Contenders

Richard Violette, Jr.

Violette, born in 1953 in Worcester, MA, began working on the backstretch at Suffolk Downs. He was involved with hunter/jumper horses when a client brought him to the racetrack where he began galloping in the mornings. He was assistant trainer for David Whitely, then went on his own in 1983. Violette has campaigned the likes of Yolanda B. Too, Nijinsky's Gold, Citadeed, Free for Love, and Read the Footnotes, his lone Derby starter (seventh in 2004). Violette keeps his horses primarily on the New York-Florida circuit.

Shaun Bridgmohan

Bridgmohan, 26, is a native of Jamaica who currently resides in Fort Lauderdale. A winner of over 1,100 races in his career, he did not begin riding until after graduating high school, as stipulated by his father. His association with racing began as a child when his dad would take him to the races on weekends. He then went on to be a hot walker, groom and, after a few years, an exercise rider. His patience on waiting to ride was rewarded, he was named the 1998 Eclipse Award winner for leading apprentice rider. He once won six races in a single day at Aqueduct on February, 15, 1998. He tied for leading rider at the 2002 Aqueduct spring meet. He rode his first Derby aboard Private Vow last year.

Klaravich Stable & William Lawrence

Klaravich Stables is formed from the names of Seth Klarman and Jess Ravich, friends who are both in financial businesses. Klarman, 49 grew up in Maryland near Pimlico. He currently lives outside of Boston, Massachusetts. Klarman, who also has been active in New York's breeding program for several years, is president of an investment firm, The Baupost Group, and an author. Ravich currently resides in Los Angeles. They owned 2004 Derby starter Read the Footnotes, Stakes winner Outperformance, and also top handicap horse, Subordination, a graded winner on both the east and west coasts. Klaravich owns Summer Doldrums with William Lawrence, who runs an investment business.

Gentry Stable (KY)

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Summer Doldrums is by Street Cry (IRE), an earner of over $5 million and the 2002 top ranked Timeform horse in the world. He began his career in 2000 in the United States, running second in the Del Mar Futurity (GII) and Norfolk (GII), as well as a third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (GI). The following year, Godolphin moved him to Dubai, where he was second in the U.A.E. Derby (GII). The world traveller returned to America to take the nine furlong Discovery Handicap (GIII) later that year. He really blossomed at four, winning the Dubai World Cup (GI) and Stephen Foster (GII). He retired with a record of 5-6-1 from 12 starts. With two crops of racing age, Street Cry has sired five stakes winners, topped by last year's juvenile champion Street Sense.

Summer Doldrums is out of the Unaccounted For mare Dance for Dixie, and he is her only foal to race. Dance for Dixie earned nearly $200,000 and got her lone stakes placing in the one mile Pocahontas at Churchill Downs at age two. Her dam Dixie Band was also fairly precocious, winning the Bassinet Prelude Stakes and placing in several other stakes during her juvenile campaign. In addition to Dance for Dixie, she also produced the stakes winner Cielo Girl, who campaigned on the mid-south circuit. The family also includes the top European sprinter Var.

Summer Doldrums should get stamina from both his sire's family and broodmare sire Unaccounted For, winner of the Whitney (GI) and Jim Dandy (GII), as well as third in the Breeders' Cup Classic (GI). However, Dance for Dixie does have a female family that leans towards speed, giving him a Dosage Index of 3.67 that is fairly close to the theoretical threshhold of 4.0 - by Mark Hoard

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