now won stakes races at the ages of three, four, and five years old. Her previous stakes wins include the G3 Eatontown Stakes and Miss Liberty Stakes – both at Monmouth Park – and the Tropical Park Oaks at Gulfstream Park.
Prior to her Violet Stakes win, she had made three starts this year, all on the Monmouth turf where she finished close to the winner. Her five-year-old campaign started with a runner-up finish, coming up short by just a neck, in the Miss Liberty Stakes in May, then another second-place finish, short by a length, in the Grade 3 Eatontown Stakes in June. She took third, beaten by three-quarters of a length, in the Grade 3 Matchmaker Stakes in July.
From 19 career starts, she has seven wins and has finished among the top three for 16 of her starts, with career earnings just shy of $500,000.
A granddaughter of Personal Ensign, Vigilantes Way is the fourth graded stakes winner out of Phipps mare Salute (Unbridled). Her half siblings include multiple Grade 1 winner Mr Speaker, Grade 3 winner Fire Away, and novice champion hurdler Snap Decision.
Vigilantes Way’s regal Phipps female family line traces back to foundation mare Dorine, acquired by Ogden Phipps in 1970. In addition to champion Personal Ensign, the family includes the likes of Grade 1 winners Miner’s Mark, My Flag, Personal Flag, Seeking the Soul, Storm Flag Flying, Traditionally, and War Emblem.
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