Souper Williwaw closed like a freight train down the center of the turf course to win the $100,000 Violet Stakes by two-and-a-quarter lengths at Monmouth Park Aug. 22.
The four-year-old filly by Hard Spun, who notched her first Stakes win in the Violet, is now a perfect two-for-two over the Monmouth Park turf course. She improved her record to 4-1-1 in 11 starts.
A compact group of five fillies and mares went to the post in the 8.5-furlong Violet, with three of them sporting the Live Oak Stud silks – Souper Williwaw, Mischief in Motion, and Souper Zonda. Both Souper Williwaw and Mischief in Motion were sent out by trainer Michael Trombetta, with Souper Zonda conditioned by Mark Casse.
At the start it was Souper Zonda that went to the lead to set the pace. After bumping a few times with Midway Memories, Souper Williwaw tracked the pacemaker up close on the inside while pulling at the reins. Angled out at the quarter pole, Souper Williwaw rallied three-wide into the stretch while closing willingly. She then drew clear while under urging and was in hand late to win comfortably.
Bred in Florida by Live Oak, Souper Williwaw is out of the Stakes-winning and multiple Stakes-placed Brilliant Speed mare, Souper Striking, and hails from the family of Graded Stakes winners In the Gold (G1) and Holding Gold (G2).
Souper Williwaw is one of seven Stakes winners this year for her sire, Hard Spun, who is also represented by Graded Stakes winners Built (G2 Alfred G. Vanderbilt), Gas Me Up (G2 King Edward), Moon Spun (G2 Unbridled Sydney S.), Bold Journey (G3 Tom Fool), and Runaway Again (G3 Dominion Day S.).
