Violon Sacre became the third Belmont Graded stakes winner of the past 15 days from Darby Dan Sales consignments, with his victory in the Kickerbocker S. (G3) on Oct. 17.
 
Violon Sacre closely followed the successes of Eye of Taurus and Tizway, who won the Athenia H.-G3 on Oct. 16 and Kelso H.-G2 on Oct. 3, respectively. All three were consigned to the Keeneland September Sale by Darby Dan, and both Violon Sacre and Eye of Taurus were foaled and raised by the famed nursery as well.
 
In the Knickerbocker, Violon Sacre was winning his third stakes win in five starts this year.  Heavily favored by the crowd following his last-out stakes win at Parx Racing, Violon Sacre bided his time near the rear, then began picking up foes on the turn. The son of Stravinsky charged three-wide into the stretch with a full head of steam, battled head to head duel with multiple Graded stakes winner and near millionaire Whatsthescript (Ire), and edged clear in the final sixteenth.
 
Violon Sacre was bred in Kentucky by Ocala Horses LLC, and races now for Bernard Weill. A stakes winner in France and triple stakes winner in the U.S., he has compiled an admirable record of 17-10-3-0 and $489,107. Trainer Patrick Biancone said admiringly after the race, “He has a huge turn of foot. He seems to be improving with every race...some horses come to the United States and do not acclimate well; he has.”
 
The Darby Dan Farm and Sales program has produced 19 stakes winners of 2010. Their eight Graded stakes winners from sales consignments ranks them behind just four other consignors in the nation.