As was the case last year, bet the Klaravich Stable-Rick Violette 2-year-olds purchased at the Ocala February sale first and ask questions later.
Their Tale of the Cat colt, Bail Out the Cat, romped last week; and their Bandini filly, Let's Get Fiscal (4th, $5.80), scored in hand after inhaling pacesetter Evangelical at the top of the stretch.
As things stand now, Violette has the early favorites for the Hopeful and the Spinaway, "early" being the key word.
Earlier, the good turf filly Tottie (3rd, $4.80) won for the third time in four U.S. starts for Chad Brown, running down last year's Garden City winner, Miss World, in the final furlong of the $57k optional claiming feature.
Solo Piano was scratched after becoming fractious in the gate and unseating Kent Desormeaux.
